United States military awards and decorations

United States military awards and decorations
Name	United States military awards and decorations
Caption	Example of United States military ribbons and medals displayed on a uniform
Established	18th–21st centuries
Presenter	United States Department of Defense; President of the United States; service secretaries
Type	Military decorations, service medals, campaign streamers
Status	Active and obsolete awards

United States military awards and decorations provide a structured system for recognizing valor, meritorious service, campaign participation, and unit achievement across the United States Armed Forces, administered by authorities such as the Department of Defense, the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Air Force, and the United States Space Force. The system traces origins to Revolutionary-era honors, expansions during the American Civil War and World War I, and reforms after World War II and the Goldwater–Nichols Act. Over time statutes like the Armed Forces Awards Act and presidential directives have shaped awards such as the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross (United States), the Navy Cross, and the Air Force Cross.

Overview and History

The award system evolved from colonial-era badges and medals tied to figures like George Washington and engagements such as the Siege of Yorktown, into formalized honors created by Congress for conflicts like the Mexican–American War, the Spanish–American War, and the Philippine–American War. Expansion during World War I produced decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal (United States Army), while World War II saw the creation of campaign medals tied to theaters such as the European Theater of Operations (United States) and the Pacific Theater of Operations. Cold War-era changes influenced awards connected to operations like the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War, and post-9/11 operations including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom prompted new campaign and service recognitions.

Types and Order of Precedence

Awards are organized into categories—personal decorations (e.g., Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal), unit awards (e.g., Presidential Unit Citation (United States), Navy Unit Commendation), service ribbons (e.g., National Defense Service Medal), campaign medals (e.g., Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal), and badges (e.g., Combat Infantryman Badge, Naval Aviation Observer). The Department of Defense prescribes an order of precedence that places the Medal of Honor highest, followed by service crosses like the Distinguished Service Cross (United States), the Navy Cross, and the Air Force Cross, then decorations such as the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit. Inter-service parity and ribbon devices (e.g., oak leaf clusters, service stars) link to regulations from the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, and Secretary of the Air Force.

Individual Service Branch Decorations

Each branch maintains unique awards and traditions: the United States Army administers honors such as the Soldier's Medal and the Army Commendation Medal, while the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps share awards like the Navy Cross and sustain decorations including the Marines' Good Conduct Medal. The United States Air Force and United States Space Force issue decorations including the Air Force Cross and the Space Operations Badge; the Coast Guard awards the Coast Guard Medal and participates in interdepartmental recognitions under the Department of Homeland Security in peacetime. Service-specific regulations—contained in Army Regulations, Navy Instructions, Marine Corps Orders, and Air Force Instructions—govern eligibility and presentation.

Joint and Department of Defense Awards

Joint awards, such as the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Joint Service Commendation Medal, are presented for achievements in unified or joint commands including United States Central Command, United States European Command, and the United States Special Operations Command. The Secretary of Defense and combatant commanders establish criteria for medals connected to joint operations like Operation Inherent Resolve and multinational efforts tied to organizations such as NATO and the United Nations.

Criteria, Eligibility, and Approval Process

Eligibility criteria differ by decoration and are codified in statutes, executive orders, and service regulations; for example, the Medal of Honor requires a presidential presentation and a congressional review process, while awards like the Bronze Star Medal or the Meritorious Service Medal can be approved by commanders at specified levels. Campaign medals reference participation in named operations listed by the Department of Defense and often require verified service dates and locations, corroborated by unit records such as those maintained at the National Personnel Records Center and adjudicated through boards like the Army Review Boards Agency.

Wear, Display, and Protocol

Uniform regulations from the Uniform Code of Military Justice environment and service-specific dress instructions (e.g., Army Regulation 670-1, Navy Uniform Regulations) dictate placement, order, and wear for medals, ribbons, and badges on dress uniforms, service uniforms, and civilian attire. Protocol governs full-size medals, ribbon bars, miniature medals, and citation wear for events including ceremonies at locations like the Arlington National Cemetery and presentations by officials such as the Secretary of Defense or the President of the United States.

Notable Recipients and Controversies

Notable recipients include Audie Murphy, Alvin York, Chesty Puller, Gabby Gabreski, Ilia Jones, and modern awardees from operations in Afghanistan and Iraq; controversies have arisen around awards for incidents such as the My Lai Massacre, debates over service eligibility for decorations tied to classified operations like Operation Eagle Claw, and debates about upgrading awards in cases involving figures like Desmond Doss and posthumous revisions influenced by congressional inquiries and presidential reviews. Debates over inequities, rescissions, and retroactive recognitions involve institutions including the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and oversight by committees such as the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Category:Military awards and decorations of the United States