notes 1

*	Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress, it is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor.
1	Army Distinguished Service Cross Medal Criteria: Extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy of the US while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces. Attachments: Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Silver Oak Leaf Device
2	Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal Criteria: Exceptionally meritorious service to the U. S. while assigned to a Joint Activity in a position of unique and great responsibility. Attachments: Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Silver Oak Leaf Device
3	US Army Distinguished Service Medal Criteria: Exceptionally meritorious service to the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility. Attachments: Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Silver Oak Leaf Device
4	Silver Star Medal Criteria: Gallantry in action against an armed enemy of the United States or while serving with friendly foreign forces. Attachments: Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Silver Oak Leaf Device
5	Legion of Merit Medal Criteria: Exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the US. Attachments: Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Silver Oak Leaf Device
6	Distinguished Flying Cross Medal Criteria: Heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Attachments: Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Silver Oak Leaf Device
7	Army Soldiers Medal - Heroism Criteria: Heroism not involving actual conflict with an armed enemy of the US. Attachments: Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Silver Oak Leaf Device Notes: Award requires personal hazard or danger and voluntary risk of life.
8	Bronze Star Medal Criteria: Heroic or meritorious achievement or service not involving participation in aerial flight. Attachments: Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Silver Oak Leaf Device, Bronze Letter "V" Device
9	Defense Meritorious Service Medal Criteria: Non-combat meritorious achievement or service while assigned to Joint Activity.Attachments: Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Silver Oak Leaf Device
10	Meritorious Service Medal Criteria: Outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the US. Attachments: Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Silver Oak Leaf Device
11	Air Medal Criteria: Heroic actions or meritorious service while participating in aerial flight. Attachments: Bronze Letter "V" Device, Bronze Numeral Device
12	Joint Service Commendation Medal Criteria: Meritorious service or achievement while assigned to a Joint Activity. Attachments: Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Silver Oak Leaf Device, Bronze Letter "V" Device
13	Army Commendation Medal Dates: (retro to 1941) Criteria: Heroism, meritorious achievement, or service. Attachments: Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Silver Oak Leaf Device, Bronze Letter "V" Device
14	Purple Heart Medal Criteria: Awarded to any member of the U.S. Armed Forces killed or wounded in an armed conflict. Attachments: Bronze Oak Leaf Device, Silver Oak Leaf Device
15	Army Good Conduct Medal Criteria: Exemplary conduct, efficiency and fidelity during three years of active enlisted service with the U.S. Army (1 Year during wartime). Attachments: Bronze Good Conduct Knot Device, Silver Good Conduct Knot Device
16	National Defense Service Medal Dates: 1950-54, 1961-74, 1990-95 Criteria: Any honorable active duty service during any of the above periods. Attachments: Bronze Star Device Notes: Re-instituted in 1966 and 1991 for Vietnam and Southwest Asia (Gulf War) actions respectively
17	Antarctica Service Medal Dates: 1946 to present Criteria: 30 calendar days of service on the Antarctic Continent.
18	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Dates: 1958 to present Criteria: Participation in military operations not covered by specific war medal. Attachments: Bronze Star Device, Silver Star Device, Bronze Arrowhead Device - Mounted Notes: Authorized for service in Vietnam until establishment of Vietnam Service Medal
19	Vietnam (RVN) Service Medal Dates: 1965-73 Criteria: Service in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, or Thailand during the above period.Attachments: Bronze Star Device, Silver Star Device, Bronze Arrowhead Device - Mounted
20	Humanitarian Service Medal Dates: 1975 - Present Criteria: Direct participation in specific operations of a humanitarian nature. Attachments: Bronze Star Device, Silver Star Device, Bronze Numeral Device
21	Army Armed Forces Reserve Medal Dates: 1949 to present Criteria: 10 years of honorable service in any reserve component of the US Army Reserve or award of "M" device. Attachments: Bronze Hourglass Device, Mobilization Device, Bronze Numeral Device
22	Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal Criteria: Exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity during 4 years of enlisted service with the U.S. Army Reserve or National Guard. Attachments: Silver Oak Leaf Device, Bronze Oak Leaf Device
23	Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross Medal w/Palm Criteria: Awarded for valor and heroic conduct while fighting the enemy. Notes: Palm device is citation for unit awards & for medal award at Army or higher level.
24	RVN Gallantry Cross Medal w/Bronze Star Criteria: For valor and heroic conduct while fighting the enemy. Notes: Bronze Star device is for citation at the Brigade and Regiment levels
25	Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Civil Actions Medal - First Class (1/C Officer) Dates: 1964-1975 Criteria: For outstanding achievements in the field of civil affairs. Notes: First Class medal is for officers. It is occasionally referred to as the Civic Actions Honor Medal.
26	Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Campaign Medal with Date Bar Dates: 1961-1973 Criteria: 6 months service in the Republic of Vietnam between 1961 and 1973 or if wounded, captured or killed in action during 1964-1973. Notes: Bar inscribed 1960- is the only authorized version.
27	Prisoner of War Medal Dates: All Criteria: Awarded to any member of the U.S. Armed Forces taken prisoner during any armed conflict dating from World War I.Attachments: Silver Star Device, Bronze Star Device
28	Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Wound Medal Dates: 1953-1975 Criteria: For military personnel who had been wounded in action and to government officials wounded in the line of duty by the enemy or rebels.
29	RVN National Order Medal - 5th Class Dates: 1950-1975 Criteria: Rewarded to persons living or dead who have done grandiose works, by remarkable deeds in the discharging of their duty or by their bravery and those who have honored and served the country by their lofty virtues or their outstanding knowledge.
30	50th Anniversary Korean Defense Commemorative Medal Dates: 1950 - Present Criteria: Commemorates 50 years in defense of South Korea and is for all military personnel who have served in South Korea or in direct support anytime between 1950 and Present.
31	Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Defense Commemorative Medal Dates: 1961 - 1975 Criteria: Stuck to honor all military personnel who served in South Vietnam or in direct support from Thailand, Guam, Okinawa or the waters off shore between 1962 and 1975.
32	Cold War Victory Commemorative Medal Dates: 1945 - 1991 Criteria: Struck to recognize any honorable military service between 2 Sept 1945 and 26 December 1991.
33	US Army Commemorative Medal Dates: All Criteria: Struck to honor all who have honorable military service in the U.S. Army between 1775 and the present.
34	Overseas Service Commemorative Medal Criteria: Struck to honor all Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen who served in an overseas theater or expeditionary operation outside the United States for 30 days or more.
35	Combat Service Commemorative Medal Criteria: Struck to honor all Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen who served in an overseas combat theater or expeditionary combat operation.
36	National Guard and Reserve Commemorative Medal Dates: 1801-2001 Criteria: Designed to honor the devotion, loyalty and achievement of all who served in the United States Guard and Reserve Forces over the past 200 years.
37	Armed Forces Retired Commemorative Medal Dates: 1775-Present Criteria: Designed to honor the devotion, loyalty and achievement of all who retired from a military career in the service of their nation.
38	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Notes: For the deployment abroad for 30 days in support of Global War on Terrorism operations on or after 11 Setember 2001.
39	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Notes: For service for 30 days in support of the Global War on Terrorism in the US or overseas on or after 11 September 2001.
40	Korea Defense Service Medal Dates: 2002-Open Criteria: For service in the Republic of Korea, or the waters adjacent thereto, for a qualifying period of time between 28 July, 1954 and a date to be determined. Attachments: Bronze Star Device, Silver Star Device
41	Army Valorous Unit Citation Ribbon The Valorous Unit Award is to be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent part for actions occurring on or after 3 August 1963. The Valorous Unit Award requires a lesser degree of gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps than that required for the Presidential Unit Citation. Nevertheless, the unit must have performed with marked distinction under difficult and hazardous conditions in accomplishing its mission so as to set it apart from the other units participating in the same conflict. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Silver Star to an individual. Extended periods of combat duty or participation in a large number of operational missions, either ground or air, is not sufficient. This award will normally be earned by units that have participated in single or successive actions covering relatively brief time spans. It is not reasonable to presume that entire units can sustain Silver Star performance for extended time periods under the most unusual circumstances.
42	Presidential Unit Citation The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and co-belligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or after 7 December 1941. The unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to set it apart and above other units participating in the same campaign. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would warrant award of a Distinguished Service Cross to an individual. Extended periods of combat duty or participation in a large number of operational missions, either ground or air is not sufficient. This award will normally be earned by units that have participated in single or successive actions covering relatively brief time spans. It is not reasonable to presume that entire units can sustain Distinguished Service Cross performance for extended time periods except under the most unusual circumstances. Only on rare occasions will a unit larger than battalion qualify for award of this decoration.
43	The Meritorious Unit Commendation Awarded for, at least, six months of exceptionally meritorious conduct in support of military operations to service and support units of the US Armed Forces and cobelligerent nations during the period 01 JAN 1944 through 15 SEP 1946, during the Korean War, and after 01 MAR 1961. The degree of achievement is that which would merit the award of the Legion of Merit to an individual.
44	Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon Also known as the State of Vietnam Friendship Ribbon, the Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation was established by the Government of South Vietnam on August 15, 1950. It was awarded to United States Military Units by the President of the Council of Ministers, State of Vietnam. Effective Dates The Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation was in effect from August 15, 1950 until the fall of South Vietnam in April of 1975. Criteria Originally created as the Vietnam Friendship Ribbon, it was recreated as the Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation in 1961, and awarded to cited units under the same conditions required for the award of the Presidential Unit Citation of the United States. The Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation was approved for wear on February 28, 1955 by Department of the Army General Orders Number 16. However, this Order provided that, "It will be removed from the uniform by all personnel prior to departure from that area
45	RVN Meritorious Unit Citation, Gallantry Cross Medal Color, with Palm all personnel who served "in-country" Vietnam are eligible for this award for period 8 Feb 62 - 28 Mar 73 since the Republic of Vietnam Government awarded it to Commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command and all subordinate units.
46	RVN Meritorious Unit Citation, Civil Action Medal, First Class Color, with Palm All personnel who served "in-country" Vietnam during the period 1 Jan 65 - 28 Mar 73 are eligible since the Republic of Vietnam Government awarded it to Commander, U.S. Forces Vietnam and all subordinate units
47	The Joint Meritorious Unit Award Awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to Joint Activities of the DoD for meritorious achievement or service, superior to that normally expected, during combat with an armed enemy of the United States, during a declared national emergency, or under extraordinary circumstances that involved the national interest.
48	NCO Professional Development Ribbon Awarded to members of the United States Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve for successful completion of designated Noncommissioned Officer professional development courses.
49	Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon Awarded to members of the Army Reserves or Army National Guard for successful completion of annual training or active duty for training for a period of not less than ten consecutive duty days on foreign soil (outside the 50 states, District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions and territories), in the performance of duties in conjunction with Active Army, Joint Services, or Allied Forces. The day of departure counts; however, the day of return does not. The ribbon may be awarded retroactively to personnel who successfully completed annual training or active duty for training on foreign soil in a Reserve status prior to July 11, 1984, provided they have an active status in the Reserve Components on or after July 11, 1984.