Marine Corps Reserve Mini-Ribbon

Instituted: 1945 Dates: 1945-1965 Criteria: Successful completion of 10 years of honorable service in any class of the Marine Corps Reserve. Devices: Bronze Star The Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon was authorized by the Secretary of the Navy on 17 December 1945 and awarded to members of the Marine Corps Reserve for ten years of honorable service. On 18 December 1965, it was superseded by the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. Service counted in completing the required time for the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal or the Armed Forces Reserve Medal was not eligible for this award. A Marine Reservist who was eligible for these three awards could elect which one he or she would receive. The ribbon is gold with a thin stripe of red at each edge. The Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon is worn after the Armed Forces Reserve Medal and before any foreign awards. A three-sixteenth inch bronze star was authorized for a second, ten-year period of Marine Corps Reserve service. However, the award of a bronze star was highly unlikely since the total life span of the ribbon was exactly twenty years. The ribbon was first created by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal and recognizes those members of the Marine Corps Reserve who performed 10 years of honorable reserve service. The Marine Corps Reserve ribbon was declared obsolete in 1967 and was succeeded by the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.