1. Description: On a 1 3/8 inches wide bronze hexagon,
one point up, an American bald eagle with wings displayed horizontally, grasping three
crossed arrows and bearing on its breast a shield paly of thirteen pieces and a chief. On
the reverse, a name panel between the words "FOR MILITARY" and
"MERIT", all above a sprig of laurel.
2. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of
the following stripes: 3/32 inch white 67101; 25/64 inch myrtle green 67190; 1/32 inch
white; 1/16 inch myrtle green; 1/32 inch white; 1/16 inch myrtle green; center 1/32 inch
white; 1/16 inch myrtle green; 1/32 inch white; 1/16 inch myrtle green; 1/32 inch white;
25/64 inch myrtle green; and 3/32 inch white.
3. Criteria: a. 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 Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself 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 by an act of heroism, extraordinary achievement, or meritorious service which has
been of mutual benefit to a friendly nation and the United States.
b. Awards 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. An award may be made
for acts of noncombatant-related heroism which do not meet the requirements for an award
of the Soldier’s Medal.
4. Components: The following are authorized components of
the Army Commendation Medal:
a. Decoration (regular size): MIL-D-3943/27.
NSN 8455-00-269-5750 for the decoration set. NSN 8455-00-246-3820 for individual
replacement medal.
b. Decoration (miniature size): MIL-D-3943/27.
NSN 8455-00-996-5003.
c. Ribbon: MIL-R-11589/37. NSN
8455-00-257-3898.
d. Lapel Button: MIL-L-11484/20. NSN
8455-00-269-5423.
5. Background: a. In a summary sheet, 5 November
1945, WDGAP, Personnel Division recommended that an Army Commendation Ribbon of
distinctive design be established to recognize meritorious service in an area at a time
for which the Bronze Star Medal may not be awarded. The recommendation was approved by the
Secretary of War and the ribbon was established by War Department Circular 377, dated 18
December 1945. This circular authorized award to "members of the Armed Forces of the
United States serving in any capacity with the Army for meritorious service rendered since
7 December 1941, not in sustained operational activities against an enemy nor in direct
support of such operation, i.e., in areas and at times when the Bronze Star Medal may not
be awarded because of its operational character". Authority to award the Commendation
Ribbon was delegated to Major Generals or commanders of any command, force or installation
normally commanded by Major Generals.
b. In a DF, 29 April 1948, from the D/PA to
the Quartermaster General, the Personnel & Admin. Division indicated that the
Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Air Force had authorized a medal pendant to
be established for the Commendation Ribbon and requested that a proposed design be
prepared. The design was approved by both Secretaries on 8 July 1948. The Medal Pendant
for Commendation Ribbon was announced in Department of the Army (DA) Circular 91 (AF
Letter 35-25) dated 20 July 1949. On 20 March 1950, the Secretary of the Navy approved the
Navy Commendation Ribbon, and authorized use of the same pendant with a different ribbon
on 6 April 1950.
c. DA General Order No. 10, dated 31 March 1960,
renamed the Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendant to the Army Commendation Medal.
President Kennedy, in a memorandum to the Secretary of Defense, dated 1 June 1962,
authorized the award of the Army Commendation Medal to members of the Armed Forces of
friendly foreign nations who, after 1 June 1962, distinguished themselves by an act of
heroic, extraordinary achievement, or meritorious service.
d. Order of precedence and wear of decorations is
contained in Army Regulation (AR) 670-1. Policy for awards, approving authority, supply,
and issue of decorations is contained in AR 600-8-22.
