Description and Wear
Service stars are miniature devices made of metal, 3/16 inch in height, and are bronze or silver in appearance. These are worn on the suspension or service ribbon of a medal or award with one point of the star pointing up. The silver version of the service star is sometimes confused with the Silver Star medal, a decoration awarded for gallantry in combat. The bronze service star is sometimes confused with the Bronze Star Medal, another individual decoration. The silver service star is similar to the silver 5/16 inch stars, which is issued for subsequent awards of certain individual decorations and awards.
A bronze service star is worn to denote one instance of an award or service period, while a silver service star is worn in lieu of five bronze service stars. For some awards, a bronze service star is worn with the first issuance of a particular award, while other awards count the service ribbon as the first award and denote the second and subsequent awards with the addition of service stars. For example, when a service member is authorized to wear the Iraq Campaign Medal, service stars are added for each campaign phase in which the member participated. As a result, the potential addition of bronze and silver service stars for up to seven of the designated campaign phases would be:
| Phase 1: Liberation of Iraq – March 19 to May 1, 2003 | |
| Phase 2: Transition of Iraq – May 2, 2003 to June 28, 2004 | |
| Phase 3: Iraqi Governance – June 29, 2004 to December 15, 2005 | |
| Phase 4: National Resolution – December 16, 2005 to January 9, 2007 | |
| Phase 5: Iraqi Surge - January 10, 2007 to December 31, 2008 | |
| Phase 6: Iraqi Sovereignty - January 1, 2009 to August 31, 2010 | |
| Phase 7: New Dawn - September 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011 |
Conversely, when a service member is authorized to wear the National Defense Service Medal, the ribbon itself indicates the first award, with service stars being added to indicate additional awards. As a result, the potential addition of service stars for participation in up to four of the designated conflicts would be:
| Korean War: June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954 | |
| Vietnam War: January 1, 1961 to August 14, 1974 | |
| Gulf War: August 2, 1990 to November 30, 1995 | |
| War on Terrorism: September 11, 2001 to a future date to announced |
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