The Coast Guard E Ribbon was created in September of 1990 as the equivalent to the Navy E Ribbon.  These military awards are sometimes called Coast Guard Excellence Ribbons.  These military ribbons are a unit award which are presented to the officers and crew of any Coast Guard Cutter which earns the Operational Excellence Award.

The Coast Guard E Ribbon is worn below the Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation in the military medals and ribbons order of precedence, and subsequent awards of these military ribbons are denoted by gold Star devices.

The Coast Guard E Ribbon is generally available as Army ribbons and a unit banner, and can be worn as traditional full size military ribbons and lapel pins.  Like most military awards, it is available as traditional slide-on, full size military ribbons, and thin military ribbons.