What are the three types of military awards?

The three types of military awards encompass service medals, unit awards, and personal decorations. Service medals are given to recognize an individual's participation in specific operations or service periods. Unit awards are granted to recognize the achievements of a unit as a whole, acknowledging collective efforts and performance. Personal decorations, which include medals and ribbons awarded to individuals for acts of heroism or distinguished service, are essential for acknowledging individual contributions within the military context.

The other options reflect some aspects of military awards but do not accurately categorize the primary types as defined in military regulations. For instance, while commendation medals and achievement awards are indeed significant, they fall under the category of personal decorations rather than constituting a separate category. Similarly, terms like "unit citations" and "field ribbons" may describe specific types of awards but do not capture the comprehensive structure of military awards as clearly as the correct answer does.