What is the order of precedence for the wearing of individual awards?

• A. U.S. Military Decoration, U.S. Non-Military Decorations, Prisoner of War Medal, Good Conduct Medal, U.S. Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, U.S. Service Medals and Ribbons, U.S. Merchant Marine Decorations, Foreign Decorations.
• B. U.S. Military Decoration, U.S. Non-Military Decorations, Prisoner of War Medal, U.S. Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, U.S. Service Medals and Ribbons, U.S. Merchant Marine Decorations, Foreign Decorations.
• C. U.S. Military Decoration, U.S. Non-Military Decorations, Prisoner of War Medal, Good Conduct Medal, U.S. Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, U.S. Service Medals and Ribbons, U.S. Merchant Marine Decorations, Foreign Decorations
• D. U.S. Non-Military Decorations, U.S. Military Decoration, Prisoner of War Medal, Good Conduct Medal, U.S. Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, U.S. Service Medals and Ribbons, U.S. Merchant Marine Decorations, Foreign Decorations

Answer: (C)

Awards are worn in a single row from left to right in the order of their precedence, with the highest honors placed first. The U.S. Military Decorations come first because they represent the most highly recognized military-level achievements. After those, civilian or non-military decorations are worn, since they are still recognized but rank below military honors. The Prisoner of War Medal is next, reflecting a unique and specific form of service recognition. Following that is the Good Conduct Medal, an enlisted force award that sits above other service-related recognitions like reserve components. Then the U.S. Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal appears, since it recognizes reserve service but is ranked below the major service and civilian decorations. After that come the U.S. Service Medals and Ribbons, which cover campaign and service recognitions earned during regular duty. Next are the U.S. Merchant Marine Decorations, which are military-adjacent but not Army decorations, and finally Foreign Decorations, which are awarded by foreign governments and placed last in the order of precedence.

This ordering aligns with official guidance on how to arrange awards on the uniform. If a sequence started with non-military decorations or placed a reserve component medal ahead of the Good Conduct Medal, it would not follow the established precedence.