Commendation Medal: Difference between revisions

Commendation Medals
Commendation Medals
	Five Commendation Medals are awarded: Joint Service, Air Force, Army, Navy-Marine Corps, and Coast Guard (shown L to R).
Type	Military medal (Decoration)
Eligibility	Military personnel only
Status	Currently Awarded
Established	Navy & Marine Corps - 1943; Coast Guard - 1943; Army - 1945; Air Force - 1958; Joint Service - 1963
	; Joint Service -- Army (top); Navy & Marine Corps -- Air Force -- Coast Guard (bottom); (Commendation Medal ribbons)
Precedence
Next (higher)	Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal; Aerial Achievement Medal (USAF)
Next (lower)	Achievement Medals

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 21:22, 6 November 2012

The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star Medal, the Commendation Medal with a "V" Device or Combat "V" may be authorized for wear on the service and suspension ribbon of the medal. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fifth version existing for acts of joint military service performed under the Department of Defense.

The Commendation Medal was originally only a service ribbon and was first awarded by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard in 1943. An Army Commendation Ribbon followed in 1945, and in 1949, the Navy, Coast Guard, and Army Commendation ribbons were renamed the "Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendant." By 1960, the Commendation Ribbons had been authorized as full medals and were subsequently referred to as Commendation Medals.

Additional awards of the Army and Air Force Commendation Medals are denoted by bronze and silver oak leaf clusters. The Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Coast Guard Commendation Medal are authorized gold and silver 5/16 inch stars to denote additional awards. The Operational Distinguishing Device is authorized for wear on the Coast Guard Commendation Medal upon approval of the awarding authority. Order of Precedence is following the Bronze Star Medal but before the Prisoner of War Medal and all campaign medals. Each of the military services also awards separate Achievement Medals which are below the Commendation Medals in precedence.

Army

The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States other than General Officers who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished themselves by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. The medal may be awarded to a member of the Armed Forces of a friendly foreign nation who, after 1 June 1962, distinguishes themselves by an act of heroism, extraordinary achievement, or significant meritorious service which has been of mutual benefit to the friendly nation^[1] and the United States.^[2]

Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard

Originally established in November 1943 as the Navy Commendation Ribbon, designated as the Navy Commendation Medal in September 1960, and renamed the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal in 1994, this decoration is awarded by operational commanders, requiring the signature of an admiral or general officer in the grade of O-7. This allows for interpretation of the criteria for which the medal may be awarded.

For instance, in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal is considered a somewhat high decoration reserved for Department Head level officers at the O-4 level, senior Navy CPOs and senior Marine Corps NCOs at the E-8 and E-9 level and, following a full career, as a retirement award. In contrast, the awarding of the Army Commendation Medal in the U.S. Army and the Air Force Commendation Medal in the U.S. Air Force is not limited to senior service members, and can be awarded to junior NCOs in the grade of E-6 and below and junior officers in the grade O-3 and below.

The U.S. Marine Corps has always been issued the Navy's commendation medal and there is not a separate commendation medal intended only for Marines. This lack of difference was recognized in 1994 when Secretary of the Navy John Howard Dalton changed the name of the Navy Commendation Medal to the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.^[3]

The U.S. Coast Guard awards a separate Coast Guard Commendation Medal, with a ribbon similar in design to that of its Navy and Marine Corps counterpart. Initially established as the Coast Guard Commendation Ribbon in 1947, it was redesignated as the Coast Guard Commendation Medal in 1959. Criteria for its award has paralleled that of the Navy and Marine Corps.^[4]

Air Force

The U.S. Air Force began issuing its own Air Force Commendation Medal in 1958 with additional awards denoted by oak leaf clusters. Prior to this time, USAF recipients received the Army Commendation Medal. It was not until 1996 that the "V" device was authorized on the Air Force Commendation Medal; prior to 1996, there was not a valor distinction in effect for the Air Force Commendation Medal. The Air Force Commendation Medal is worth three points under the Air Force promotion system and only awarded to NCOs and Officers even though AFI 36-2803 2.2.5 states "[...]Do not base award of a specific decoration upon an individual's grade, but on the level of responsibility and manner of performance." Air Force NCOs (SSgt-TSgt) have issues submitting their troops (AB-SrA) for these awards due to commanding officers, gernerally group level, downgrading the decoration to the Air Force Achivement Medal because they feel the Airman teir is not worth a commendation. ^[5]

Joint Service

The last of the Commendation Medals is the Joint Service Commendation Medal, which was created in 1963. This award is intended for senior service on a joint military staff and is senior in precedence to service-specific Commendation Medals. As such, it is worn above the service Commendation Medals on a military uniform. As a joint award, multiple awards are denoted with an oak leaf cluster regardless of service.^[6]^[7]

References

External links

[1] ARCOM on Modern German Ribbon Rack

[2] The Institute of Heraldry US Army Commendation Medal

[3] SECNAVINST 1650.1H 2006 2-31

[4] ttp://www.foxfall.com/fmd-uscg-cgcm.htm

[5] Air Force Commendation Medal

[6] Institute of Heraldry Joint Service Commendation Medal

[7] Joint Service Commendation Medal

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 == Air Force ==
-The [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] began issuing its own '''Air Force Commendation Medal''' in 1958 with additional awards denoted by oak leaf clusters.  Prior to this time, USAF recipients received the Army Commendation Medal.  It was not until 1996 that the "V" device was authorized on the Air Force Commendation Medal; prior to 1996, there was not a valor distinction in effect for the Air Force Commendation Medal. The Air Force Commendation Medal is worth three points under the Air Force promotion system. <ref> [http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7777 Air Force Commendation Medal]</ref>
+The [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] began issuing its own '''Air Force Commendation Medal''' in 1958 with additional awards denoted by oak leaf clusters.  Prior to this time, USAF recipients received the Army Commendation Medal.  It was not until 1996 that the "V" device was authorized on the Air Force Commendation Medal; prior to 1996, there was not a valor distinction in effect for the Air Force Commendation Medal. The Air Force Commendation Medal is worth three points under the Air Force promotion system and only awarded to NCOs and Officers even though AFI 36-2803 2.2.5 states "[...]Do not base award of a specific decoration upon an individual's grade, but on the level of responsibility and manner of performance." Air Force NCOs (SSgt-TSgt) have issues submitting their troops (AB-SrA) for these awards due to commanding officers, gernerally group level, downgrading the decoration to the Air Force Achivement Medal because they feel the Airman teir is not worth a commendation. <ref> [http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7777 Air Force Commendation Medal]</ref>
 == Joint Service ==

v t e Awards and decorations of the United States Department of the Air Force
Decorations	Medal of Honor Air Force Cross Distinguished Service Silver Star Medal Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Airman's Medal Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal Aerial Achievement Air and Space Commendation Air and Space Achievement
Unit awards	Presidential Unit Citation Gallant Unit Citation Meritorious Unit Air and Space Outstanding Unit Air and Space Organizational Excellence
Service medals	Combat Action Medal Combat Readiness Air Force Good Conduct Space Force Good Conduct Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal Air and Space Campaign Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Service ribbons	Outstanding Airman of the Year Air and Space Recognition Overseas Service Short Tour Overseas Service Long Tour Air and Space Expeditionary Service Air and Space Longevity Developmental Special Duty NCO PME Graduate Basic Training Honor Graduate Marksmanship Air and Space Training

v t e Awards and decorations of the United States Department of the Army
Decorations	Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Soldier's Medal Bronze Star Purple Heart Meritorious Service Air Medal Army Commendation Army Achievement
Good conduct	Army Good Conduct Reserve Achievement
Unit awards	Presidential Unit Citation Valorous Unit Meritorious Unit Commendation Superior Unit
Service ribbons	Sea Duty NCO Professional Development Army Service Overseas Service Reserve Overseas Training Army Recruiting Ribbon
Defunct	Certificate of Merit

v t e Awards and decorations of the United States Department of the Navy
Personal decorations	Medal of Honor Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Navy and Marine Corps Medal Bronze Star Purple Heart Meritorious Service Air Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Combat Action
Unit awards	Presidential Unit Citation Navy Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Navy E Ribbon
Good Conduct medals	Navy Good Conduct Marine Corps Good Conduct Selected Marine Corps Reserve
Expeditionary medals	Navy Expeditionary Marine Corps Expeditionary
Service ribbon awards	Sea Service Naval Reserve Sea Service Arctic Service Antarctica Service Overseas Service Navy Recruiting Service Marine Corps Recruiting Service Navy Accession Training Service Ribbon Marine Corps Drill Instructor Marine Corps Security Guard Marine Corps Combat Instructor Navy Ceremonial Duty Navy Basic Military Training Honor Graduate
Marksmanship	Navy Expert Rifleman Medal Navy Sharpshooter Rifle Ribbon Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal Navy Sharpshooter Pistol Shot Ribbon Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon

v t e Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard
Decorations	Medal of Honor Coast Guard Cross Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Coast Guard Medal Bronze Star Purple Heart Meritorious Service Air Medal Commendation Medal Achievement Medal Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon
Lifesaving Medals	Gold Lifesaving Medal Silver Lifesaving Medal
Unit Awards	Presidential Unit Citation Coast Guard Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation Meritorious Team Commendation Coast Guard E Ribbon
Conduct Medals	Good Conduct Medal Reserve Good Conduct Medal
Service Awards	Combat Action Ribbon Enlisted Person of the Year Ribbon Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal Special Operations Service Ribbon Sea Service Ribbon Restricted Duty Ribbon Overseas Service Ribbon Basic Training Honor Graduate Ribbon Recruiting Service Ribbon
Marksmanship	Distinguished Marksman Medal Distinguished Pistol Shot Medal Silver Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Medal Silver Pistol Excellence-in-Competition Medal Bronze Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Medal Bronze Pistol Excellence-in-Competition Medal Expert Rifle Medal Expert Pistol Medal Sharpshooter Rifle Ribbon Sharpshooter Pistol Ribbon Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon