[Vhfcn-l] Wikipedia Air Medal Criteria

[Arnold B Christensen]

At 10:56 AM 10/15/2019, Ken Hand via Vhfcn-l wrote:
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>Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2019 15:55:41 +0000 (UTC)
>From: Ken Hand <vairmech at aol.com>
>To: vhfcn-l at vhfcn.org
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>Subject: Re: [Vhfcn-l] Wikipedia Air Medal Criteria
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Ken the important thing is that you did your job.
Chris




>OK, given the below I have 89 logged hrs in my 
>flight record file and yet I was never awarded 
>an air medal. I'm not sure of the classification 
>of the flights anymore, not that I even knew 
>then, but I do know we did take a Korean USO 
>show around on one day, we did firebase resupply 
>with gunship escort and lots of time going to 
>and from places. There are no mission codes in 
>my flight records, lazy clerk I think!So if I 
>take it that with the below also, I flew only 23 
>missions in 2 months so I guess that would only 
>put me near maybe 7. Yup long way off!
>
>
>Air Medal [Army] (1968­2006)
>During the Vietnam War, the US Army awarded the 
>Air Medal to Warrant Officer or Commissioned 
>pilots and enlisted aircrew for actual flight 
>time (awards were also made to infantry troops 
>who flew on combat assault missions). This 
>became a bureaucratic nightmare to correctly log 
>because of the short flight time of typical 
>helicopter flights. Later, an equivalent "flight 
>hours" conversion was created and an award 
>standard was set by individual commands. This 
>eventually was standardized in theater to one 
>award per every 24 "flight hours" logged.[12] A 
>simplified set time was awarded depending on the 
>type of mission, regardless of the actual flight 
>time.[12] Administrative or VIP flights counted 
>for 1/4 hour, regular duties (such as Visual 
>Reconnaissance or Resupply) counted for 1/2 
>hour, and hazardous duties (combat assaults or 
>extractions) counted for 1 hour. Pilots and 
>aircrew could log over 1,000 "flight hours" a 
>year and earn a 40 or higher numeral on their Air Medal ribbon.
>
>
>Ken Hand
>Handy Car Care
>248-613-8586
>www.corvairmechanic.com
>
>For those that have fought for it, Freedom has a 
>flavor the protected will never know.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Gary Thewlis via Vhfcn-l <vhfcn-l at vhfcn.org>
>To: Ken Hand <vairmech at aol.com>
>Sent: Tue, Oct 15, 2019 9:54 am
>Subject: [Vhfcn-l] Wikipedia Air Medal Criteria
>
>Air Medal
>
>The Air Medal is a military decoration of the 
>United States Armed Forces. It was created in 
>1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism 
>or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.
>
>Criteria
>The Air Medal was established by Executive Order 
>9158, signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt on May 11, 
>1942. It was awarded retroactive to September 8, 
>1939 to anyone who distinguishes himself by 
>meritorious achievement while serving with the Armed Forces in aerial flight.
>
>The original award criteria set by an Army 
>Policy Letter dated September 25, 1942 was for one award of the Air Medal
>
>per each naval vessel or three enemy aircraft in 
>flight confirmed destroyed. An entire aircrew 
>would be credited for the destruction of a ship, 
>but only the pilot or gunner responsible would 
>be credited for destroying an enemy aircraft.
>per 25 operational flights during which exposure to enemy fire is expected.
>per 100 operational flights during which 
>exposure to enemy fire is not expected.
>These criteria were altered by the commanding 
>generals of each numbered Air Force to fit the 
>conditions of their theater of operations and to 
>maintain morale. The Distinguished Flying Cross 
>would usually be awarded for roughly twice to 
>five times the requirements of the Air Medal. 
>This led to automatic "score card" awards of the 
>Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross for 
>completing a set number of operational missions 
>rather than distinguished service, meritorious 
>action, or bravery, as had been intended. On 
>August 5, 1943, such score card awards were 
>officially abolished by a Headquarters Army Air 
>Forces Awards Board memorandum due to the 
>embarrassment when airmen received the Air Medal 
>for "score carding" five missions or more but 
>were later removed from flying duties for "lack 
>of moral fibre". Commanders could still issue 
>the awards on those grounds, but the recipient 
>must perform exceptional or meritorious service as well.
>
>Army Air Forces (1942­1947)
>During World War II, the medal's award criteria 
>varied widely depending on the theater of 
>operations, the aircraft flown, and the missions 
>accomplished. In Europe, the airspace was 
>considered completely controlled by the enemy 
>and heavy air defenses were encountered, so the 
>criteria were altered from those of the original 
>medal. Bomber, photographic reconnaissance, or 
>observation crewmembers and air transport pilots 
>received it for five sorties, fighter pilots 
>received it for ten sorties, and individual 
>pilots or air crewmen received one award per 
>enemy aircraft shot down. Elsewhere in the 
>Pacific and the China Burma India Theater, the 
>pilots and crews flew mostly over uncontrolled 
>or contested airspace for long hours and lighter 
>air defenses were encountered, so much higher 
>criteria were used. Anti-submarine patrols from 
>the United States could qualify for the medal if 
>an airman logged 200 hours of flight time.[9]
>
>Air Force (1947­present)
>The Air Medal may be awarded to recognize either 
>single acts of merit or gallantry in combat or 
>for meritorious service in a combat zone. Award 
>of the Air Medal is primarily intended to 
>recognize those personnel who are on current 
>crew member or non-crew member 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 crew member but who are not on flying status. 
>These individuals must make a discernible 
>contribution to the operational land combat 
>mission or to the mission of the aircraft in flight.[10]
>
>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. Examples would be transport 
>performing supporting "Dustoff" Medevac or 
>resupply operations, or aircraft involved in 
>reconnaissance over hostile airspace. 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.
>
>The Army may award the Air Medal for peacetime 
>service, but approval authority is by 
>general-grade officers at the group or brigade 
>level or higher. The Air Force does not award 
>the Air Medal for peacetime sustained 
>operational activities and flights. Non-combat 
>meritorious service is instead awarded the 
>Aerial Achievement Medal, instituted in 1988.
>
>Ribbon devices
>The Air Force uses the aircraft sortie 
>designation as a tool, but uses Oak Leaf 
>Clusters rather than Strike / Flight Numerals to 
>indicate additional awards. A member's 
>individual flight management records will list 
>the sorties that are eligible for the award. 
>These sorties are designated Combat, Combat 
>Support, or Operational (Active Air Defense or 
>Hostile Reconnaissance). Only the first sortie 
>of the day counts. Armed aircraft crews require 
>ten sorties for each award, while all others require twenty sorties.
>The United States Secretary of the Air Force 
>approved the "V" Device for Air Medals awarded 
>for heroism in combat effective October 21, 
>2004. This applies to all Air Force members 
>(Active Duty, Air Force Reserve, Air National 
>Guard), retirees, and veterans. The "V" device 
>is not authorized for wear on the medal for an earlier date.
>
>Variants
>
>US Air Force
>The United States Air Force does not utilize 
>numeral devices on the Air Medal. Subsequent 
>awards are annotated with the traditional oak 
>leaf clusters (or OLCs). Enlisted members are 
>also awarded three points toward promotion per award.
>
>Each ribbon carries a maximum of 4 OLCs; the 
>ribbon signifies the first award, a bronze OLC 
>equals one additional award, and a silver OLC 
>represents 5 additional awards. If there were 
>more than four OLC devices awarded (like the 
>10th, 14th, 15th, 18th, 19th, and 20th awards), 
>extra Air Medal ribbons were issued to wear the 
>extra OLCs (although only one Air Medal was 
>awarded). Multiple Air Medals were usually 
>earned by aircrew with extensive flight time and 
>long meritorious service records, like during World War II or Korea.
>
>The award of the medal is sometimes denoted on a 
>member's gravestone with the abbreviation "AM" 
>followed by an ampersand and the number of oak 
>leaf clusters or "OLC". For example, "AM&5 OLC" 
>means Air Medal and 5 oak leaf clusters.[11]
>
>US Army
>Air Medal [Army] (1947­1968)
>The United States Army used the same criteria as 
>the Air Force. Oak Leaf Clusters were awarded on 
>the Air Medal's ribbon for additional awards – 
>Bronze OLCs for every additional award and 
>Silver OLCs for every 5 additional awards. Extra 
>ribbons were worn to hold extra OLCs if the 
>recipient had earned more than 4 OLCs.
>
>One award was credited per every 25 hours of 
>combat assault flights (any flight in which the 
>aircraft was directly involved in combat), 50 
>hours of combat support flights (Visual 
>Reconnaissance or Resupply), or 100 hours of 
>non-combat service flights (Administrative or 
>VIP flights). Flight hours were calculated in 6-minute blocks.
>
>In 1968 numerals replaced the Oak Leaf Clusters to simplify their display.
>
>Air Medal [Army] (1968­2006)
>During the Vietnam War, the US Army awarded the 
>Air Medal to Warrant Officer or Commissioned 
>pilots and enlisted aircrew for actual flight 
>time (awards were also made to infantry troops 
>who flew on combat assault missions). This 
>became a bureaucratic nightmare to correctly log 
>because of the short flight time of typical 
>helicopter flights. Later, an equivalent "flight 
>hours" conversion was created and an award 
>standard was set by individual commands. This 
>eventually was standardized in theater to one 
>award per every 24 "flight hours" logged.[12] A 
>simplified set time was awarded depending on the 
>type of mission, regardless of the actual flight 
>time.[12] Administrative or VIP flights counted 
>for 1/4 hour, regular duties (such as Visual 
>Reconnaissance or Resupply) counted for 1/2 
>hour, and hazardous duties (combat assaults or 
>extractions) counted for 1 hour. Pilots and 
>aircrew could log over 1,000 "flight hours" a 
>year and earn a 40 or higher numeral on their Air Medal ribbon.
>
>The "score card" system was retained after the 
>war. This was changed on December 11, 2006 to an 
>award for every six months of meritorious 
>service instead of the number of flight hours.
>
>Air Medal [Army] (2006­present)
>Currently (as per AR 600-8-22 [December 11, 
>2006])[13] the medal can be awarded for every 
>six months of meritorious service. The recipient 
>must perform flight-related duties while serving 
>in a combat zone. The number of flight hours 
>logged is no longer a criterion. The soldier 
>must be assigned as air crew with flight status 
>(i.e., as a pilot, navigator, or gunner). 
>Soldiers without flight status can be eligible 
>if they help with an aerial attack during 
>general transport (e.g., as a door gunner), 
>serve as a combat controller (e.g., as a 
>Pathfinder or Forward Air Controller) or the 
>combat commander of an air or land operation at 
>the Group or Brigade level or lower. Soldiers 
>being transported by air as passengers are not 
>eligible for the meritorious service award, but 
>they may be eligible for the gallantry award.
>
>Ribbon devices
>Subsequent awards of the Air Medal are denoted 
>in the U.S. Army by Numeral devices displayed on 
>the medal and ribbon. The Army originally used 
>Oak Leaf Clusters to signify additional awards. 
>However, this was changed to numeral devices in 
>September 1968, during the Vietnam War, when the 
>number of Air Medals awarded became too large to 
>be annotated on a single ribbon.
>Since February 29, 1964, the medal may be 
>awarded with a "V" Device for an act of heroism 
>against an armed enemy less than the criteria 
>for the Distinguished Flying Cross.
>US Navy/US Marine Corps
>The United States Navy and United States Marine 
>Corps have two types of Air Medal awards: 
>"Individual" for singular meritorious acts and 
>"Strike/Flight" for participation in sustained aerial flight operations.
>
>Ribbon devices
>As of September 27, 2006, gold Numeral devices 
>are used to denote the number of "Individual" 
>Air Medals. (This is a return to the standard used before November 22, 1989.)
>Bronze Strike/Flight numerals denote the total 
>number of Strike/Flight awards. Sorties are 
>missions or sustained operations involving 
>aircraft, like: delivering ordnance against the 
>enemy, landing or evacuating personnel in an 
>assault, or in which personnel are engaged in 
>search and rescue operations. Strikes are combat 
>sorties that encounter enemy opposition. Flights 
>are combat sorties that do not encounter enemy opposition.
>Officers of Captain (USN) or Colonel (USMC) rank 
>and above are not eligible for award of the Air 
>Medal on a Strike/Flight basis unless the 
>sorties they fly are required in the performance of their regular duties.
>
>Since April 5, 1974, the Combat "V" may be 
>authorized for awards for heroism or meritorious 
>action in conflict with an armed enemy.
>In the interval between November 22, 1989, and 
>September 27, 2006, ​3⁄16 inch bronze stars, 
>​5⁄16 inch gold stars, and ​5⁄16 inch 
>silver stars denoted the number of "Individual" 
>Air Medals. A bronze star was used to denote a 
>first award. Gold stars were used for the second 
>through the fifth awards, seventh through tenth 
>awards, and so on. Silver stars were used in 
>lieu of five gold stars, and denote the sixth 
>and eleventh (and so on) awards. For 
>"Individual" Air Medals, the Combat "V" may be authorized.
>
>Bronze Strike/Flight numerals denoted the number 
>of Strike/Flight awards. They are authorized for 
>operations in hostile or disputed territory and 
>count the total number of Strikes (operations 
>that faced enemy opposition) and Flights 
>(operations that did not encounter enemy opposition) added together.
>
>US Coast Guard
>The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard 
>may award the Air Medal to any person in the 
>Armed Forces of the United States who 
>distinguishes themselves by heroic or 
>meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.[14]
>
>The Coast Guard awards the "Individual" Air 
>Medal but not the Strike/Flight Award.
>
>Ribbon devices
>Gold and silver ​5⁄16 inch stars are 
>authorized for wear to denote additional Air 
>Medal awards. The gold star denotes the second 
>through fifth awards of the Air Medal.
>Valor Device may be authorized for wear if the 
>award is for performance of a heroic act or acts 
>while directly performing in conflict or combat with an armed enemy.[14]
>
>Civil Air Patrol
>During World War II, the Air Medal was also 
>awarded to members of the Civil Air Patrol who 
>participated in the CAP's anti-submarine patrol 
>program.[15] This was not made public at the 
>time, since the Federal government did not want 
>to admit it was arming civilian aircraft.
>
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