Manual of Military Decorations and Awards

Manual of Military Decorations and Awards
Name	Manual of Military Decorations and Awards
Caption	Cover of a typical decorations manual
Publisher	Department of Defense
Published	Various editions
Pages	Varies

Manual of Military Decorations and Awards. The Manual of Military Decorations and Awards is an authoritative administrative publication that codifies criteria, procedures, and precedents for awarding Medal of Honor, Victoria Cross, Purple Heart (United States), Order of the British Empire, and comparable honors across service branches such as the United States Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and United States Air Force. It aligns award processes with statutes like the Armed Forces Retirement Home Act and policies from bodies including the Department of Defense and the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). The manual informs commanding officers, personnel offices, and adjudicative boards involved in decorations for operations referencing campaigns such as the Iraq War, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and Falklands War.

Overview and Purpose

The manual serves as the definitive guide for implementing decorations programs used by institutions such as the United States Marine Corps, Canadian Forces, Australian Defence Force, and Indian Armed Forces. It standardizes interpretation of awards established by instruments like the Medal of Honor citations, the Distinguished Service Order, and the Legion of Merit; harmonizes procedures among entities such as the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Ministry of Defence (India), and the Department of Veterans Affairs; and supports legal reviews under courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and tribunals like the Central Criminal Court.

Eligibility and Award Criteria

Eligibility sections reference statutes, regulations, and precedents set by authorities including the U.S. Congress, the House Armed Services Committee, the Privy Council, and service chiefs such as the Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom). Criteria differentiate valor awards exemplified by the Medal of Honor and Victoria Cross from service awards like the NATO Meritorious Service Medal and campaign medals for the Gulf War. They specify qualifications for personnel from the Coast Guard, Marine Corps Reserve, Royal Canadian Mounted Police when seconded, and for civilians under directives from the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Types and Classes of Decorations

The manual enumerates decorations, orders, and medals across categories recognizing gallantry, merit, campaign participation, long service, and foreign awards from states like France, Germany, and Japan. It arranges classes including first-class orders such as the Order of the Bath, mid-level decorations like the Distinguished Service Cross (United States), and badges such as the Parachutist Badge (United States Army). Annexes compare equivalence across systems—e.g., Order of Military Merit (Canada), Order of Australia, and the Order of St Michael and St George—and address interoperability with multinational commands like NATO and United Nations peacekeeping.

Nomination, Approval, and Presentation Procedures

Nomination workflows integrate documentation standards used by units including the 1st Infantry Division (United States), headquarters such as Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, and offices like the Adjutant General's Corps (United Kingdom). The manual prescribes boards of review modeled after panels in the United States Senate confirmation processes and adjudication paths similar to the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood. It addresses presentation ceremonies at venues like the White House, Buckingham Palace, and Auckland War Memorial Museum, and defines the roles of dignitaries such as the Secretary of Defense (United States), the Governor General of Canada, and the Monarch of the United Kingdom.

Wear, Precedence, and Devices

Guidance aligns with service regulations from the United States Navy, Royal Air Force, and Israeli Defense Forces to determine order of precedence among insignia including the Iron Cross, Croix de Guerre, and service ribbons for campaigns such as Operation Desert Storm. It defines devices and attachments—oak leaf clusters, stars, clasps—consistent with traditions in the United States Army, the French Armed Forces, and the Brazilian Army. Instructions cover uniform wear at events like Remembrance Day, Veterans Day (United States), and Anzac Day, and address variations for full dress uniforms versus combat uniforms used by formations like SAS (Special Air Service).

Recordkeeping, Replacement, and Revocation

Recordkeeping protocols mirror archival standards of institutions such as the National Archives and Records Administration, the Imperial War Museums, and the Australian War Memorial. Procedures for replacement of lost medals involve verification from chains of command including brigade-level headquarters and records offices like the National Personnel Records Center. Revocation processes reference legal mechanisms used in high-profile cases adjudicated by entities like the Court Martial of the Czech Republic or administrative boards within the Ministry of Defence (New Zealand), and prescribe notification pathways to bodies including veterans affairs agencies such as the Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia).

Historical Development and Revisions

The manual evolved from early codifications linked to awards such as the Victoria Cross (1856) and the Medal of Honor (1862), through 20th-century reforms influenced by conflicts like the World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Revisions track policy shifts prompted by inquiries into decorations in theaters including the Vietnam War and post-9/11 operations, and by legislative action from parliaments such as the United Kingdom Parliament and the United States Congress. Periodic updates reflect changes in multinational policy coordination with organizations like NATO and standards harmonization with archival institutions exemplified by the International Council on Archives.

Category:Military manuals