Some may argue that the military needs to establish more consistent standards for the way military achievement awards are decided, but that doesn’t take away from the prestige of being recognized with medals and awards.
All five branches of the United States Armed Forces, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, award medals to exceptional personnel. It also includes recognition of the unit in which they serve. The medals are awarded for bravery, heroism, and/or meritorious service.
When a member of the military deserves the recognition of service, they get an “award for your service” notice. Keep reading to learn more about three achievement awards one can receive for military service.
1. The Congressional Medal of Honor
This is the highest military decoration awarded for exceptional courage and is the only one approved by the U.S. Congress. It is presented by the President of the United States in the name of Congress.
In order to receive this award, a member of the U.S. Armed Forces had to show conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity by putting their lives at risk above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States.
2. Purple Heart Medal
George Washington established this medal in 1782 and it was known as the “Badge of Military Merit.” The Purple Heart goes to enlisted soldiers or non-commissioned officers for their service as well as commissioned officers.
This was a departure since most awards went to commissioned officers only. Today it’s awarded to those soldiers who are wounded or killed in combat with the enemy.
3. The Distinguished Service Cross
This is the second highest military medal award for valor. A member of the Army, Air Force, or Navy exhibits extraordinary heroism while engaged in a conflict with an enemy of the U.S. receives a Distinguish Service Cross. This award goes to those that narrowly miss the criteria for the Congressional Medal of Honor.
The Secretary of the Army awards the Distinguished Service Cross to recipients from the U.S. Army. The Secretary of the Navy awards the Navy Cross to deserving sailors, marines, or coast guardsmen. The Secretary of the Air Force awards the Air Force Cross to airmen. These are all granted by the authority of Congress.
Do you wish to design the challenge coin to accompany a military award? Create custom challenge coins here. Have a clear idea of the purpose of your coin and make it unique with personal details.
Achievement Awards For Military Service
Achievement awards are not the main focus of our men and women in uniform, but recognizing acts of valor is a time-honored American tradition. These are just a few of the hundreds of military awards and decorations. Each award has its own criteria, significance, history, and award ceremony.
Please check out the other informative articles on our blog site. We cover the latest news, entertainment, music, technology, fashion, music, and more on our website.
