Washington Youth Academy Awards and Recognition - Awards and Recognition Ribbons

Sep 15, 2026

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A structured reference listing the ribbons, devices, and insignia used by Washington Youth Academy to recognize cadet achievements across academics, leadership, community service, physical fitness, drill team participation, and specialized roles. It defines eligibility criteria such as achievement thresholds, service hour requirements, fitness assessment performance, and mentoring or recruiting outcomes. The guide also explains star devices for multiple earnings and details insignia protocols for Sapper tutors based on certified service hours and student support impact.

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CategoryLifestyle

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Pages3

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Washington Youth Academy Awards and Recognition

Commendation and Achievement Ribbons

Academic Excellence and Achievement

Bearing and Service to Community

Physical Fitness Training Award and Leadership Award

Drill Team and Specialized Recognition (Taekwondo, RPM, Sapper)

WASHINGTON YOUTH ACADEMY AWARDS AND RECOGNITION | COMMENDATION RIBBON
Given by Director or Deputy Director based upon meritorious achievement, significant improvement, and/or other exemplary performance | | | --- | --- | | CADET ACHIEVEMENT
Awarded for an outstanding achievement or exemplary service to the Academy but doesn’t quite deserve a Commendation Award. | | | ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Cadet has earned an 85% average in all academic classes | | | ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Cadet has earned an 85% average in a particular class Star devices are awarded for multiple classes | | | BEARING
The Bearing award is voted on by a Cadet’s peers and Awarded to those cadets who display consistent bearing and discipline throughout the entire cycle. | | | SERVICE TO COMMUNITY
Given to a cadet who has earned 80 hours or more of service hours during the residential phase | | | PHYSICAL FITNESS TRAINING AWARD
Awarded to a Cadet who scores in the Healthy Fitness Zone in all 5 test categories of the Presidential Fitness Assessment FITNESSGRAM scoresheet. | | | LEADERSHIP AWARD
Awarded to cadets in a leadership position or have successfully served in a cadet leadership position
Star devices are awarded for each additional leadership
position | | | DRILL TEAM
Cadet who is a member of the WYA drill team | | WASHINGTON YOUTH ACADEMY AWARDS AND RECOGNITION | TAEKWONDO
Cadets earn this ribbon if they successfully meet all the requirements to become a member of the Taekwondo small unit. | | | --- | --- | | RPM‐ RECRUITING PLACEMENT MENTORSHIP
Cadet who has submitted proof of placement for the post residential phase | | | RPM‐ HONORARY RECRUITER RIBBON
Cadet has successfully recruited a candidate for a future class Star devices represent the number of candidates recruited | | | WYA NATIONAL ANTHEM SINGER RIBBON
Submitting an application to be a Nat. Ant. Singer
‐Being Chosen to sing
‐Singing the Nat.Ant. at a public place while representing the WYA | | | WYA SERVICE RIBBON
Awarded for successful completion of The Acclimation Phase | | | STAR DEVICE
Placed on a ribbon used to show multiple earnings of ribbon.
Up to 4 stars | | | GOLD TORCH
Placed on the Physical Fitness Ribbon awarded for cadets who achieve Presidential Physical Fitness Award (16 & 17 years old) or NGYCP Physical Fitness Expert Award (18 & 19 years old) | | | DRILL TEAM
Device is placed on the Drill Team ribbon | | | SAPPER INSIGNIA ‐ Sapper tutors who are certified to tutor and receive more than 20 hours of service will wear the Golden Wreath above their right breast pocket. If they receive more than 30 hours of service they will have a red back felt. More than 40 hours will wear a grey back felt. More than 50 hours will receive the gold back felt.
The Stars will be given based on how many students the Tutor has single handily help receive academic excellence or great academic improvement. Each case will be discussed by the Sapper Cadre Staff to decide whether they will be approved or not. The Blue star represents 2 students. The gold star represents 5 students. The white star represents 10 students. | | WASHINGTON YOUTH ACADEMY AWARDS AND RECOGNITION | AIGUILLETTE
An aiguillette is an ornamental braided cord most often worn on uniforms, but may also be observed on other costumes such as academic dress, where it will denote an
honor.
At the WYA the aiguillette is worn to represent the following:
WORN BY HONOR GUARD LEADER
| | | SAPPER LEADER

PERFORMING ARTS LEADER
| | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | PLATOON | | RANGER LEADER | | | | BERETS
Military forces have worn distinctive uniform items for centuries to create a psychological advantage and boost their esprit de corps, but the military use of berets is a relatively recent phenomenon .
The WYA Drill Team beret is earned
The WYA Ranger Platoon Beret is earned by a rigorous physical and mental selection process. | | | |

FAQs

What is the Commendation Ribbon awarded for at Washington Youth Academy?

It is given by the Director or Deputy Director based on meritorious achievement, significant improvement, and/or other exemplary performance.

How is the Service to Community ribbon eligibility determined?

A cadet must complete 80 hours or more of service during the residential phase to receive this recognition.

What determines the number and type of star devices on certain ribbons?

Star devices reflect multiple earnings or outcomes depending on the ribbon; for example, the Sapper insignia uses star colors to represent how many students the tutor helped achieve academic excellence or improvement, with stated numeric mappings.

Sep 15, 2026

Upload by Patrick