Criteria: Awarded to any member of the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps assigned to a Naval Afloat Command and who performs 90 or more consecutive days of a seaward deployment within a one-year period. After 1999, for those service members stationed on U.S. vessels home-ported in foreign ports (such as Yokosuka, Japan), the Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon is also authorized for one year of foreign duty and may be awarded simultaneously with the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon was established in May 1980 and retroactively authorized to August 1974.

Note: This service ribbon is one of the few awards issued by the military as a ribbon only. There is no accompanying medal.