[7thson]

I will try. Whenever you get a medal, you get a ribbon with it. If in ordinary dress uniform - say like being the OOD, JOOD, Messenger of the Watch (navy talk) - you wear all your ribbons on the left side. For very special occassions - commissioning a ship - you wear your medals on the right side and the ribbons that do not come with medals on your left side.

[Stargate]

Almost. When you wear your medals they go on the left side and any awards that only rate a ribbon and no medal are then worn on the right side.

[Robert A Cook PE]

So, when do you wear the medals with "civilian" clothes?

As Kerry claims.

[prairiebreeze]

Thanks!