Editing Commendation Medal (section)

==Commendation Medals by service and branch==

===Joint Service===
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The '''Joint Service Commendation Medal''' ('''JSCM''') was authorized on June 25, 1963, and is awarded in the name of the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after January 1, 1963, distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement or service in a joint duty capacity.

This award is intended for senior service on a joint military staff and is senior in precedence to service-specific Commendation Medals. As such, it is worn above the service Commendation Medals on a military uniform.<ref>{{cite web|title=Joint Service Commendation Medal|url=http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=15258&CategoryId=3&grp=4&menu=Decorations%20and%20Medals&ps=24&p=0|publisher=The Institute of Heraldry|access-date=March 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217050452/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=15258&CategoryId=3&grp=4&menu=Decorations%20and%20Medals&ps=24&p=0|archive-date=December 17, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7776 Joint Service Commendation Medal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207160924/http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7776 |date=February 7, 2012 }}, US Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved March 2, 2014.</ref>

; Devices
* [[Oak leaf cluster]] (for subsequent awards)
* [["V" Device]] (for valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy)

===Army===
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The '''Army Commendation Medal''' is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States other than General Officers who, while serving in any capacity with the [[U.S. Army]] after December 6, 1941, distinguished themselves by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. The medal may be awarded to a member of another branch of the U.S. Armed Forces or of a friendly foreign nation who, after June 1, 1962, distinguishes themselves by an act of heroism, extraordinary achievement, or significant meritorious service which has been of mutual benefit to the friendly nation and the United States.<ref name=tioh>{{cite web|title=Army Commendation Medal|url=http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=15259&CategoryId=3&grp=4&menu=Decorations%20and%20Medals&ps=24&p=0|publisher=[[The Institute of Heraldry]]|access-date=March 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904092238/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=15259&CategoryId=3&grp=4&menu=Decorations%20and%20Medals&ps=24&p=0|archive-date=September 4, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

;Criteria and appearance
The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to American and foreign military personnel in the grade of O-6 ([[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] in the U.S. Army) and below who have performed noteworthy service in any capacity with the United States Army. Qualifying service for the award of the medal can be for distinctive meritorious achievement and service, acts of courage involving no voluntary risk of life, or sustained meritorious performance of duty. Approval of the award must be made by an officer in the grade of Colonel (O-6) or higher.

The medallion of the Army Commendation Medal is a bronze hexagon, 1{{frac|3|8}} inches wide. On the medallion is an American bald eagle with wings spread horizontally, grasping in its talons three crossed arrows. On its breast is a shield [[Pale (heraldry)|paly]] of thirteen pieces and a [[Chief (heraldry)|chief]].  The [[Obverse and reverse|reverse]] bears a panel for naming between the words ''FOR MILITARY'' above and ''MERIT'' below, all placed above a laurel sprig. The ribbon is 1{{frac|3|8}} inches wide primarily of [[Myrtle (color)|myrtle green]]. It is edged in white and in the center are five thin white stripes spaced equally apart.<ref name=tioh/>

; Devices 
* [[Oak leaf cluster]] (for subsequent awards)
* [["V" Device]] (for valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy)
* "C" Device (for meritorious service or achievement under combat conditions. Unofficially called the Combat Commendation. Retroactive Awards are not authorized for medals awarded before January 7, 2016)<ref name="army.mil">{{cite web |url=https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/C%20and%20R%20devices |title=HRC Homepage |publisher=Hrc.army.mil |access-date=2018-09-28 |archive-date=January 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180101193416/https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/C%20and%20R%20devices |url-status=live }}</ref>
* "R" Device (for direct and immediate impact on combat operations from a remote location)<ref name="army.mil"/>
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===Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard===
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[[File:David Miller receives Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal from Cedric Pringle 2019 (46819211525).jpg|thumb|A sailor receives a certificate of the award from Rear Admiral [[Cedric Pringle]] in 2019.]]
After [[World War I]], the [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]] authorized the [[Navy Commendation Star]], a ribbon device to be placed on the [[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]]. The {{frac|3|16}} inch silver star was identical to the Army [[Citation Star]], but not comparable, as the latter recognized "gallantry in action", while the Navy Commendation Star denoted those who had been cited and commended for performance of duty by the [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]].

An independent '''Navy Commendation Ribbon''' was established in November 1943.  On March 22, 1950, a metal pendant (of the same design as the pendant of the Army Commendation Medal) was authorized and the Commendation Ribbon was renamed the Navy Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant.  This award was re-designated as the Navy Commendation Medal in September 1960, and renamed the '''Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal''' in 1994. This decoration was previously awarded only by flag rank operational commanders, requiring the signature of an admiral or general officer in the grade of [[U.S. uniformed services pay grades#Officer pay grades|O-7]], allowing interpretation of the criteria for which the medal may be awarded.  Authority to award this decoration was later expanded to captains and colonels in the grade of [[U.S. uniformed services pay grades#Officer pay grades|O-6]] currently holding operational command as a [[Commodore (United States)|commodore]], carrier air wing commander or commanding officer.

Recipient members of the [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] have always been issued the Navy's commendation medal and there is not a separate commendation medal intended only for Marines.  This lack of difference was recognized on August 19, 1994, when [[Secretary of the Navy]] [[John Howard Dalton]] changed the name of the Navy Commendation Medal to the '''Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal'''.<ref>[https://doni.daps.dla.mil/Directives/01000%20Military%20Personnel%20Support/01-600%20Performance%20and%20Discipline%20Programs/1650.1H.PDF  SECNAVINST 1650.1H 2006 2-31] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915130413/http://doni.daps.dla.mil/Directives/01000%20Military%20Personnel%20Support/01-600%20Performance%20and%20Discipline%20Programs/1650.1H.PDF |date=September 15, 2012 }}</ref>

The [[United States Coast Guard|U.S. Coast Guard]] awards a separate '''Coast Guard Commendation Medal''', with a ribbon similar in design to that of its Navy and Marine Corps counterpart.  Initially established as the Coast Guard Commendation Ribbon in 1947, it was redesignated as the Coast Guard Commendation Medal in 1959.  Criteria for its award has paralleled that of the Navy and Marine Corps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxfall.com/fmd-uscg-cgcm.htm|title=Coast Guard Commendation Medal|work=foxfall.com|access-date=October 4, 2011|archive-date=March 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303005931/http://foxfall.com/fmd-uscg-cgcm.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

;Devices
* [[5/16 inch star|{{frac|5|16}} inch star]], [[Combat "V"]], and [[Operational Distinguishing Device]] (Coast Guard) 

==== Notable recipients ====
* [[Richard Nixon]]: US President<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/biographies-list/bios-n/nixon-richard.html |title=Richard Milhous Nixon: 9 January 1913–22 April 1994|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=February 18, 2015 |website=Naval History and Heritage Command |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=October 1, 2022}}</ref>

===Air and Space Forces===
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The [[United States Department of the Air Force|Department of the Air Force]] began issuing its own '''Air Force Commendation Medal''' in 1958 with additional awards denoted by oak leaf clusters.  Prior to this time, USAF recipients received the Army Commendation Medal.  It was not until 1996 that the "V" device was authorized on the Air Force Commendation Medal; prior to 1996, there was not a valor distinction in effect for the Air Force Commendation Medal. On January 7, 2016, the "C" device and "R" device was authorized on the Air Force Commendation Medal as well. For USAF enlisted personnel, the Air Force Commendation Medal is worth three points under the Air Force enlisted promotion system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7777|title=Factsheets : Air Force Commendation Medal|work=af.mil|access-date=May 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616184153/http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7777|archive-date=June 16, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On November 16, 2020, it was renamed the '''Air and Space Commendation Medal''' (''ASCOM'') by the Secretary of the Air Force.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafman36-2806/dafman36-2806.pdf |title=Military awards manuel |access-date=November 25, 2022 |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101133713/https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafman36-2806/dafman36-2806.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

;Criteria and appearance
The Air and Space Commendation Medal is awarded to both American and foreign military personnel of any service branch in the U.S. military grade of [[U.S. uniformed services pay grades|O-6]] and below, the NATO grade of OF-5 and below, or of any other Allied or Coalition nation in the grade of Colonel or equivalent or below, or the naval grade of Captain or equivalent or below, who have performed noteworthy service in any capacity with the United States Air Force or United States Space Force. Qualifying service for the award of the medal can be for distinctive meritorious achievement and service, acts of courage involving no voluntary risk of life, or sustained meritorious performance of duty. Approval of the award must be made by an officer in the grade of [[Lieutenant Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] or higher.<ref name=AFI36-2803/>

The Air and Space Commendation Medal is a bronze hexagonal medallion. On the medallion is a shield surmounted by an eagle superimposed over clouds. On the shield bears a pair of flyer's wings and a vertical baton with an eagle's claw at either end; behind the shield are eight lightning bolts. The design on the shield is derived from the [[United States Department of the Air Force|Seal of the Department of the Air Force]]. The ribbon of the Air and Space Commendation Medal is golden yellow with blue edges. In the center are three bands of blue, the outer stripes are thin with the center stripe being wider.<ref name=AFI36-2803>{{cite book|title=Air Force Instruction 36-2803 The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program|date=December 18, 2013|publisher=United States Air Force|pages=88–90|url=http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2803/afi36-2803_.pdf|access-date=March 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304144752/http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2803/afi36-2803_.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

; Devices
* [[Oak leaf cluster]] (for subsequent awards)
* [["V" device]] (for valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy)
* [["C" device]] (for meritorious service in direct contact with an enemy)
* [["R" device]] (for employment of a remote weapon system during military operations)
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==== Notable recipients ====
* [[Allison Black]], U.S. Air Force officer<ref name= combat>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= |title= Recognizing Extraordinary Acts of Service MSgt John A. Chapman Service Before Self Award|url= https://www.combatcontrolfoundation.org/combat-control-first-there-programs/heritage/master-sergeant-john-a-chapman-service-before-self-award|website= Combat Control Foundation|location= |publisher= |access-date= February 23, 2025}}</ref>