Achievement Army

Meritorious service or achievement while serving in a non-combat area

Achievement Army Civilian Service

Achievement Air Force

Outstanding achievement or meritorious service not warranting award of the Air Force Ccommendation Medal.

Achievement Coast Guard

Professional and/or leadership achievement in a combat or noncombat situation

Achievement Joint Service

Meritorious service or achievement while serving with a Joint Activity. All Services.

Achievement Navy & Marine Corps

Meritorious service or achievement in a combat or noncombat situation based on sustained performance of a superlative nature.

Aerial Achievement Air Force

Sustained meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.

Afganistan Campaign

Active participation in Operation Enduring Freedom, the liberation of Afghanistan. All Services. 2001 - TBD.

Air and Space Campaign Air Force

Awarded for providing direct support of combat operations at home station or from outside the area of combat. 1999 to Present.

Air Medal

Heroic actions or meritorious service while participating in aerial flight. All Service.

Airman's Medal Air Force

Heroism involving voluntary risk of life under conditions other than those of actual conflict with an armed enemy. Air Force.

American Campaign

Service outside the U.S. in the American theater for 30 days, or within the continental U.S. for one year. All Services.

American Defense Services

Army: 12 months of active duty serice during 1939-41. Naval Services: Any active duty service. All Services.

Antarctica Service

30 Calendar days of service on the Antarctic Continent. All Services. 1946 to Present.

Armed Forces Civilian Service

Established to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of the Department of Defense civilian workforce in directly supporting the military forces, whose members are engaged in military operations of a prolonged peacekeeping or humanitarian nature.

Armed Forces Expeditionary

Participation in military operations not covered by specific war medal. All Services. 1958 - Present.

Armed Forces Honor Medal

Republic of Vietnam. For outstanding contributions to the training and development of RVN Armed Forces.

Armed Forces Service

Participation in military operations not covered by specific war medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. 1995 to Present. All Services.

Armed Forces Reserve

10 years of honorable service in any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces Reserve. 1949 to present. All Services.

Army Of Occupation Army and Air Force

30 Consecutive days of service in occupied territories of former enemies during 1945-55. Berlin 1945-90.

Army Occupation of Germany WWI

The Army of Occupation of Germany Medal was awarded for honorable service in Germany or Austria-Hungary between 12 November 1918 and 11 July 1923.

Army Reserve Components Achievement

Exemplary conduct efficiency and fidelity during 3 years of service with the U.S. Army Reserve or National Guard.

Artic Service Coast Guard

Awarded for 21 days of service on vessels operating in polar waters north of the Arctic Circle. 1946 to present.

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign

Service in the Asiatic-Pacific theater for 30 days or receipt of any combat decoration. 1941-46. All services.

Bronze Star

Heroic or meritorious achievement or service not involving participation in aerial flight. All Services.

China Service

Service ashore in China or on-board naval vessels during either 1937-39 or 1945-57. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

Civil Actions

Republic of Vietnam. For outstanding achievements in the field of civic actions.

Coast Guard Medal

Heroism not involving actual conflict with an armed enemy of the United States.

Combat Action Air Force

To recognize and military member of the Air Force, airmen thru colonel, who actively participated in ground or air combat.

Combat Readiness Air Force

Awarded for specific periods of qualifying service in a combat or mission-ready status.

Commander's Award for Civilian Service Army

Established pattern of excellence. Accomplished supervisory or nonsupervisory duties in an outstanding manner, setting an example of achievement for others to follow.

Commander's Award Public Service Army

This award is given to recognize service or achievements that contribute significantly to the accomplishment of the mission of an Army activity, command or staff agency.

Commendation Air Force

Outstanding achievement or meritorious service rendered on behalf of the United States Air Force.

Commendation Army

Heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.

Commendation Coast Guard

Heroic or meritorious achievement or service. Meritorious service resulting in unusual or outstanding achievement.

Commendation Joint Services

Meritorious Service or achievement while assigned to a Joint Activity. All Services.

Commendation Navy and Marine Corps
Heroic or meitorious achievement or service.

Cross Air Force

Extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy of the U.S. while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces.

Cross Navy

Extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy of the U.S. while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

Distinguished Achievement Award In Science Navy

Distinguised Civilian Service Department of Defense

Distinguished Flying Cross

Heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. All Services.

Distinguished Public Service Air Force

Distinguished Public Service Coast Guard

Extraordinary heroism in advancing the Coast Guard’s mission.

Distinguished Service Air Force

Exceptionally meritorious service of the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility.

Distinguished Service Army

Exceptionally meritorious service to the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility.

Distinguished Service Coast Guard

Exceptionally meritorious service to the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility.

Distinguished Service Cross Army

Extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy of the U.S. while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an apposing foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces.

Distinguished Service Defense

Exceptionally meritorious service to the United States while assigned to a Joint Activity in a position of unique and great responsibility. All Services.

Distinguished Service Navy and Marine Corps

Exceptionally meritorious service to the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility.

European-African Middle Eastern Campaign

Service in the European-African-Middle Eastern theater for 30 days or receipt of any combat decoration. 1941-45. All Services.

Expeditionary Marine Corps

Landings on foreign territory and operations against armed opposition for which no specific campaign medal has been authorized. 1919 to present.

Expeditionary Navy

Landings on foreign territory and operations against armed opposition for which no specific campaign medal has been authorized. 1936 to Present.

Expert Pistol Shot Coast Guard

Attainment of the minimum qualifying score for the expert level during prescribed shooting exercises.

Expert Pistol Shot Navy

Attainment of the minimum qualifying score for the expert level during prescribed shooting exercises.

Expert Rifleman Coast Guard

Attainment of the minimum qualifying score for the expert level during prescribed shooting exercises.

Expert Rifleman Navy

Attainment of the minimum qualifying score of the expert level during prescribed shooting exercises.

Gallantry Cross

Republic of Vietnam. Deeds of valor and acts of courage/heroism with fighting the enemy.

Global War on Terrorism Civilian Service

To recognize the contributions and accomplishments of the civilian workforce of the Department of Defense in direct support of the armed forces, whose members are engaged in operations to combat terrorism in all forms throughout the world.

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

For the deployment abroad for 30 days in support of the Global War on Terrorism operations on or after September 11th 2001. All Services.

Global War on Terrorism Service

For service for 30 days in support of the Golobal War on Terrorism operations in the U.S. or overseas on or after September 11th 2001. All Services.

Good Conduct Air Force

Exemplary conduct, efficiency and fidelity during three years of active enlisted service with the U.S. Air Force.

Good Conduct Army

Exemplary conduct, efficiency and fidelity during three years of active enlisted service with the U.S. Army (1 year during wartime).

Good Conduct Coast Guard

Outstanding proficiency, leadership and conduct during 3 continuous years of active enlisted Coast Guard Service.

Good Conduct Coast Guard Reserve

Outstanding proficiency, leadership and conduct during 3 years of enlisted service in the Coast Guard Reserve.

Good Conduct Marine Corps

Outstanding performance and conduct during 3 years of continuous active enlisted service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Good Conduct Navy

Outstanding performance and conduct during 3 years of continuous active enlisted service in the U.S. Navy.

Humane Action

120 consecutive days of service participating in the Berlin Airlift or in support thereof. All Services. 1948 - 1949.

Humanitarian Service

Direct participation in specific operations of humanitarian nature. All Services. 1975 to Present.

Inter-American Defense Board
Service with the Inter-American Defense Board for at least 1 year. All Services.

Iraq Campaign

Active participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom. 2003-TBD. All Services.

Korean Defense Service

The Korea Defense Service Medal is authorized to members of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea from 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined.

Korean Service

Participation in military operations within the Korean area during 1950-54. All Services.

Kosovo Campaign

Service in Kosovo, Former Yugoslavia, during 1999-TBD. All Services.

Kuwaiti Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait

Participation in, or support of, Operations Desert Shield and/or Desert Storm (1990-93).

Legion of Merit

Exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the United States. All Services.

Merchant Marine Defense

honoring civilian seafarers who served on merchant vessels between September 8, 1939 and December 7, 1941.

Merchant Marine Pacific War Zone

For merchant marine service in the Pacific War Zone, which included the North Pacific, South Pacific, and the Indian Ocean east of 80 degrees east longitude, during the period December 7, 1941, to March 2, 1946.

Merchant Marine WWII Victory

Awarded to members of the crews of ships who served for 30 days or more during the period of December 7th 1941, to September 3rd, 1945.

Meritorious Civilian Service Air Force

Awarded to any Air Force civilian employees having performed their assigned duties for at least one year in an exemplary manner.

Meritorious Civilian Service Award Navy

Meritorious Service

Outstanding noncombat meritorious achievement or service to the United States. All Services.

Meritorious Service Air Reserve Forces

Exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity during three years of active enlisted service with the Air Force Reserve.

Meritorious Service Defense

Noncombat meritorious achievement or service while assigned to Joint Activity. All Services.

Meritorious Service Naval Reserve

Outstanding performance and conduct during 3 years of enlisted service in the Naval Reserve.

Michigan Broadsword

Multinational Force and Observers

6 month service with the Multinational Force & Observers peacekeeping force in the Sinai Desert. All Services.

National Defense Service

Any honorable active duty service during the following dates: 1950-54, 1961-74, 1990-95, 2001-TBD. All Services.

NATO

30 Days service in, or 90 days outside, the former Republic of Yugoslavia and the Adriatic Sea under NATO command in direct support of NATO operations. All Services.

Naval Reserve

10 years of honorable service in the U.S. Naval Reserve. 1938-58.

Navy and Marine Corps Medal

Heroism not involving actual conflict with an armed enemy of the United States.

Occupation Service Navy/Marine Corps

30 consecutive days of service in occupied territories of former enemies 1945-55; Berlin 1945-90. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard.

Outstanding Civilian Career Service Air Force

Awarded to Air Force employees having demonstrated significant accomplishments, leadership, unusual competence, and significant impact upon the Air Force mission throughout the employee's career.

Outstanding Civilian Service Army

Awarded for outstanding service that makes a substantial contribution or is of significance to the MACOM.

Outstanding Volunteer Service

Awarded for outstanding and sustained voluntary service to the civilian community. 1993 to Present. All Services

Philippine Defense

Service in defense of the Philipines between Dec 8th 1941 and June 15th 1942. Republic of the Philippines.

Philippine Independence

Receipt of both the Philippine Defense and Liberation Medals/Ribbons. Origninally presented to those present for duty in the Philippines on 4 July 1964. All Services.

Philippine Liberation

Service in the liberation of the Philippines between October 17th 1944 and September 3rd 1945.

Prisoner of War

Awarded to any member of the U.S. Armed Forces taken prisoner during any armed conflict dating from WWI.

Purple Heart

Awarded to any member of the U.S. Armed Forces killed or wounded in armed conflict. All services.

Republic Of Korea War Service

Service on the Korean Peninsula between 1950 and 1953. All Services.

Saudi Arabian Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait

Participation in, or support of, Operation Desert Storm. 1991 Jan-Feb. All Services.

Selected Marine Corps Reserve

Outstanding performance and conduct during 4 years of enlisted service in the Selected Marine Corps Reserve.

Silver Star

Gallantry in action against an armed enemy of the United States or while serving with friendly foreign forces. All Services.

Soldier's Medal Army

Heroism not involving actual conflict with an armed enemy of the United States.

Southwest Asia Service

Active participation in, or support of , Operations Desert Shield and/or Desert Storm. 1991 to 1995. All Services.

Superior Civilian Service Award Army

For superior service or achievement, or heroism. This award is comparable to the military Meritorious Service Medal.

Superior Service Defense

Superior meritorious service to the United States while assigned to Joint Activity in a position of significant responsibility. All Services.

United Nations

6 months service with any authorized UN mission. All Services.

Vietnam Campaign
6 months service in the Republic of Vietnam between 1965 and 1973 or if wounded, captured or killed in action during the above period. All Services.

Vietnam Service

Service in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia or Thailand during 1965-73. All Services.

Women's Army Corps Service

Service with both the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and Women's Army Corps during the above period. 1942-45. Army.

WWI Victory

Awarded for honorable service for active duty at any time between April 6th 1917 and November 11th 1918. All Services.

WWII Victory

Awarded for service in the U.S. Armed Forces during the period of 1941-46. All Services.