The Navy Presidential Unit Citation was established by Executive Order 9050 signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 6, 1942, and promulgated by Navy Department General Order Number 187 of February 3, 1943. The Navy Presidential Unit Citation has been in effect since October 16, 1941.
Criteria
The Navy Presidential Unit Citation is awarded in the name of the President to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy. The unit must have accomplished its mission under such extremely difficult and hazardous conditions to set it apart from and above other units participating in the same campaign. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would be required for award of a Navy Cross to an individual.
Wear
The Navy Presidential Unit Citation is worn after the Combat Action Ribbon and before the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
Bronze and silver stars three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter. Subsequent award of the Presidential Unit Citation are currently denoted by bronze stars three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter; a silver star three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter is worn in lieu of five bronze stars.
- Blue stars three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter (now obsolete) were initially used to denote second and subsequent awards.
- A gold block letter N was authorized for wear on the Navy Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the crew of the USS Nautilus (SSN 571) for service between July 22 and August 5, 1958.
- A bronze globe was authorized for wear on the Navy Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the crew of the USS Triton (SSN 586) for service between February 16 and May 10, 1960.