6.4 Awards & Decorations
Key Takeaways
- The Medal of Honor is the highest decoration for heroism, the Air Force Cross the second highest, and the Silver Star the third-highest military combat decoration.
- The Presidential Unit Citation is the nation's highest unit award, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941.
- The five most common unit awards worn today are the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Gallant Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and Air Force Organizational Excellence Award.
- An individual may receive only one decoration for any act, achievement, or period of service, and only one unit award is given for the same achievement.
- The Purple Heart is earned by entitlement rather than awarded through recommendation, and DAFMAN 36-2806 is the governing publication for the awards and decorations program.
The Program and Its Purpose
The Department of the Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program, outlined in DAFMAN 36-2806, Military Awards: Criteria and Procedures, is designed to recognize units, organizations, and individuals, and to foster morale, provide incentive, and instill esprit de corps. Individuals or units considered must clearly demonstrate sustained and superior performance.
Two governing rules apply throughout:
- An individual may receive only one decoration for any act, achievement, or period of service.
- Only one unit award is awarded for the same achievement or service.
Decorations Versus Awards
AFH 1 defines a decoration as "the formal recognition for personal excellence that requires individual nomination and USAF or Department of Defense approval." Decorations recognize acts of valor, heroism, courage, exceptional service, meritorious service, or outstanding achievement that clearly place members above their peers and are of such importance that the person cannot receive proper recognition in any other way.
Determining factors: the member's level of responsibility, achievements, accomplishments, manner of performance, and the impact of the accomplishment.
Who may recommend. Responsibility falls primarily on the immediate supervisor, but any person other than the individual being recommended who has firsthand knowledge may recommend or contribute through the supervisor and chain of command. Do not include Controlled Unclassified Information, classified, highly sensitive, or special category information in regular decoration recommendations. A memorandum or letter of justification is required when the recommendation is for foreign military, separated or retired veterans, or members of another branch of service.
Order of Precedence — Top Air Force Decorations
| Decoration | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Medal of Honor | Highest decoration for heroism in military action. Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Generally presented by the President to the recipient or primary next of kin |
| Air Force Cross | Second highest. Extraordinary heroism — above all other combat decorations but not meriting the Medal of Honor |
| Distinguished Service Medal | Exceptionally meritorious service to the nation in a duty of great responsibility |
| Silver Star | Third-highest military combat decoration. Gallantry in action — above other combat decorations but not meriting the Medal of Honor or Air Force Cross |
| Legion of Merit | Exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding duties, performed in a clearly exceptional manner. Foreign military personnel may receive it for outstanding services to the United States |
| Distinguished Flying Cross | Heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight, for actions entirely distinctive and not routine |
| Airman's Medal | Heroism involving voluntary risk of life under conditions other than conflict with an armed enemy |
| Bronze Star Medal | Heroism, valor, or meritorious achievement or service not involving aerial flight while engaged against an enemy; valor to a lesser degree than the Silver Star or Legion of Merit |
| Purple Heart | Wounds received or death after being wounded in action. Earned by entitlement rather than awarded through recommendation |
| Air Medal | Heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight, above what is expected of professional Airmen but not warranting the DFC |
| Aerial Achievement Medal | Sustained meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight |
| Meritorious Service Medal | Outstanding meritorious achievement |
| Air and Space Commendation Medal | Distinctive meritorious achievement and service |
| Air and Space Achievement Medal | Outstanding achievement or meritorious service |
The three flight-related decorations are the most confused set: Distinguished Flying Cross (heroism or extraordinary achievement, not routine) → Air Medal (heroism or meritorious achievement) → Aerial Achievement Medal (sustained meritorious achievement). The word sustained identifies the Aerial Achievement Medal. And the Airman's Medal is the one for heroism outside conflict with an armed enemy.
Purple Heart details. Since 11 September 2001, it may be awarded to a service member attacked by a foreign terrorist organization that targeted them because of their status as a member of the Armed Forces, unless the wound results from the member's willful misconduct. An attack counts as a foreign terrorist organization attack if the attacker was in communication with the organization before the attack and the attack was inspired or motivated by it.
Medal of Honor details. Recipients receive special benefits under the Department of Veterans Affairs, additional privileges, and entitlements. AFH 1 notes that although not required by law or regulation, uniformed service members are encouraged to salute Medal of Honor recipients regardless of whether they are in uniform and regardless of rank or status. There are three versions — Army, Navy, and Air Force — with Marine Corps and Coast Guard members eligible for the Navy version and Space Force members eligible for the Air Force version. The first USAF recipient was Major Bernard F. Fisher, presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson on 19 January 1967 for action in South Vietnam.
Unit Awards
Unit awards preserve their integrity by being approved only for acts clearly and distinctly outstanding by nature and magnitude, placing the unit's performance above that of other units similar in composition and mission.
Key rules:
- Designated subordinate units may share in the award (except foreign units); higher organizations may not
- All assigned or attached people who served during the award period are authorized the ribbon if they directly contributed to the unit's mission and accomplishments
- The unit's entire service must have been honorable during the distinguished act
The five most common unit awards worn by USAF members today: the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Gallant Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Award, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award. Note that the Presidential Unit Citation is not on that list of five, even though it is the nation's highest unit award.
| Unit award | Distinguishing criteria |
|---|---|
| Presidential Unit Citation | The nation's highest unit award. Extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941. Degree of heroism equal to that required for an Air Force Cross to an individual |
| Joint Meritorious Unit Award | Joint units and activities such as a joint task force, for achievement or service superior to that normally expected |
| Gallant Unit Citation | Approved March 2004. Extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy on or after 11 September 2001; normally earned for single or successive actions covering relatively brief time spans |
| Meritorious Unit Award | Approved March 2004. Exceptionally meritorious conduct in direct support of combat operations for at least 90 continuous days on or after 11 September 2001. Service in a combat zone is not required, but service must be directly related to the combat effort. Superior performance of normal missions alone will not justify it |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | Established 6 January 1954. Awarded only to numbered units or Numbered Air Forces, air divisions, wings, groups, and squadrons. Only 10 percent of similar units assigned to a command are recommended annually |
| Air Force Organizational Excellence Award | Established 6 January 1954. Same guidelines and approval authority as the Outstanding Unit Award, but for unnumbered organizations — MAJCOMs, field operating agencies, direct reporting units, the Office of the Chief of Staff, Air Staff, and deputy assistant chief of staff agencies. Also 10 percent annually |
The numbered/unnumbered split between the Outstanding Unit Award and the Organizational Excellence Award is the single most testable distinction in the unit-award list.
Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service Awards
These recognize participation in military campaigns and expeditions, significant military operations, personal military service, or attainment of a requirement. AFH 1 advises members to keep copies of travel orders and travel vouchers as documented proof of entitlement. U.S. civilians, foreign nationals, and foreign military personnel are not eligible unless the award criteria specify otherwise. Nominations go on the AF Form 104, Service Medal Award Verification, are approved by the commander, and are submitted to the servicing military personnel flight, which procures and provides the initial issue of all achievement medals and ribbons.
| Award | Key criteria |
|---|---|
| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | 30 consecutive days in the area of operations (or the full period), 60 non-consecutive days in actual combat or equally hazardous duty, medical evacuation after being wounded, or 15 days as an assigned aircrew member flying sorties in direct support. Not more than one expeditionary medal for the same period or operation |
| Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Established 12 March 2003; for members who deployed on or after 11 September 2001 |
| Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Established 12 March 2003; for participation in GWOT operations on or after 11 September 2001 |
| Afghanistan Campaign Medal | Established 29 November 2004; service 11 September 2001 to 31 August 2021. Effective 1 May 2005, awarded in lieu of the GWOT Expeditionary Medal |
| Iraq Campaign Medal | Established 29 November 2004; service 9 March 2003 to 31 December 2011; same 1 May 2005 in-lieu-of rule |
| Kosovo Campaign Medal | Established 3 May 2000; service 24 March 1999 to 31 December 2013 |
| Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal | Qualifying service on or after 15 June 2014 |
| Korean Defense Service Medal | Approved February 2004; service in the Republic of Korea after 28 July 1954 |
| Armed Forces Service Medal | Significant activity designated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff with no foreign armed opposition or imminent threat |
| Humanitarian Service Medal | Meritorious direct participation — hands-on — in a significant military act or operation of a humanitarian nature |
| Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal | Established 9 January 1993; sustained, direct, and consequential volunteer community service |
| Armed Forces Reserve Medal | 10 years of service within a period of 12 consecutive years, or upon mobilization/contingency order to RegAF |
| National Defense Service Medal | Honorable active service during periods of conflict or national crisis as designated by SecDef |
| Prisoner of War Medal | Taken prisoner and held captive in the circumstances defined by the criteria |
| Antarctica Service Medal | Member of an Antarctic expedition or permanent Antarctica station, or service in contiguous waters |
Air Force Specific Medals and Ribbons
| Award | Key criteria |
|---|---|
| Combat Action Medal | Grades E-1 through O-6 who actively participated in ground or air combat on or after 11 September 2001 |
| Combat Readiness Medal | 24 months of sustained combat or mission readiness under a continuous individual positional evaluation program |
| Air Force Good Conduct Medal | Enlisted personnel for exemplary conduct; award is automatic unless denied by the unit commander |
| Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal | 4 continuous years on or after 1 April 1965, or 3 continuous years on or after 1 July 1975, in ANG or AFR enlisted status |
| Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal | On or after 11 Sep 2001; RPA, cyber, space, or ISR career field; hands-on employment of a weapon system with direct and immediate combat impact; not physically exposed to hostile action |
| Air and Space Campaign Medal | After 24 March 1999, support of combat operations at home station or outside the combat area |
| Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal | Direct support of nuclear deterrence operations on or after 27 December 1991 |
| Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon | 45 consecutive days or 90 non-consecutive days in deployed status |
| Air and Space Longevity Service Award | Aggregate of 4 years of honorable active federal military service |
| Air and Space Overseas Ribbon | Completion of an overseas short or long tour |
| Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon | Qualify as "Expert" with the M-16 rifle (including M-4 and GAU-5) or an issued handgun, or complete the Combat Rifle Program |
| Air and Space Training Ribbon | Completion of initial accession training after 14 August 1974; available to USSF members on or after 20 December 2019 |
Special trophies and awards require nomination by MAJCOM, FOA, or DRU commanders — usually annually. AFH 1's two examples are the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award and the Lance P. Sijan Award.
Foreign awards. The Department of the Air Force does not issue foreign certificates, medals, ribbons, emblems, devices, or badges; they may be available commercially at the individual's expense. Foreign decorations may be accepted only in recognition of combat service or for outstanding or unusually meritorious performance, and foreign unit, service, and campaign awards are only authorized after official acceptance by the Department of Defense. Non-military awards may only be accepted after approval from an official approval authority.
Which decoration is described in AFH 1 as the third-highest military combat decoration awarded to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces?
How does the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award differ from the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award?
Which characteristic makes the Purple Heart different from the other decorations listed in AFH 1?