Valorous Unit Award

Valorous Unit Award. It is a distinguished unit decoration presented to formations of the United States Armed Forces for extraordinary heroism in armed conflict. The award recognizes collective gallantry in combat actions against a hostile force, serving as a unit-level equivalent to the individual Silver Star medal. Established during the Vietnam War, it occupies a high position in the order of precedence for unit awards, just below the Presidential Unit Citation.

History and establishment

The decoration was created on January 12, 1966, by order of the United States Department of the Army, with its authority later extended to the United States Air Force. Its establishment filled a gap in the hierarchy of unit recognitions, providing a tier of honor for actions that were of a lesser degree than those required for the Presidential Unit Citation but significantly above the criteria for the Meritorious Unit Commendation. The first awards were retroactively granted for actions during the Vietnam War, including early engagements like the Battle of Ia Drang. Subsequent conflicts, such as the Invasion of Grenada, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War, have seen numerous units receive the honor for their combat performance.

Criteria and eligibility

The award is granted to units of the United States Army and the United States Air Force that display extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the United States. The required gallantry must be of such a degree that it would warrant the individual Silver Star for each member involved in the action. The action must be a single event, such as a specific battle or engagement, and cannot be for sustained operations over a prolonged period. Eligibility extends to any unit, from a detachment to a division, that participates in the cited action, with foreign military units serving under U.S. command also being eligible for the award.

Design and appearance

The emblem consists of a gold-colored metal frame shaped like a laurel wreath, measuring 1 ⅜ inches in width. Centered within the wreath is a blue enamel pentagon, point up, recalling the shape of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and echoing the design of the Silver Star ribbon. Superimposed over the pentagon is a silver-colored American bald eagle with wings spread, adapted from the Great Seal of the United States. The ribbon is 1 ⅜ inches wide and consists of a central stripe of Old Glory Red, flanked on either side by stripes of White, Old Glory Blue, White, and Old Glory Red at the edges.

Notable recipients

Many distinguished units have been honored, often for pivotal battles. During the Vietnam War, the 1st Cavalry Division's 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment received it for the Battle of Ia Drang. In the Gulf War, the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment was recognized for actions during the Battle of 73 Easting. Elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment and the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment have been cited in later conflicts, including operations in Fallujah and Kandahar. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment has also received the award for multiple high-risk missions.

Order of precedence and related awards

In the United States Army's order of precedence for unit awards, it is ranked directly below the Presidential Unit Citation and above the Meritorious Unit Commendation. For the United States Air Force, it similarly falls between the Presidential Unit Citation and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Related joint service awards include the Joint Meritorious Unit Award. Other service-specific unit decorations that hold lower precedence are the Navy Unit Commendation, the Coast Guard Unit Commendation, and the Army Superior Unit Award.

Category:Unit awards of the United States military Category:Awards established in 1966