The Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon is retroactively authorized to October 6, 1952.

The ribbon is retroactive to October 1995 and recognizes those officers and enlisted members of the United States (U.S.) Navy who meet the following criteria: (1) Must have successfully completed the prescribed tour of duty at one of the following commands: (a) Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), (b) Recruit Training Command,(c) Officer Training Command, (d) Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Units, (e) United States Naval Academy (USNA), (f) United States Naval Academy Preparatory School (2) Must have maintained outstanding personal standards without any disciplinary incidents throughout the tour.

[citation needed] Additional awards of the Special Duty Ribbon are presented for each consecutive three year tour of duty as a military training instructor with such additional awards denoted by oak leaf clusters, and the award had replaced the previous Air Force Military Training Instructor Ribbon.

Both the instructor badge and the Special Duty ribbon may be awarded simultaneously for the same tour of service.

The U.S. Army and United States Coast Guard do not issue a ribbon award for those who are qualified drill instructors.