7.4 Awards and Decorations (AFH-1 Section 8D)
Key Takeaways
- The Department of the Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program in DAFMAN 36-2806 recognizes units and individuals to foster morale, provide incentive, and instill esprit de corps; nominees must clearly demonstrate sustained and superior performance.
- A decoration is formal recognition that requires individual nomination and USAF or Department of Defense approval; a member may receive only one decoration for any act, achievement, or period of service.
- Responsibility for submitting a decoration primarily falls on the immediate supervisor, but any person other than the member who has firsthand knowledge may recommend through the supervisor and chain of command.
- AFH 1 awards the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty; the Air Force Cross for extraordinary heroism below the Medal of Honor; and the Silver Star for gallantry in action below the Air Force Cross.
- The Meritorious Service Medal is for outstanding meritorious achievement; the Air and Space Commendation Medal is for distinctive meritorious achievement and service; the Air and Space Achievement Medal is for outstanding achievement or meritorious service. WAPS medal point values are not in this chapter.
Why 8D is a purpose-and-process chapter
Section 8D — Awards and Decorations is B for SSgt and B for TSgt. The PFE is not a ribbon-rack drill. AFH 1 points to Attachment 6, DAF Ribbons and Medals, and Attachment 7, Devices, instead of reprinting the chart. Study program purpose, who may recommend, one decoration per act, and the purpose sentences for the top personal decorations. WAPS decoration points live in AFI 36-2502 Table 2.4 (introduction), not here.
Acts of valor, heroism, exceptional service, and outstanding achievement deserve special recognition. The Department of the Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program (DAFMAN 36-2806) recognizes units, organizations, and individuals to foster morale, provide incentive, and instill esprit de corps. Nominees must clearly demonstrate sustained and superior performance.
Three recognition families
- Campaign, expeditionary, and service awards recognize participation or attaining a requirement. Keep travel orders and vouchers. DAF nominations use AF Form 104, Service Medal Award Verification, commander-approved, then to the military personnel flight. Civilians, foreign nationals, and foreign military are not eligible unless criteria say so.
- Unit awards recognize acts clearly and distinctly outstanding above similar units. One unit award per achievement. Subordinates may share; higher organizations may not. People who directly contributed may wear the ribbon. The five most common today: Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Gallant Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and Air Force Organizational Excellence Award. The Presidential Unit Citation is the nation's highest unit award (heroism degree equal to an Air Force Cross to an individual).
- Decorations are formal recognition for personal excellence requiring individual nomination and USAF or DoD approval. Factors: responsibility, achievements, manner of performance, and impact. One decoration per act, achievement, or period of service.
Who writes the recommendation
Responsibility primarily falls on the immediate supervisor. Any person other than the member with firsthand knowledge may recommend or contribute through the supervisor and chain of command. Keep CUI, classified, and special-category information out of regular recommendations. A justification letter may accompany the package; it must when the recommendation is for foreign military, separated or retired veterans, or another branch. The member cannot self-nominate.
Personal decorations AFH 1 actually defines
AFH 1 Figure 8.1 is the decorations display. Teach purpose, not ribbon order. The 15 February 2025 handbook uses Air and Space Commendation Medal and Air and Space Achievement Medal.
| Decoration | AFH 1 purpose (what it is for) |
|---|---|
| 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 while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States, in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Generally presented by the President to the recipient or primary next of kin. Recipients receive VA special benefits. Uniformed members are encouraged to salute recipients in or out of uniform, regardless of rank — courtesy, not a legal requirement. Three departmental versions exist; Space Force members are eligible for the Department of the Air Force version. AFH 1 notes the first USAF recipient as Major Bernard F. Fisher, presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson on 19 January 1967. |
| Air Force Cross | Second highest decoration. Extraordinary heroism in the same three engagement settings as the Medal of Honor. The act must be above all other combat decorations but not merit the Medal of Honor. |
| Silver Star | Third-highest military combat decoration. Gallantry in action in those same three settings. The act must be above other combat decorations but not merit the Medal of Honor or an Air Force Cross. |
| 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. |
Neighbor decorations so you do not mis-assign the six above: Distinguished Service Medal (duty of great responsibility); Legion of Merit (outstanding duties; also awardable to foreign military); Distinguished Flying Cross (heroism or extraordinary achievement in aerial flight); Airman's Medal (voluntary risk of life other than combat); Bronze Star Medal (heroism or meritorious achievement not involving aerial flight); Purple Heart (wounds — an earned entitlement, not a nomination); Air Medal (aerial achievement below the DFC); Aerial Achievement Medal (sustained aerial meritorious achievement).
Unit awards, special trophies, foreign and non-military awards
PUC is highest. GUC is extraordinary heroism after 11 September 2001. MUA is exceptionally meritorious conduct in direct support of combat operations for at least 90 continuous days after that date. AFOUA is for numbered units (NAF through squadron); AFOEA is for unnumbered organizations (MAJCOM, FOA, DRU, Air Staff). Commanders recommend only truly exceptional units; only 10 percent of similar units annually.
Special trophies require MAJCOM, FOA, or DRU commander nomination, usually annually. AFH 1's examples: 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year and the Lance P. Sijan Award (DAFMAN 36-2806).
The DAF does not issue foreign medals or ribbons. Foreign decorations may be accepted only for combat service or outstanding or unusually meritorious performance, and only after official DoD acceptance for foreign unit, service, and campaign awards (including NATO). Non-military awards from a non-Federal entity need approval authority first.
At ADTC B, match the act to the purpose sentence, start the package as immediate supervisor (or route a firsthand statement), keep CUI out, and never stack two decorations on the same act. Promotion points are not this chapter.
For what is the Air Force Cross awarded under AFH 1?
Who may recommend a decoration under AFH 1?
What purpose does AFH 1 assign to the Meritorious Service Medal?