View source for Oak leaf cluster

{{about|the ribbon device representing an award|the rank insignia|Major (United States)|and|Lieutenant colonel (United States)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox award
|name=Oak leaf cluster
|image=[[File:Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg|150px]][[File:Silver_oakleaf-3d.svg|150px]]
|caption=Bronze and silver oak leaf clusters
|presenter=[[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]<br>[[Department of the Army]]<br>[[Department of the Air Force]]
|type=Ribbon [[United States military award devices|device]]
|eligibility=
|awarded_for= To denote preceding decorations and awards.<ref>DoD Awards Manual, 1348.33 V3</ref>
|status=Currently in use
|firstawarded=
|lastawarded=
|total_awarded=
|total_awarded_posthumously=
|total_recipients=
|higher=
|same=
|lower=
|image2=
|caption2=
}}

An '''oak leaf cluster''' is a  [[United States military award devices|ribbon device]] to denote preceding decorations and awards consisting of a miniature bronze or silver twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem. It is authorized by the [[United States Armed Forces]] for a specific set of decorations and awards of the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]], [[Department of the Army]], and [[United States Department of the Air Force|Department of the Air Force]].<ref>DoD Awards Manual 1348.33, V3, P. 16 (2) bottom, 23 November 2010</ref>

The bronze oak leaf cluster represents one additional award, while the silver oak leaf cluster is worn in lieu of five bronze oak leaf clusters.<ref name="AR 670-1">{{cite web|url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30302-AR_670-1-000-WEB-1.pdf|title=Army Regulation 670-1 |date=2021-01-26|access-date=2022-12-17}}</ref>

==Criteria and wear==
Oak leaf clusters are worn with the stems of the leaves pointing to the wearer's right.  For medals, {{convert|13/32|in|mm|adj=on}} oak leaf clusters are worn on the medal's suspension ribbon.<ref name="DA PAM 670-1">{{cite web|url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30948-PAM_670-1-000-WEB-1.pdf|title=Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia|date=2021-01-26|access-date=2022-12-17}}</ref>  For [[service ribbon]]s, {{convert|5/16|in|mm|adj=on}} oak leaf clusters are worn, with no more than four oak leaf clusters being worn side by side.<ref name="DA PAM 670-1" /><ref name=DoDM1348.33-V3>{{cite web |title=DoDM 1348.33-V3, November 23, 2010 |url=http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134833vol3.pdf |access-date=2012-04-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226205442/http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134833vol3.pdf |archive-date=2013-02-26}}</ref>  If the number of authorized oak leaf clusters exceeds four, a second ribbon is authorized for wear and is worn after the first ribbon.<ref name="AR 670-1" />  The second ribbon counts as one additional award, after which more leaf clusters may be added to the second ribbon.  If future awards reduce the number of oak leaf clusters worn on the first ribbon due to bronze oak leaf clusters being replaced by a silver oak leaf cluster, the second ribbon is removed and the appropriate number of devices is placed on the first ribbon.<ref name="AR 670-1" />

===Examples===
The following are examples of the first through twenty-first awards of an [[Army Commendation Medal]] with the bronze and silver oak leaf clusters:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| First award || {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Second award || {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Third award || {{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Fourth award || {{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Fifth award || {{ribbon devices|number=4|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Sixth award || {{ribbon devices|number=5|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Seventh award || {{ribbon devices|number=6|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Eighth award || {{ribbon devices|number=7|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Ninth award || {{ribbon devices|number=8|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Tenth award || {{ribbon devices|number=8|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Eleventh award || {{ribbon devices|number=10|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Twelfth award || {{ribbon devices|number=11|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Thirteenth award || {{ribbon devices|number=12|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Fourteenth award || {{ribbon devices|number=12|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Fifteenth award || {{ribbon devices|number=12|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Sixteenth award || {{ribbon devices|number=15|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Seventeenth award || {{ribbon devices|number=16|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Eighteenth award || {{ribbon devices|number=16|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Nineteenth award || {{ribbon devices|number=16|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Twentieth award || {{ribbon devices|number=16|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| Twenty-first award || {{ribbon devices|number=20|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|}

==Decorations and awards==
Oak leaf clusters may be worn on [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]], [[Department of the Army]], and [[Department of the Air Force]] decorations and awards presented to members of the eight [[Uniformed Services of the United States|uniformed services]]: the Army, [[United States Navy|Navy]], [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], Air Force, [[United States Space Force|Space Force]], [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]], [[United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps|Public Health Service]], and the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps|NOAA Commissioned Corps]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Army personnel<ref name="Army600-8-22">{{cite web|url=https://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf|title=Army Regulation 600-8-22]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722181345/http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-22}}</ref> !! Air Force and Space Force personnel<ref>{{cite web |url=https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi36-2803/dafi36-2803.pdf |title=Department of the Air Force Instruction 36-2803 |date=2022-05-03|access-date=2022-12-17}}</ref> !! Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, PHS, and NOAA personnel<ref name="NavyMarines">{{Cite web |url=https://awards.navy.mil/awards/webdoc01.nsf/7F58DF7CC7E11070852571F60065650B/$File/1650.1h.pdf |title=SECNAVINST 1650.1H |access-date=2012-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515033028/https://awards.navy.mil/awards/webdoc01.nsf/7F58DF7CC7E11070852571F60065650B/$File/1650.1H.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="CoastGuard">[http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/1000-1999/CIM_1650_25D.pdf Coast Guard Commandant Instruction 1650.25D]</ref><ref name=CC26.3.3>{{cite web|title=Commissioned Corps Instruction CC26.3.3 Wear of Ribbons and Medals|url=http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/ccpm26_3_3.pdf|work=[Commissioned Corps Management Information System website]|publisher=United States Public Health Service|access-date=2012-07-01|page=12|format=pdf|date=2008-08-28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915073658/http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/CCPM26_3_3.pdf|archive-date=2012-09-15}}</ref><ref name=Ch12pt6>{{cite web |title=NOAA Corps Directives, Chapter 12  PART 6 – Insignia, Medals, and Ribbon Bars |url=http://www.corpscpc.noaa.gov/procedures/corps_directives/chapter_12/ncd_ch12part6.pdf |work=[Commissioned Corps Personnel Center] |access-date=2012-07-01}}</ref>
|-
| [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] and [[Air Force Cross (United States)|Air Force Cross]]|| Distinguished Service Cross and Air Force Cross || Distinguished Service Cross and Air Force Cross 
|-
| [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] || Defense Distinguished Service Medal || Defense Distinguished Service Medal 
|-
| [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Distinguished Service Medal]] and [[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]]|| Distinguished Service Medal and Air Force Distinguished Service Medal || Distinguished Service Medal and Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
|-
| [[Silver Star]] || Silver Star ||
|-
| [[Defense Superior Service Medal]] || Defense Superior Service Medal || Defense Superior Service Medal 
|-
| [[Legion of Merit]] || Legion of Merit ||
|-
| [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] || Distinguished Flying Cross ||
|-
| [[Soldier's Medal]] and [[Airman's Medal]]|| Soldier's Medal and Airman's Medal || Soldier's Medal and Airman's Medal
|-
| [[Bronze Star Medal]] || Bronze Star Medal ||
|-
| [[Purple Heart]] || Purple Heart ||
|-
| [[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]] || Defense Meritorious Service Medal || Defense Meritorious Service Medal
|-
| [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] || Meritorious Service Medal || 
|-
| || [[Air Medal]] || 
|-
| || [[Aerial Achievement Medal]] || 
|-
| [[Joint Service Commendation Medal]] || Joint Service Commendation Medal || Joint Service Commendation Medal
|-
| Army and Air Force [[Commendation Medal]] || Army and Air Force Commendation Medal || Army and Air Force Commendation Medal
|-
| [[Joint Service Achievement Medal]] || Joint Service Achievement Medal || Joint Service Achievement Medal
|-
| Army and Air Force [[Achievement Medal]] || Army and Air Force Achievement Medal || Army and Air Force Achievement Medal
|-
| [[Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal]] || Combat Readiness Medal || 
|-
| ||[[Air Force Good Conduct Medal]] and [[Space Force Good Conduct Medal]]||
|-
| ||[[Air and Space Longevity Service Award]]||
|-
| [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]] || Presidential Unit Citation
|-
| ||[[Overseas Service Ribbon#Air Force|Overseas Service Ribbon]] (''long and short tours'') ||
|-
| [[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]] || Joint Meritorious Unit Award || Joint Meritorious Unit Award 
|-
| [[Valorous Unit Award]] || [[Gallant Unit Citation]] ||
|-
| [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] || [[Meritorious Unit Commendation|Meritorious Unit Award]] ||
|-
| [[Superior Unit Award]] || [[Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award|Outstanding Unit Award]] ||
|-
| ||[[Organizational Excellence Award]]||
|-
| ||[[Non-Commissioned Officer Development Ribbon|Air Force NCO PME Graduate Ribbon]]||
|-
|
| [[Air and Space Training Ribbon]]
|
|-
|}
Except for the [[Air Medal]], unique decorations and awards issued by Department of the Army or Department of the Air Force, and those decorations and awards issued by the Department of Defense, the other uniformed services use [[5/16 inch star|{{frac|5|16}} inch star]]s to indicate subsequent personal decorations only; a gold {{frac|5|16}} inch star is equivalent to a bronze oak leaf cluster, while a silver {{frac|5|16}} inch star is equivalent to a silver oak leaf cluster.<ref>DoD Awards Manual 1348.33, V3, P. 50 "AM" (P. 51 Table 1, Key 1., 2., 11., 13.), 23 November 2010</ref>  While the Air Force uses oak leaf clusters for the Air Medal, since the Vietnam War, the Army has used {{convert|3/16|in|mm|adj=on}} bronze [[Arabic numeral]]s to denote subsequent awards, in which case the ribbon denotes the first award and numerals starting with the numeral "2" denote additional awards.<ref>DoD Awards Manual, V3, P. 55&56 (1), (2), 23 November 2010</ref>

==Other nations==
In other nations, oak leaf clusters are also used as symbols for various awards and decorations.  In Germany, the German oak is the national tree of Germany, thus oak leaves are a prominent symbol on most German military orders.  During [[World War II]], the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross|Knight's Cross]] of the German [[Iron Cross]] could be awarded with the additional distinction of oak leaves (''mit Eichenlaub''). Of the 7,313 awards of the Knight's Cross, only 882 received oak leaves.  After World War II, Iron Crosses awarded previously could be worn by the recipient provided the [[swastika]] was replaced by oak leaves. The [[Bundeswehr]] awards the [[Bundeswehr Cross of Honour for Valour|Cross of Honour for Bravery]] for extraordinary bravery. The Cross of Honour for Bravery differs from the Badge of Honour by an adornment in the shape of stylized double oak leaves.<ref name="BMVg 13 August 2008">{{cite web |url=http://www.bundeswehr.de/fileserving/PortalFiles/C1256EF40036B05B/W27KACAR767INFODE/Stiftungserlass.pdf?yw_repository=youatweb |title=Stiftungserlass des BMVg vom 13. August 2008 |language=de |publisher=Bundeswehr.de |access-date=2011-10-26}}</ref>  Furthermore, it was featured on the [[Pfennig]] in Germany and since the introduction of the [[euro]] in 2001 it is used on the obverse side of the [[German euro coins|German euro coinage]].  In earlier times, the [[Pour le Mérite]], the highest military order in the [[Kingdom of Prussia]], could also be awarded with oak leaves.  A civil version of the order, for accomplishments in the arts and sciences, still exists in the [[Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]].

In [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries, a bronze oak leaf signifies a [[Mentioned in Despatches|Mention in Despatches]], and is worn as a gallantry award in its own right, rather than to signify multiple instances of campaign service. The Commonwealth equivalent of a United States oak leaf cluster is a [[medal bar]] worn with a campaign medal.

Oak leaves are a common motif on military symbols in [[Turkey]] because of the famed longevity of the oak tree. They appear on the emblem of [[Turkish Land Forces]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kkk.tsk.tr/amblem.aspx|title=Kara Kuvvetleri Amblemi|lang=tr|access-date=2023-12-07}}</ref> the emblem of [[Gendarmerie General Command]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jandarma.gov.tr/kurumsal-kimlik|title=Kurumsal Kimlik|lang=tr|access-date=2023-12-07}}</ref> and together with acorns on the [[military ranks of Turkey#Turkish Naval Forces|non-commissioned officer insignia]] of [[Turkish Naval Forces]].

==See also==
*[[Awards and decorations of the United States military]]
*[[United States military award devices]]
*[[5/16 inch star]]
*[[Service star|Service, battle, or campaign star]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oak Leaf Cluster}}
[[Category:United States military award devices]]
[[Category:Military ribbons of the United States]]