Maryland National Guard Outstanding Soldier/Airman/First Sergeant of the Year Ribbon

Awarded to those individuals nominated for the Maryland Army National Guard Outstanding Soldier of the Year at the state level or the Maryland Air National Guard Outstanding Airman at the wing level and interviewed by the selection board. It is also awarded to those nominated for the Maryland Air National Guard First Sergeant of the Year Award. Those individuals selected as the Outstanding Senior NCO; Outstanding NCO; Outstanding Soldier/Airman/First Sergeant of the Year will be distinguished from the other nominees by affixing a bronze bottony to the ribbon.

A bronze bottony will be affixed to the ribbon each time the member is selected in a different category. Since there is only three outstanding soldier/airman categories and only one FSA category, no more than four botonees will be worn by any one individual on this ribbon.

The effective date of this ribbon is 1 January 1998. However, if a member of the Maryland National Guard can prove he/she was nominated for, or selected as, the Outstanding Airman of the Year prior to this date, the ribbon will be awarded.

Description: The ribbon is cross-grained and consists of vertical stripes of scarlet red, royal blue, scarlet red, white, scarlet red, royal blue, scarlet red.