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"V" device
The "V" device, also called the Combat "V" or Combat Distinguishing Device, is a 1/4-inch bronze letter worn on US military decorations to mark awards for combat valor; created in 1944 for the Bronze Star and restricted to valor-only in 2016.
Air Assault Badge
The Air Assault Badge is a U.S. Army qualification badge, also called the Airmobile Badge, awarded for completing an air assault course; approved Army-wide 18 January 1978 after originating with the 101st Airborne Division in 1974.
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFRM): U.S. service medal established by Executive Order 10163 on September 25, 1950, awarded for 10 years of honorable reserve service within 12 consecutive years, or mobilization on or after August 1, 1990 (M device).
Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces
Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces: the U.S. military medal system, led by the Medal of Honor, the three service crosses (Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross), and the Silver Star, governed by Title 10 U.S.C. and DoD Instruction 1348.33.
Awards and decorations of the United States government
Awards and decorations of the United States government: military medals under 10 USC ch. 57 and DoDI 1348.33, led by the Medal of Honor, plus civilian honors such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal.
Combat Action Badge
Combat Action Badge (CAB), U.S. Army combat badge established 2 May 2005, companion to the CIB and CMB, awarded to any Soldier who personally engages or is engaged by the enemy from 18 September 2001 onward.
Combat Action Ribbon
Combat Action Ribbon (CAR): U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard decoration authorized 17 February 1969 for satisfactory performance under enemy fire during ground or surface combat, grades O-6 and below, with revised IED criteria.
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a United States Army badge awarded to infantry and Special Forces soldiers, colonel and below, for duty in active ground combat.
Combat Medical Badge
The Combat Medical Badge is a U.S. Army decoration awarded to medical personnel of colonel rank or below who rendered care under fire with an infantry unit.
Commendation Medal
Commendation Medal: a mid-level award name shared by Singapore's Pingat Kepujian (instituted 1996, silver disc, red-and-grey ribbon) and the US military's service-specific Commendation Medals for heroism or meritorious service, siting between Achievement and Meritorious Service Medals.
Congressional Gold Medal
Congressional Gold Medal: the highest civilian honor awarded by the U.S. Congress, first given to George Washington in 1776; requires bicameral and presidential approval, distinct from the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Medal of Honor.
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (DMSM), a U.S. Defense joint decoration established by Executive Order 12019 on November 3, 1977, awarded by the Secretary of Defense for non-combat meritorious service in joint assignments, ranking above the Meritorious Service Medal.
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM), US joint decoration established by Executive Order 11904 on February 6, 1976. Awarded by the Secretary of Defense for superior meritorious joint duty, ranking before the Legion of Merit.
Expert Field Medical Badge
Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB), US Army special skill badge approved 18 June 1965, non-combat equivalent of the Combat Medical Badge; awarded to AMEDD personnel passing written, fitness, land navigation, TCCC, and 12-mile march tests with pass rates near 14 to 29 percent.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge (EOD Badge) is a United States military badge for qualified EOD technicians, approved in 1956 and worn by all services.
Good Conduct Medal (United States)
Good Conduct Medal (United States): enlisted military decoration for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity. Navy version began as the Good Conduct Badge in 1869; Army, Air Force, and Space Force versions stem from Executive Order 8809 of 1941.
Lifesaving Medal
The Lifesaving Medal, in Gold and Silver grades, is a U.S. Coast Guard award under 14 U.S.C. § 2744 for rescues from drowning, shipwreck, or water perils, established by Congress in 1874 and renamed in 1882.
List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients: U.S. service members awarded the Medal of Honor for Vietnam-era valor, 258 awards as of 2015 (162 posthumous), with later belated awards such as Paris Davis.
List of recipients of the United States Presidential Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation is the highest decoration awarded to a US military unit for extraordinary heroism. It honors collective combat valor equivalent to a Distinguished Service Cross.
Marksmanship badges (United States)
Marksmanship badges of the United States Armed Forces: Army, Navy, and Marine Corps qualification badges at Marksman, Sharpshooter, and Expert levels, plus Distinguished badges, the President's Hundred tab, and EIC competition awards.
Marksmanship ribbon
Marksmanship ribbon, a US military ribbon-only award for weapons qualification. Navy rifle and pistol ribbons, Coast Guard rifle ribbon, Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (1962); Army uses badges instead.
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), United States military decoration established by Executive Order 11448 on January 16, 1969, for outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service, ranking below the Legion of Merit; distinct from the Defense MSM and Canadian MSM.
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC), a U.S. Army unit award created in 1944 as the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque, given for six continuous months of exceptionally meritorious service in military operations against an armed enemy; Navy version dates from 1967, Air Force Meritorious Unit Award from 2004.
Oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster: a bronze or silver twig of four oak leaves and three acorns worn on U.S. medal ribbons, chiefly Army, Air Force, and joint awards, to mark additional awards; a silver cluster equals five bronze.
Overseas Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (OSR), U.S. military ribbon for completed overseas tours; Army version established April 10, 1981; Navy/Marine Corps version requires 12 months overseas or 30/45 days after August 14, 1974.
Presidential Unit Citation (United States)
Presidential Unit Citation, highest U.S. military unit award, also called Distinguished Unit Citation (Army, pre-1957), with Army/Air Force, Navy/Marine Corps, and Coast Guard versions. Established by EO 9075 and EO 9050 in February 1942; awarded for extraordinary heroism in action.
Purple Heart
Purple Heart: United States military decoration for wounds or death caused by enemy action, descended from George Washington's 1782 Badge of Military Merit and revived in 1932 by Douglas MacArthur; awarded automatically, about 1.8 million issued.
Reserve Good Conduct Medal
Reserve Good Conduct Medals are United States military decorations recognizing enlisted reservists for drills, annual training, and other reserve service, as counterparts to the active-duty Good Conduct Medals.
Sea Service Ribbon
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, or Navy Sea Service Ribbon: US Navy and Marine Corps award established May 22, 1980, retroactive to August 15, 1974, for 12 months of sea duty including a 90-day deployment.
Special Warfare insignia
Special Warfare insignia: the Navy SEAL "Trident," a gold breast pin of eagle, anchor, flintlock pistol, and trident adopted in 1969, awarded after BUD/S and SQT; related silver SWCC "Warboat" pin for boat crewmen.