View Full Version : Uk Awards
After the discussion about UK warriors being awarded for their heroics, I finaly got around to pulling the list of UK awards. It's not unlike ours,, but they use funny names.. Thought I'd post a copy of the findings for those interested..
Hierarchy of gallantry, leadership and bravery awards for active operations (in presence of the enemy):
Level 1 Victoria Cross (VC)
Level 2 Distinguished Service Order (DSO) (for command and leadership Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) (for gallantry)
Level 3 Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) (at sea) Military Cross (MC) (on land) Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) (in the air)
Level 4 Mention in Despatches (for bravery, no post-nominal)
Hierarchy of gallantry and bravery awards for non-active operations (not in presence of the enemy):
Level 1 George Cross (GC)
Level 2 George Medal (GM)
Level 3 Queens's Gallantry Medal (QGM) Air Force Cross (AFC)
Level 4 Queen's Commendation for Bravery Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air (both for bravery, no post-nominal)
Honours & gallantry awards list:
Victoria Cross (VC)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC)
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
Military Cross (MC)
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
George Cross (GC)
George Medal (GM)
Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM)
Air Force Cross (AFC)
Elizabeth Cross
Memorial Scroll
Current campaign medals:
Operational Service Medal, The new Operational Service Medal (OSM) was introduced on 1 January 2000
Iraq Medal (2003 onwards), The Iraq Medal is now awarded for 30 days continuous service on Op Telic in Iraq. Air crew are awarded the Medal for 10 sorties into Iraq.
General Service Medal, Awarded for 30 days accumulated service in Northern Ireland from 14 August 1969 to a date to be decided.
Two thoughts:
1)I do not understand how you can have a "gallantry and bravery awards for non-active operations (not in presence of the enemy)"??
2)Why Northern Ireland is still or ever was declared a war??
FYI,, :munchin
Two thoughts:
1)I do not understand how you can have a "gallantry and bravery awards for non-active operations (not in presence of the enemy)"??
Soldier's Medal?
I believe that according to this, Bronze Star could have been awarded for PeaceKeeping operations in Bosnia and Kosovo where were received imminent danger pay and we were dealing with opposing forces where we were not the agressor.
AR 600-8-22
3–14. Bronze Star Medal
a. The Bronze Star Medal was established by Executive Order 9419, 4 February 1944 (superseded by Executive
Order 11046, 24 August 1962, as amended by Executive Order 13286, 28 February 2003).
b. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the
United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service,
not involving participation in aerial flight, 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. Title 10, United States Code, section 1133, (10 USC 1133) limits award of the Bronze Star Medal to
service members receiving imminent danger pay.
c. Awards may be made for acts of heroism, performed under circumstances described above, which are of lesser
degree than required for the award of the Silver Star.
d. The Bronze Star Medal may be awarded for meritorious achievement or meritorious service according to the
following:(1) Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or meritorious service. The lesser degree than that
required for the award of the Legion of Merit must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with
distinction.
(2) Award may be made to each member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 6 December 1941, has
been cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy between
7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945, inclusive, or whose meritorious achievement has been otherwise confirmed
by documents executed prior to 1 July 1947. For this purpose, an award of the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat
Medical Badge is considered as a citation in orders. Documents executed since 4 August 1944 in connection with
recommendations for the award of decorations of higher degree than the Bronze Star Medal will not be used as the
basis for an award under this paragraph. Veterans and retirees may submit letter application to National Personnel
Records Center, ATTN: NPRMA–M, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132–5100. Soldiers who retired or were
discharged after to 1 October 2002 and the next of kin of Soldiers who died after 1 October 2002 should send their
letter application to the Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, ATTN: AHRC–CC–B, 1 Reserve Way,
St. Louis, MO 63132–5200. The letter application should include documentary evidence, if possible.
(3) Upon letter application, award of the Bronze Star Medal may be made to eligible Soldiers who participated in
the Philippine Islands Campaign between 7 December 1941 to 10 May 1942. Performance of duty must have been on
the island of Luzon or the Harbor Defenses in Corregidor and Bataan. Only Soldiers who were awarded the
Distinguished Unit Citation (Presidential Unit Citation) may be awarded this decoration. Letter application should be
sent to the National Personnel Records Center, ATTN: NPRMA–M, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132–5100.
Soldiers who retired or were discharged after 1 October 2002 and the next of kin of Soldiers who retired or were
discharged after 1 October 2002 should send their letter application to the Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources
Command, ATTN: AHRC–CC–B, 1 Reserve Way, St. Louis, MO 63132–5200.
AR 600-8-22
3–13. Soldier’s Medal
a. The Soldier’s Medal, section 3750, title 10, United States Code (10 USC 3750) was established by Act of
Congress 2 July 1926 amended 10 USC 3750.
b. The Soldier’s Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign
nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, including Reserve Component Soldiers
not serving in a duty status, as defined in 10 USC 101(d), at the time of the heroic act, who distinguished himself or
herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The same degree of heroism is required as that of the
award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the
40 AR 600–8–22 • 11 December 2006
voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy. Awards will not be made solely on
the basis of having saved a life.
AR 600-8-22
3–16. Air Medal
a. The Air Medal was established by Executive Order 9158, 11 May 1942 as amended by Executive Order 9242–A,
11 September 1942.
b. 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.
c. 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.
d. 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.
e. Awards for meritorious service may be made for sustained distinction in the performance of duties involving
AR 600–8–22 • 11 December 2006 41
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 in paragraph c,
above, concerning conditions of conflict are applicable to award of the Air Medal for meritorious service.f. 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.
g. Numerals, starting with 2 will be used to denote second and subsequent awards of the Air Medal. (See para 6–4.)
AR 600-8-22
3–17. Army Commendation Medal
a. The Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) was established by War Department Circular 377, 18 December
1945 (amended in DA General Orders 10, 31 March 1960).
b. 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.c. 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.
d. The ARCOM may be awarded for acts of noncombatant-related heroism which does not meet the requirements
for an award of the Soldier’s Medal.e. The ARCOM will not be awarded to general officers.
f. Awards of the ARCOM may be made 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. Veterans and retirees may submit letter applications to the
National Personnel Records Center, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132–5100. Soldiers who retired or were
discharged after 1 October 2002 will send their letter application to the Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources
Command, ATTN: AHRC–CC–B, 1 Reserve Way, St. Louis, MO 63132–5200. 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.
Two thoughts:
1)I do not understand how you can have a "gallantry and bravery awards for non-active operations (not in presence of the enemy)"??
2)Why Northern Ireland is still or ever was declared a war??
FYI,, :munchin
Wasn't the Falkland Islands declared a war... even though it lasted a matter of days?
Vietnam is classified as a "conflict" even though us warriors considered it a "war".
I'm sure that Ireland is in the same murky waters.
Wasn't the Falkland Islands declared a war... even though it lasted a matter of days?
Vietnam is classified as a "conflict" even though us warriors considered it a "war".
I'm sure that Ireland is in the same murky waters.
Especially for those who got kneecapped...
Wasn't the Falkland Islands declared a war... even though it lasted a matter of days?
Vietnam is classified as a "conflict" even though us warriors considered it a "war".
I'm sure that Ireland is in the same murky waters.A foreign power invaded the Falklands...the troubles in Northern Ireland are domestic...?
Utah Bob
03-27-2011, 17:01
Wasn't the Falkland Islands declared a war... even though it lasted a matter of days?
Vietnam is classified as a "conflict" even though us warriors considered it a "war".
I'm sure that Ireland is in the same murky waters.
Neither side issued a declaration of war during the Falklands conflict.
"War" has evolved to be just a term used for armed conflict these days.
It seems to me that since the end of WW Deuce there have been very few formally declared wars internationally.
It may be that, with the exception of small 3rd world countries having border problems, we may not see a declared war in this century.
Utah Bob
03-27-2011, 17:02
A foreign power invaded the Falklands...the troubles in Northern Ireland are domestic...?
Many Irishmen would disagree.;)
Airbornelawyer
03-28-2011, 00:01
The General Service Medal, like our Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, was for various conflicts that did not warrant their own service medals. It was replaced by the Operational Service Medal in 2000 for new operations, but continued to be awarded for Northern Ireland (your information is somewhat outdated - the "date to be decided" was July 31, 2007 and the GSM is no more). That GSM had replaced an earlier version of the GSM in 1962.
Because the British give out so few awards, you could have served throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s, seeing combat in Oman, Yemen, Malaya, Northern Ireland, and Lebanon, and have only the General Service Medal to show for it and maybe a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (unless you'd been a bad boy one too many times). The Falklands got its own medal, as did the 1991 Gulf War and the current Iraq and Afghan Wars. Also, in 1994, another decoration was created, the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal, which went to soldiers who had done multiple tours accumulating over 36 months' operational service but only had the one GSM to show for it.
Attached image is of a group from a former Royal Artillery gunner. It has the GSM with "Northern Ireland" bar, the UN Medal for UNFICYP in Cyprus, the Gulf War Medal for Desert Storm, and the NATO Medal for IFOR/SFOR service in the former Yugoslavia.