Air Force Combat Action Medal — Military Decorations

Air Force Combat Action Medal

Air Force Combat Action Medal

Air Force Combat Action Medal Medal and Ribbon Design Images

Design of the Air Force Combat Action Medal

The medal is silver. A laurel wreath surrounds the medal’s art deco eagle emblem. The eagle is holding a national flag shield with thirteen perpendicular stripes on its breast faces right, over the right talon which is holding arrows. It intends to show it is a combat medal. The left talon clutches an olive branch showing peace. The eagle which symbolizes Mitchell's military rank insignia of colonel,[16] has above it a five-pointed star which represents Mitchell's wartime promotion to the temporary rank of brigadier general in October, 1918. The reverse side of the medal contains two rows of words written on a scroll at the center of the eagle, "U.S. Air Force" and "Combat Action".

What is the Air Force Combat Action Medal Decoration?

The design for the medal and the ribbon color (scarlet with ten yellow stripes) come from the circular insignia painted on planes which were piloted by Brigadier General William "Billy" Mitchell, including a French-built SPAD XVI (SPAD 16) fighter aircraft he piloted in France during World War I.

The United States military sorts decorations into categories called Classes and Types. The Air Force Combat Action Medal medal is classified as a Personal Decoration of the type Combat Action Ribbon.

How Do You Earn the Air Force Combat Action Medal?

The Air Force Combat Action Medal was established recently in 2007. It recognises members of the US Air Force who have engaged in ground or aerial combat. Nomination for the medal is restricted to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who on or after 11 September 2001 were under any of the following conditions:

1. Deliberately go into the enemy's domain (outside the wire) to conduct official duties, either on the ground or in the air, and have come under enemy fire by lethal weapons while performing those duties, and are at risk of grave danger.



2. While defending the base (inside/on the wire), and must have come under enemy fire and engage the enemy with direct and lethal fire, and are at risk of grave danger.



3. Are personnel in ground operations who actively engage the enemy with direct and lethal fires also may qualify even if no direct fire is taken, as long as there was risk of grave danger and meets other criteria.

Displaying the Air Force Combat Action Medal

The Order of Precedence of the Air Force Combat Action Medal is 39, and this precedence is used when placing the associated service ribbon on your uniform ribbon rack. You can see a full list of decorations in the order of precedence on the Decorations homepage.

According to a USAF Memo: The Air Force Combat Action Medal’s authorized device is a gold star. It is worn to recognize subsequent operations when approved by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. However, gold stars are not included in the Air Force list of authorized ribbon devices.

Lieutenant General Tod Wolters wore a  3/16" gold star on his service ribbon on his uniform from 2013, marking the first time an Air Force Personnel member has worn the ribbon appurtenance.

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