Campaign ribbons and service badges
Awarded to:
a) all IDF personnel on active duty during at least 4 months between 1
February 1948 and 10 March 1949.
b) all IDF personnel who were killed during the War of Independence. In
this case the ribbon is presented to the family of the soldier.
c) others who took part in fights of the War of Independence. Eligibility
to the ribbon will be determined for every case.
d) those who were confined to a border settlement for a continuous period
of 120 days between the dates as specified in a).
e) officials dealing with immigration and arms procurement between the
dates as specified in a).
In case the eligible person died, a member of his
family (widow, widower, parent, brother, sister, child) may request to
receive the ribbon or replacement of lost or worn ribbon.
Presentation of the ribbon started in 1951. In 1955 the ribbon was also
awarded to any town, village or settlement that during the period between
1 February 1948 and 10 March 1949 was subject to enemy ground attacks or
was cut off for at least a month. In this case the ribbon was connected to
a standard.
Click here
for the list of towns and villages entitled to the ribbon. See also
Clasps on this ribbon.
Look
here
for the various award documents and
ribbon
versions. There was a never realized
proposal to add a medal to this ribbon.
Sinai Campaign Ribbon
a) all IDF personnel on continuous active duty during at least 72 hours between 26 October 1956 and 6 November 1956.
b) all IDF personnel who were killed during the Sinai Campaign
c) commanders of the civil defense, serving as in a)
d) civilians serving at IDF and civilians volunteering as drivers of mobilized vehicles, serving as in a)
In 1958
the minister of Defense decided to extend the eligibility to personnel of
police, security forces and military industry.
In case the eligible person died, a member of his
family (widow, widower, parent, brother, sister, child) may
request to receive the ribbon or replacement of lost or worn ribbon.
Presentation of the ribbon started in 1957. Look
here
for samples of award certificates, pictures of soldiers wearing this
ribbon and
ribbon versions
Awarded to:
a) all IDF personnel on active duty during at least 24 hours between 5
June 1967 and 11 June 1967.
b) all IDF personnel who were killed or wounded during this war or were
killed between 18 May 1967 and 5 June 1967.
c) adult civilians serving at IDF between 1 April 1967 and 11 June 1967.
d) civilians volunteering as drivers of mobilized
vehicles, as well as reserve soldiers who volunteered to serve in an
active IDF unit.
e) civilian security personnel, including the armament industry, officials
dealing with state of emergency arrangements and others who took part in
the activities, as decided by the
government, who worked continuously from 15 May 1967 till 12 June 1967.
In case the eligible person died, a member of his family (widow, widower, parent, brother, sister, child) may request to receive the ribbon or replacement of lost or worn ribbon. Presentation of the ribbon started in 1967. See pictures of the ceremony Look here for samples of award certificates and versions of the ribbon.
Awarded to:
a) IDF personnel on active duty during at least 30 continuous days between
June 11, 1967 and August 8, 1970.
b) IDF reserve soldiers who served a total of at least 30 days within the
period as in a).
c) soldiers who were killed, wounded or missed in action during this war.
d) civilians, who provided direct assistance to the
battlefront or home front units during at least 30 continuous days in the
period as in a), specifically:
- civilian personnel (not including volunteering minors) of IDF and the
Ministry of Defense
- Israel Military Industries (IMI), the Armament Development Authority
(Rafael) and Israel Aircraft Industry
-personnel of the General Security Service and Mossad
- the army department store Shekem and employees and volunteers of the
Committee for the Benefit of the Soldier
- employees dealing with state of emergency arrangements
- drivers of transport companies, drivers who were drafted to the army
together with their trucks or who voluntarily did so.
- exempts from military service and who volunteered to active service.
d) others not belonging to the above groups and who provided direct
assistance to the
battle front units, during at least 30 continuous days as in a), after
presenting relevant documents and approval of the Ministry of Defense.
In case the eligible person died, a member of his
family (widow, widower, parent, brother, sister, child) may
request to receive the ribbon or replacement of lost or worn ribbon.
Presentation of the ribbon started May 7, 2003
According to IDF publications, the number of active IDF personnel entitled to
this ribbon is 93, including 8 generals. The number of soldiers who are no
longer on active duty and are entitled to this ribbon is 2562. Look
here
for the award document and
versions of
the ribbon.
Yom Kippur War Ribbon
Awarded to:
a) all IDF personnel on active duty during at least 3 continuous days between
6 October 1973 and 24 October 1973.
b) all IDF personnel who served between the above dates, but less than 3
days, if this service was ended because of illness, injury or death as a
result of this service or who were missed in action and have not been
recovered since.
c) soldiers who, after 24 October 1973 and before the day of signature on
the agreement of separation of forces (at the northern front 18 January
1974, at the southern front 31 May 1974) were injured, got ill, their
illness deteriorated, were killed or missed in action during and as a
result of service.
d) civilian security personnel, including the armament industry, officials
dealing with state of emergency arrangements and employees of state
companies who took part in the activities, as required by law, who served
at least 18 continuous days during the period defined as in a).
e)
civilians, who provided direct assistance to the
front units during at least 18 continuous days in the period defined as in
a).
f) civilians as described in d) and e) in case where
his or her work was interrupted by injury or death during and as a result
of service in the period defined as in a) or after 24 October 1973 and
before the day of signature on the agreement of separation of forces (at
the northern front 18 January 1974, at the southern front 31 May 1974),
even if no 18 continuous days of work or service were fulfilled.
In case the eligible person died, a member of his family (widow, widower, parent, brother, sister, child) may request to receive the ribbon or replacement of lost or worn ribbon. Presentation of the ribbon started in 1974. Look here for the award document.
Awarded to:
a) all IDF personnel on active duty during at least 3 continuous days between
5 June 1982 and 29 September 1982.
b) any IDF soldier who served between the above dates, less than 3
days, but was missed in action and has not been recovered since, who was
killed, taken prisoner of war, was injured, got ill or his illness
deteriorated, during and as a result of his service.
c) soldiers who were killed in combat, was missed in action, taken
prisoner in Lebanon after 29 September 1982 and as long as IDF forces are
deployed in this area.
d) personnel serving in
Lebanon after 29 September 1982 and the Chief of Staff or head of
Personnel department or their representatives decide that there exist
special grounds for awarding the ribbon.
e) civilian security personnel, including the armament industry, officials
dealing with state of emergency arrangements, Magen David Adom first aid
workers and employees of state companies who took part in the activities,
as required by law, who served at least 21 continuous days during the
period defined as in a).
f) civilians, who provided direct assistance to the
front units during at least 21 continuous days in the period defined as in
a).
g) civilians as described in d) and e) in case where
his or her work was interrupted by injury or death during and as a result
of service, even if no 21 continuous days of work or service were
fulfilled.
In case the eligible person died, a member of his family (widow, widower, parent, brother, sister, child) may request to receive the ribbon or replacement of lost or worn ribbon.
Presentation of the ribbon started in 1983. Look here for the award document.
Determining a qualifying military unit:
(a) The head of the Personnel Directorate may determine that a military unit is a qualifying military unit in a certain year out of the entire determining period (hereinafter - the qualifying year), if it is one of the following:
(1) A military unit that operated during the determining period in the Lebanese sector or directly assisted the fighting in the Lebanese sector, for a total period of at least 30 days in the same year;
(2) A special military unit as defined in the army orders, which operated during the specified period in the Lebanese sector, at least once in the same year.
(b) The head of the Personnel Directorate may determine with regard to a certain qualifying military unit holders of positions or professions for which only the unit will be considered a qualifying military unit, if he finds that with regard to those holders of positions or professions the aforementioned in sub-regulation (a)(1) or (2) has been fulfilled, as applicable.
The soldiers eligible to receive the ribbon:
A soldier entitled to receive the Campaign ribbon for service in the Security Zone in Lebanon is a soldier who, during the specified period, served regular service or reserve service, who is one of the following:
(1) Proper regular service in a qualifying military unit for at least thirty consecutive days during a qualifying year of that unit;
(2) active reserve service in a military unit qualifies for a period of at least thirty days cumulatively, during years of eligibility for that unit;
(3) Regular service or reserve service for a period shorter than thirty days as stated in paragraphs (1) and (2), however -
(a) was absent during his service and since then his traces have not been known;
(b) fell, was captured or injured during his service;
(c) was wounded or fell ill in a qualifying year during his service in a qualifying military unit and as a result of his service or his injury or illness was aggravated in a qualifying year during his service in a qualifying military unit and as a result of his service;
(4) Regular service or reserve service during the determining period, and the head of the Personnel Directorate or the person authorized to do so ordered that he is entitled to the Campaign ribbon for service in the Security Zone, after the recommendations of the advisory committee were brought before him, and after he was convinced that he had made a direct and significant contribution to the fighting in the Lebanese sector or that there had been special circumstances regarding him that justify the awarding of the ribbon.
South Lebanon Army (SLA) personnel entitled to receive the campaign ribbon:
A SLA member entitled to receive the campaign badge in the security zone in Lebanon is one who, during the specified period, served in the SLA.
In case the eligible person deceased the campaign ribbon will be given to the closest survivor, as defined in section 6(b) of the law.
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The choice of colors of the ribbon: Blue-white-blue: the flag of Israel Red-green: the flag of Lebanon Green: warfare in areas of vegetation Red: casualties/strength of the fighting Grey: continued operation and the color of concrete posts |
Presentation of the ribbon started in
2021.
Look
here
for the award document.
Look here for the letter from the Chief of Staff that was sent
together with the ribbon
a) every soldier who was on active duty during at least 3 continuous days, between 12 July and 14 August 2006, as well as to citizens as specified hereafter.
b) any IDF soldier who served between the above dates, less than 3 days, but was missed in action and has not been recovered since, who was killed, taken prisoner of war, was injured, got ill or his illness deteriorated, during and as a result of his service.
c) civilian security personnel like the police and prison service who served or worked voluntarily for at least 3 continuous days during the period defined as in a)
d) civilians, who provided assistance during at least 8 continuous days to the front units or the civilian population, in one of the following bodies:
- government offices except for the Ministry of
Defense
- state companies and daughter companies
- fire brigades
- Magen David Adom first aid association
- local authorities and companies controlled by local authorities
- Chesed shel Emet - body recovery association
- Hospitals
- Security officers in specified places
- Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers (Aguda lema'an haHail)
- other legal bodies
- national organizations like the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish
Agency for Israel, the Jewish National Fund and their affiliated
organizations.
In case the eligible person died, a member of his family (widow, widower, parent, brother, sister, child) may request to receive the ribbon or replacement of lost or worn ribbon.
Presentation of the ribbon started on September 2, when the ribbon was awarded to those who also earned a decoration for acts during this war. From October 2007 till March 2008 the ribbon will be presented or sent by mail to others entitled. This ribbon is made in enamel version only!
Some variations - this campaign ribbon together with citation of:
| Chief of Staff |
 |
| Officer Commanding Territorial Command | |
| Divisional Commander |
Look here for pictures of the presentation of the ribbon and pictures of soldiers wearing the ribbon. Look here for the award document.
The ribbon will be the eighth since the state was
founded. The ribbon will also be given to members of the Shin Bet,
Mossad, Israel Police, and Israel Prisons Service. Members of the Gaza
border communities and kibbutz security officers, Magen David Adom
paramedics, firefighters and civilians working for the IDF on behalf of
the government in the West Bank and Gaza Strip will also be eligible for
campaign ribbons pending a vote in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and
Defense Committee. The other organizations whose activities were related
to the operation will receive commendations as a group, which also
requires the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's approval.
The ribbon's design will feature blue and white stripes, to symbolize
Israel's flag; the color red, for the blood of those who fell and or
were wounded; orange to represent Israel's home front, and light brown
to represent southern Israel. The ribbon will be handed at out for the
first time during the IDF's medals ceremony in February.
According to IDF announcement of 1/7/2015 the ribbon will be awarded to:
a) IDF personnel on active duty during at least 5
continuous days between 7 July and 26 August 2014
b) IDF reserve soldiers who served a total of at least 5 days within the
period as in a).
Decoration of State Warriors
(clasp mounted on
War of Independence Ribbon)
A small nickel clasp, in the form of a biblical candle, mounted on the War of Independence Ribbon.
For details an award criteria, see this
decoration for
civilian wear. The size of the clasp: height 10 mm, width about 12 mm.
This is one of the clasps that was fixed on the War of Independence Ribbon. More on these clasps.
The most left ribbon has the clasp mounted on it.
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Old type Painted |
New type Enamel |
awarded to:
a) those who served in a combat unit for a period of at least 18 months.
b) those who served at least 4 consecutive months in combat.
Officially worn on the right uniform chest pocket, but often seen on the left side, below the ribbons.
The badge is made of nickel, height 22 mm, width about 15 mm.
Samples
© Yissachar Ruas Photography www.yruas.com
(Government Press Office, Sa'ar Ya'acov)
notice the variety of ranks, ribbons and badges of the 3 generals
