Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM)
The Army Commendation Medal ( ARCOM ) was established by War Department Circular 377 on 18 December 1945 and amended in DA General Orders 10 on 31 March 1960.
The ARCOM is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguishes himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. Award may be made to a member of the Armed Forces of a friendly foreign nation who, after 1 June 1962, distinguishes himself or herself by an act of heroism, extraordinary achievement, or meritorious service which has been of mutual benefit to a friendly nation and the United States.
Awards of the ARCOM may be made for acts of valor performed under circumstances described above which are of lesser degree than required for award of the Bronze Star Medal. These acts may involve aerial flight.
An award of the ARCOM may be made for acts of noncombatant-related heroism which do not meet the requirements for an award of the Soldier's Medal.
The ARCOM will not be awarded to general officers.
Awards of the ARCOM may be made on letter application to Commander, ARPERCEN, ATTN DARP-VSE-A, 9700 Page Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63132-5200, to any individual commended after 6 December 1941 and before 1 January 1946 in a letter, certificate, or order of commendation, as distinguished from letter of appreciation, signed by an officer in the grade or position of a Major General or higher. Awards of the Army Commendation Ribbon and of the Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant were redesignated by DA General Orders 10, 31 March 1960, as awards of the Army Commendation Medal, without amendment of orders previously issued.
Air Medal
The Air Medal was established by Executive Order 9158, 11 May 1942 as amended by Executive Order 9242-A, 11 September 1942.
The Air Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the U.S. Army, will have distinguished himself or herself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or heroism, or for meritorious service as described below.
Awards may be made for acts of heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party, which are of a lesser degree than required for award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Awards may be made for single acts of meritorious achievement, involving superior airmanship, which are of a lesser degree than required for award of the Distinguished Flying Cross, but nevertheless were accomplished with distinction beyond that normally expected.
Awards for meritorious service may be made for sustained distinction in the performance of duties involving regular and frequent participation in aerial flight for a period of at least 6 months. In this regard, accumulation of a specified number of hours and missions will not serve as the basis for award of the Air Medal . Criteria above, concerning conditions of conflict, are applicable to award of the Air Medal for meritorious service.
Award of the Air Medal is primarily intended to recognize those personnel who are on current crewmember or noncrewmember flying status which requires them to participate in aerial flight on a regular and frequent basis in the performance of their primary duties. However, it may also be awarded to certain other individuals whose combat duties require regular and frequent flying in other than a passenger status, or individuals who perform a particularly noteworthy act while performing the function of a crewmember, but who are not on flying status as prescribed in AR 600-106. These individuals must make a discernible contribution to the operational land combat mission or to the mission of the aircraft in flight. Examples of personnel whose combat duties require them to fly include those in the attack elements of units involved in air/land assaults against an armed enemy and those directly involved in airborne command and control of combat operations. Involvement in such activities, normally at the brigade/group level and below, serves only to establish eligibility for award of the Air Medal; the degree of heroism, meritorious achievement or exemplary service determines who should receive the award. Awards will not be made to individuals who use air transportation solely for the purpose of moving from point to point in a combat zone.
Bronze Arabic Numerals, starting with 2, will be used to denote second and subsequent awards of the Air Medal.
Iraq Campaign Medal
The Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM) was established by Public Law 108-234 on 28 May 2004 and Executive Order 13363 on 29 November 2004.
The ICM is authorized to be awarded to Soldiers who deploy to Iraq in direct support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) on or after 19 March 2003 to a date to be determined or the cessation of OIF.
The area of eligiblity encompasses all land area of the country of Iraq and the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land area of Iraq and above the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles.
To be eligible for the ICM , a Soldier must be assigned or attached to a unit participating in OIF for 30 consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days in Iraq or meet one of the following criteria:
- Be engaged in actual combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action, regardless of the time in Iraq.
- While participating in OIF or on official duties, regardless of time, is killed or wounded/injured requireing medical evacuation from Iraq.
- While participating as a regularly assigned air crewmember flying sorties into, out of, within, or over Iraq in direct support of OIF; each day that one or more sorties are flown IAW the criteria shall count as one day towards the 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive day requirement.
Service members qualified for the GWOTEM by reasons of service between 19 March 2003 and 30 April 2005, in Iraq, shall remain qualified for the medal. Any such Soldier may be awarded the ICM in lieu of the GWOTEM for such service. Additionally, any such Soldier authorized the arrowhead device may be awarded the ICM with arrowhead device in lieu of the GWOTEM with arrowhead device. No Soldier shall be entitled to both medals for the same act, achievement, or period of service.
Only one award of the ICM may be authorized for any individual. One Bronze Service Star shall be worn on the suspension and campaign ribbon of the ICM for one or more days of participation in each designated campaign phase. Approved designated ICM campaign phases and inclusive periods are listed below:
- Liberation of Iraq (19 Mar 2003 - 1 May 2003)
- Transition of Iraq (2 May 2003 - 28 Jun 2004)
- Iraqi Governance (29 Jun 2004 - 15 Dec 2005)
- National Resolution (16 Dec 2005 - Date to be determined)
The ICM may be awarded posthumously to any Soldier who lost his/her life while, or as a direct result of, participating in qualifying operations, without regard to length of such service, if otherwise eligible.
Description: On a bronze metal 1 3/8 inches in diameter the relief of Iraq, surmounted by two lines throughout, surmounting a palm wreath. Above is the inscription 'IRAQ CAMPAIGN.' On the reverse, the Statue of Freedom surmounting a sunburst, encircled by two scimitars points down crossed at tip of blades, all above the inscription 'FOR SERVICE IN IRAQ.'
Symbolism: The relief of Iraq represents the area of operation. The lines symbolize the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, recalling Iraq’s title as 'the land of two rivers.' The palm wreath denotes peace and honor. The Statue of Freedom represents the ideals and goals of the United States Army to bring stability and improve the way of life for Iraq. The sunburst symbolizes hope and success. The two scimitars recall the swords erected by Sadam Hussein during his reign; the points down symbolize the goal for freedom of the Iraqi people, after the fall of Hussein. The ribbon reflects the colors of the Iraq flag. Green is the traditional color for Islam. Red honors the fighting courage for the pursuit of freedom. White denotes generosity and black exemplifies Islam’s success.
Medal, regular: NSN 8455-01-527-8023 (includes regular size medal and ribbon bar)
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