Army Regulation (AR) 670-1 Practice Test

Certain military items that symbolize earned merit and identity are legally protected from sale to unauthorized individuals. In AR 670-1 and related military law, decorations, service medals, service and training ribbons, and other awards are defined as distinctive items that may not be sold to people not authorized to possess them. This protection helps prevent fraud and preserves the integrity and meaning of those awards, since they represent genuine achievement and service.

The other items listed—badges and tabs, uniform buttons, and insignia of any design or color adopted by the Army—are not categorized the same way in this context, so they do not carry the same legal prohibition on sale.