Florida National Guard Meritorious Service Ribbon
Florida National Guard Meritorious Service Ribbon
History - Established 1942
Established in 1942, the Florida National Guard Meritorious Service Ribbon honors Florida National Guard members who exhibit commendable behavior on behalf of the Florida National Guard. It fell out of use in approximately 1958 but was reinstated in 1973, and a medal was later added in 1986.
The Florida National Guard is composed of the Florida Army National Guard and the Florida Air National Guard. An estimated 12,000 soldiers serve the Army component, which traces its roots back to a Spanish militia that defended the territory against French settlers in 1565 and took on its official form when the 1903 Militia Act incorporated existing state militias into the National Guard. The Air component is based in St. Augustine’s St. Francis Barracks and became official in September of 1947, coinciding with the formation of the Air Force as a distinct branch of the United States military.
Details
The ribbon is dark blue and is bisected by a vertical orange stripe.
Subsequent awards may be indicated by oak leaf clusters.
Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
Precedence
Next Higher: Florida National Guard Commendation
Next Lower: Florida National Guard 5 Year Service
Florida National Guard Meritorious Service Ribbon