Unofficial decorations are those military awards created and issued by local commanders in most cases unofficial awards were designed to commemorate a specific battle or engagement of a commanders unit the most well known unofficial awards were issued during the american civil war ribbon award name civil war decorations kearny cross kearny medal butler medal gillmore medal ribbon award . All five branches of the united states military issue a number of medals and decorations to servicemembers to recognize various accomplishments achievements and service rendered military ranksorg maintains a full list of all national decorations awarded by the military on this page awards are in displayed in the order of precedence. Awards and decorations of the united states army are those military awards including decorations which are issued to members of the united states army under the authority of the secretary of the armytogether with military badges such awards provide an outward display of a service members accomplishments the first recognized medals of the us army appeared during the american civil war and . All united states army military decorations list the army awards 70 decorations on this list a soldier can be awarded decorations for participating in specific services attaining high marks in various training exercises and for many other actions done while serving the army