until 2004, the outstanding unit award was the senior most unit award in the u.s. air force. it now ranks directly below the meritorious unit award, which was established in march 2004, and above the air force organizational excellence award in the precedence of air force awards and decorations. it is awarded to personnel who were assigned or attached to the unit receiving the award during the period it was awarded for. non-usaf personnel (e.g., usn, usmc, uscg) personnel assigned to usaf units awarded the outstanding unit award are also eligible to wear the ribbon on their uniforms. however, the ribbon does not come in the larger size of unit awards common to the u.s. army.