Sizes: Ribbon: Standard - Lapel Pin: 11/16 - Non-Standard Lapel Pin - 7/8"The Navy Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) was authorized on 17 February 1969 and may be awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps in the grade of USN captain and below and USMC colonel and below, "...who have actively participated in ground or surface combat."
Air combat does not meet the criteria for the CAR, with Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers and enlisted Naval Aircrewman typically being recognized for combat via the Air Medal, although this decoration requires far more combat exposure over a prolonged period versus the single exposure criteria of the CAR.
