A gold frame is an attachment to a military decoration which is issued by the militaries of some countries. The gold frame is designed to enclose an award ribbon and is usually a means of distinguishing the ribbon's special quality or denoting some additional achievement to the award's basic criteria.
The gold frame is normally an automatic attachment to a ribbon decoration. In certain cases, however, awards may be issued both with and without the gold frame depending upon the level of achievement. Such is the case in the United States Air Force which denotes the gold frame as a "gold border". The Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon may be presented with a gold border when the decoration is presented for service in a designated combat zone.
The gold frame and gold border is a device for ribbon awards only, and there are no provisions for issuing the attachment for medals.
Presidential Unit Citation (Army & Air Force; Air Force version may be issued without gold border)
Presidential Unit Citation (Public Health Service; A gold frame indicates a second award)[1]
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Valorous Unit Award (Army)
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army)
Superior Unit Award (Army)
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (Air Force; may be issued without gold border)
Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award (USCG; now obsolete)
DHS Outstanding Unit Award
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