MILITARY AWARDS
AR 600-8-22 and AR 672-20
1. What is the objective of the DA Military Awards Program?
A. The objective of the DA Military Awards Program is to provide tangible recognition for acts of valor, exceptional service or achievement, special skills or qualifications, and acts of heroism not involving actual combat.
2. What are the categories of individual awards?
A. 1) Decorations.
2) Good Conduct Medal.
3) Service Medals.
4) Service Ribbons.
5) Badges and Tabs.
6) Certificates and Letters.
3. Where is the order of precedence for wear within the various classes of medals and service ribbons stated?
A. AR 670-1.
4. Which AR governs awards for civilian service?
A. AR 672-20.
5. Who may recommend the award of a decoration?
A. It is the responsibility of any individual having personal knowledge of an act, achievement, or service believed to warrant the award of a decoration, to submit a formal recommendation into military command channels for consideration.
6. Can a soldier recommend himself for award of a decoration?
A. No. The Army does not condone self-recognition; therefore, a soldier may not recommend himself/herself for award of a decoration.
7. What is the time limitation for recommendation for an award?
A. Each recommendation for an award of a military decoration must be entered administratively into military channels within 2 years of the act, achievement, or service to be honored. See paragraph 1-14a AR 600-8-22 for lost recommendations.
8. What is the purpose of interim awards and awards of a lesser decoration?
A. To ensure that a deserving act, achievement, or service receives recognition, the appropriate authority may promptly award a suitable lesser military decoration pending final action on a recommendation for a higher award, except for retiring US Army general officers.
9. How many decorations can be awarded to an individual for the same act, achievement or period of meritorious service?
A. One.
10. How are succeeding awards of the same decoration awarded to one person?
A. For each succeeding act or period of service that justifies the award of such decoration, and oak leaf cluster (or numerical device for Air Medals) will be awarded, except awards presented to foreigners and posthumous awards presented to next of kin.
11. Where and by whom is the Medal of Honor usually presented?
A. The Medal of Honor is usually presented at the White House by the President of the United States.
12. What are some of the special entitlements provided to Medal of Honor recipients?
A. 1) Each Medal of Honor awardee may have his name entered on the Medal of Honor Roll (38 USC 560).
2) Special pension of $200.00 per month if the person desires.
3) Supplemental uniform allowance.
4) Air Transportation for Medal of Honor awardees.
5) Commissary privileges for Medal of Honor recipients and their eligible dependents.
6) Identification cards for Medal of Honor recipients and their eligible dependents.
7) Admission to US Service Academies for children of Medal of Honor awardees, otherwise qualified, are not subject to quota requirements for admission.
8) Exchange privileges for Medal of Honor recipients and their eligible dependents.
9) Increase in retired pay-enlisted awardees.
13. Recipients of which badges are entitled to increase in pay?
A. 1) Parachutist badges.
2) Aviator badges.
3) Diver badges.
4) Explosive ordnance disposal badges.
5) Enlisted Crewmember badges.
14. What is the purpose of military decorations?
A. Military decorations are awarded in recognition of heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.
15. Is an individual automatically entitled to an award upon departure from an assignment?
A. No.
16. What is the purpose of peacetime military decorations?
A. In peacetime, military decorations recognize achievements which have significantly contributed to the readiness or effectiveness of a unit organization, or have made notable contribution to the morale or esprit de corps of units or organizations.
17. On what DA Form will recommendations for decorations be made?
A. Recommendations for decorations should be submitted on DA Form 638-1, AAM, ARCOM, and MSM. DA 638 for higher awards.
18. Describe conditions required for awarding the Soldier's Medal.
A. The Soldier's Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, distinguished himself/herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The same degree of heroism is required as for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under condition not involving conflict with an armed enemy. Awards will not be made solely on the basis of having saved a life.
19. Describe conditions required for awarding the Army Achievement Medal.
A. The Army achievement Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or to any member of the Armed Forces of a friendly foreign nation, who while serving in any capacity with the Army in a noncombat area on or after 1 August 1981, distinguished himself/herself by meritorious service or achievement of a lesser degree than required for award of the Army Commendation Medal.
20. Will the Army achievement Medal be awarded to general officers?
A. No. The Army Achievement Medal will not be awarded to general officers.
21. For what is the Good Conduct Medal awarded?
A. It is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service. It is awarded on a selective basis to each soldier who distinguishes himself/herself from among his/her fellow soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service, as outlined in Chapter 3 AR 672-5-1.
22. When is a silver Oak Leaf Cluster issued?
A. It is to be issued in lieu of five bronze Oak Leaf Clusters.
23. Who is awarded the President's Hundred Tab?
A. A President's Hundred Tab is awarded to each person who qualifies among the top 100 successful contestants in the President's Match held annually at the National Rifle Matches.
24. What are appurtenances?
A. Appurtenances are devices affixed to service or suspension ribbons or worn in lieu of medals or ribbons. They are worn to denote additional awards, participation in a specific event, or other distinguished characteristics of the award.
25. Who is eligible to receive the Army Service Ribbon?
A. Effective 1 August 1981, all active members of the US Army. Army National Guard, and Army Reserve are eligible for this award. The ribbon may be awarded retroactively to those personnel who completed the required training prior to 1 August 1981 provided they have an active Army status as defined above on or after 1 August 1981.
26. Describe the Oak Leaf Cluster and when it is awarded.
A. The Oak Leaf Cluster is a bronze or silver twig of four (4) oak leaves with three (3) acorns on the stem, 13/32 inch long for the suspension ribbon and 5/16 inch long for the service ribbon bar and the unit award emblem. It is issued to denote award of second and succeeding awards of decorations (other than the Air Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, and unit awards).
27. What is the "V" device?
A. The "V" device is a bronze block letter "V", 1/4 inch high with serifs at the top of the members. It is worn to denote participation in acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy.