The Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (SSDR) is a service award of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps which was authorized in May 1980 and retroactively authorized to 15 August 1974, coinciding with a temporary suspension in authority for award of the National Defense Service Medal between that date and 2 August 1990. It was the first type of sea service ribbon established in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon is granted to any member of the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps
assigned to a deployable unit (e.g., a ship (including submarines),
aircraft squadron, air wing or air group, detachment, battalion, Marine
Expeditionary Unit, Marine Air Ground Task Force, or other unit type
that operates away from its assigned homeport) and is forward-deployed
for a period of either 90 consecutive days or two periods of at least
80 days each within a given 12-month period; or 6 months stationed
overseas in a forward deployed location. Staffs of embarked Destroyer
Squadrons (DESRONs), Amphibious Squadrons (PHIBRONs), Amphibious
Readiness Groups (ARG), Expeditionary Strike Groups (ESGs), Carrier
Strike Groups (CSGs) and similar units deployed within time period
requirements are also eligible for award. A 3/16 inch bronze star is
awarded for the second through the fifth award of the ribbon; the
3/16-inch silver star will be worn in lieu of five 3/16-inch bronze
stars.
When a ship's crew qualifies for the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon,
the ship is authorized to paint and display the ribbon and award stars
on the port and starboard side of the bulwark aft to designate the
number of deployments conducted throughout the commissioned life of the
ship since August 1974.
When a U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps aviation squadron qualifies for
the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the squadron is authorized to paint
and display the ribbon and award stars on the exterior or interior of
their hangar or squadron spaces to designate the number of deployments
conducted throughout the active life of that squadron since August 1974.
