The Air Force Training Ribbon was established by the Air Force Chief of Staff in October of 1980. These military ribbons are the lowest decoration awarded by the Air Force, and only rank above foreign military awards. These military medals are authorized for completion of initial accession training after August of 1974. The Air Force defines initial accession training as Basic Military Training for enlisted personnel and either Doolie training which is available during the freshman summer at the US Air Force Academy, or through commissioning in an Air Force ROTC course, Officer Training School course, or other specialized US Air Force officer accession program. In December of 1986, the Air Force expanded this criteria to authorize the ribbon to anyone who was on active duty in December 1986, regardless of when they completed initial accession training. This decoration may not be awarded for completing flight training, technical training, career development courses, professional military education (PME) and other services’ basic training or officer training. Air Force enlisted personnel who initially accessed through BMT, and who later complete officer accession training will be entitled to a subsequent award denoted by an Oak Leaf Cluster.
The Army Training Ribbon is the equivalent of the Air Force Training Ribbon, but the Navy and the Coast Guard don’t have military awards corresponding to it. The Marine Corps has a similar award in their Eagle, Globe and Anchor insignia which is presented upon completion of Recruit Training or Officer Candidate School, or at the commissioning of Marine Corps officers from the Naval Academy or a Naval ROTC program. The Navy forbids the display of these military ribbons on Naval Service uniforms worn by former Air Force personnel.
The Air Force Training Ribbon is worn below the Air Force Marksman Ribbon in the Air Force order of precedence for all military ribbons and medals. These awards are available in traditional slide-on ribbons and the newer, custom thin ribbons currently gaining widespread popularity for their sleeker appearance.