Awards and decorations of the United States Air Force are military decorations which are issued by the Department of the Air Force to Air Force service members and members of other military branches serving under Air Force commands. Of all five branches of the United States armed forces, the Air Force currently maintains the highest number of active awards and decorations. Awards and decorations of the United States military are military decorations which recognize a service members service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces. ... Categories: Stub | U.S. Dept. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ...

Air Force awards were first created with the founding of the United States Air Force in 1947. At that time, Air Force members were eligible to receive most U.S. Army decorations and Air Force veterans of World War II were entitled to continue displaying World War II campaign medals. Seal of the Air Force. ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons like the atom bomb. ... United States service medals of the World Wars are U.S. military decorations which were created solely as a result of the First World War and World War II. Such medals are now considered obsolete, but may still be found in various publications, manuals, and award precedence charts due to...

In 1962, following the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Air Force began a concentrated effort to create its own array of awards and Air Force members could no longer receive decorations of the United States Army as a matter of course. By the end of the Vietnam War, most of the modern day Air Force decorations had been established and Air Force members were also entitled to receive and wear all inter-service decorations. The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense confrontation between the Soviet Union and the United States over the Soviet deployment of nuclear missiles in Cuba. ... The Vietnam War or Second Indochina War was a conflict between the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN, or North Vietnam), allied with the National Liberation Front (NLF, or Viet Cong) against the Republic of Vietnam (RVN, or South Vietnam), and their allies — notably the United States military in support of... Inter-service medals of the United States military are decorations which are issued by the United States armed forces to members of all five branches of military service. ...

By the start of the 21st century, the Air Force had created several new ribbons as well as an Air Force specific campaign medal known as the Air and Space Campaign Medal. Since then, members of other military branches have been known to comment upon the high amount of awards and decorations that the Air Force bestows and some Air Force awards (such as the Air Force Training Ribbon) are not permitted for wear on United States Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps uniforms due to the awards having no equivalent in the sea services. In calendars based on the Christian Era or Common Era, such as the Gregorian calendar, the 21st century is the current century, as of this writing. ... The Air and Space Campaign Medal is a decoration of the United States Air Force which was first created in April 2002 by order of Secretary of the Air Force John Roche. ... The Air Force Training Ribbon is the lowest decoration of the United States Air Force, ranking only above foreign military awards. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... Coast Guard shield The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the coast guard of the United States. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military. ...

Air Force members are also eligible to receive approved foreign awards and international decorations. The currently issued active Air Force decorations are as follows: Authorized foreign decorations of the United States military are those military decorations which have been approved for wear by members of the United States armed forces but whose awarding authority is the government of a country other than the United States. ... An international decoration is an april woolgar creation which is not bestowed by a particular country, but rather by an international organization such as the United Nations or NATO. Such awards are normally issued as service medals, for participation in various international military operations, and not for specific acts of...

Air Force meritorious medals

Air Force Cross	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal	Airman's Medal	Aerial Achievement Medal	Air Force Commendation Medal	Air Force Achievement Medal

The Air Force Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. ... The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. ... Airmans Medal The Airman’s Medal is a military decoration of the United States Air Force and is awarded to those service members who distinguish themselves by heroic actions, usually at the voluntary risk of life, but not involving actual combat. ... Aerial Achievement Medal The Aerial Achievement Medal is a decoration of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1988. ... The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military award which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. ... The Achievement Medal is the lowest of the United States military’s non-combat meritorious service medals. ... Air Force Cross File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Air Force DSM File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Airmans Medal File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Aerial Achievement Medal File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... AF Cross Ribbon This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... AF DSM Ribbon This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Airman Medal Ribbon This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Aerial Achievement Ribbon This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... AF Commendation Ribbon This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... AF Achievement Ribbon File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Air Force service medals

Combat Readiness Medal	Air and Space Campaign Medal

The Combat Readiness Medal is a decoration of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1964. ... The Air and Space Campaign Medal is a decoration of the United States Air Force which was first created in April 2002 by order of Secretary of the Air Force John Roche. ... Combat Readiness Medal File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Air and Space Campaign Medal File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Combat Readiness Ribbon File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Air and Space Ribbon This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

Air Force Good Conduct Medals

Air Force Good Conduct Medal	Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal

The Good Conduct Medal is one of the oldest military decorations of the United States military. ... A Reserve Good Conduct Medal refers to any one of the five military conduct decorations which are issued by the United States Armed Forces to members of the Reserve and National Guard. ... USAF Good Conduct Ribbon This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... USAFR Good Conduct Ribbon This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

Air Force unit awards

Presidential Unit Citation	Gallant Unit Citation	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award	Outstanding Unit Award	Organizational Excellence Award

The Presidential Unit Citation is a senior unit award granted to military units which have performed an extremely meritorious or heroic act, usually in the face of an armed enemy. ... The Gallant Unit Citation is a military decoration of the United States Air Force which was created in 2001 by order of the Secretary of the Air Force. ... The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions. ... The Organizational Excellence Award is a decoration of the United States Air Force and is the lowest ranking unit award. ... Presidential Unit Ribbon File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Gallant Unit Ribbon This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Air Force MUC Ribbon This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Organizational Excellence Award Ribbon File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Air Force service ribbons

Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon	Air Force Recognition Ribbon	Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon	Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon	Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon	Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon

Military Training Instructor Ribbon	Air Force Recruiter Ribbon	NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon	Air Force Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon	Air Force Training Ribbon