Airman's Medal

Airman's Medal
Airman's Medal
Type	Personal Military Decoration
Eligibility	Members of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly nation
Status	Currently awarded
Established	6 July 1960 ; Retroactive after 10 August 1956
	Service ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher)	Distinguished Flying Cross
Equivalent	Army - Soldier's Medal; Navy & Marine Corps - Navy and Marine Corps Medal ; Coast Guard - Coast Guard Medal
Next (lower)	Bronze Star Medal

The Airman’s Medal is an individual decoration of the United States Air Force. The medal was established on 6 July 1960 and is awarded to those service members or those of a friendly nation who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Air Force, distinguish themselves by a heroic act, usually at the voluntary risk of his or her life not involving actual combat. The saving of a life or the success of the voluntary heroic act is not essential.^[2]^[3]

The Airman’s Medal was authorized on 10 August 1956 to replace the U.S. Army's Soldier's Medal which had also been awarded to qualifying Air Force personnel since 26 September 1947.^[4] According to Air Force Instruction 36-2803, The Secretary of the Air Force, Personnel Council approves or disapproves recommendations for Airman's Medals requiring SAF approval and determines upon approval, entitlement to 10 percent increase in retirement pay for the Airman's Medal when awarded to enlisted members for extraordinary heroism.

Besides the Airman's Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and the Coast Guard Medal are also considered to be the equivalent of the Soldier's Medal. Additional awards of the Airman's Medal are denoted by oak leaf clusters.

The first recipient of the Airman's Medal was Captain John Burger, U.S. Air Force, who was awarded the medal at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, on 21 July 1960, for heroism performed on 9 September 1959.

Notable recipients

References

^ "Production publication" (PDF). static.e-publishing.af.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-27. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
^ Air Force Personnel Center. Airman's Medal. [1] Archived 2017-06-01 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Institute of Heraldry Airman's Medal". Archived from the original on 2016-12-15. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
^ Smithsonian, Air and Space Museum. Airman's Medal.Retrieved May 6, 2017

[1] "Production publication" (PDF). static.e-publishing.af.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-27. Retrieved 2018-01-10.

[2] Air Force Personnel Center. Airman's Medal. [1] Archived 2017-06-01 at the Wayback Machine

[3] "Institute of Heraldry Airman's Medal". Archived from the original on 2016-12-15. Retrieved 2017-05-07.

[4] Smithsonian, Air and Space Museum. Airman's Medal.Retrieved May 6, 2017

[2]

[3]

[4]

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