Airman's Medal

1. Description: In the center of a bronze disc one and three-eighths inches in diameter with an oxidized satin finish, the figure of Hermes is shown in profile resting on his left knee while releasing an eagle with displayed wings from his open hands. Directly in front of the figure of Hermes and following the curvature of the medal is the word AIRMAN'S in raised letters, and in the same position behind the figure, the word MEDAL.

The Greek god Hermes was the son of Zeus and represents youth, vigor, and boldness. The eagle being released is the American bald eagle and refers to the United States; its release symbolizes the ideals and aspirations of American airmen.

The reverse contains a stylize laurel wreath. Within the laurel wreath, and at the top of the medal in two lines, is the inscription, FOR VALOR in raised letters. The space below the wreath is used for engraving the recipient's name. The laurel represents achievement through heroic conduct.

2. Ribbon: In the center of the ribbon, seven gold and six dark blue stripes alternate. The ribbon is edged in light blue. The design of the ribbon is based on that of the Soldier's Medal, with the red and white stripes in the Soldier's Medal being replaced by the gold and blue stripes in the Airman's Medal (which are also configured in a broader array), and the edge stripes of the Airman's Medal are lightened to further distinguish the two ribbons.

3. Criteria: This decoration, one of several Air Force awards established by Congress on July 6, 1960, takes the place of the Soldier's Medal for Air Force personnel. It is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly nation who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Air Force after the date of the award's authorization, shall have distinguished himself or herself by a heroic act, usually at the voluntary risk of his or her life but not involving actual combat.

4. Background: This medal was designed and sculpted by Thomas Hudson Jones of the Institute of Heraldry. On the obverse of the circular medal is the figure of the Greek god Hermes, son of Zeus, resting on one knee. He has just released from his open hands a falcon, shown rising into flight. Within the raised rim of the medal, is the inscription "Airman's Medal" in raised letters. The reverse of the medal, has a raised outer edge and bears the inscription, "For Valor" above a space for the recipient's name which is within a stylized laurel wreath open at the top and tied at the bottom.

The Airman's Medal is unique in that its shape does not follow the octagonal shape of its counterparts, the Soldier's Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal and the Coast Guard Medal. It had been established practice heretofore to design military decorations with a distinctive shape, so that they would not be confused at a distance with service or campaign medals, which are always circular in shape. The reason for this is because the design was originally approved for use as The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal. The ribbon is based on that of the soldier's Medal but using different colors. In the center are alternating thin stripes of gold and dark blue, (seven gold and six dark blue) bordered at the edges with wide stripes of pale (sky) blue.

The Airman's Medal derives from the Act of Congress that created the Soldier's Medal (Public Law of the 69th congress, approved July 2, 1926), which was amended by Public Law 86-593 (approved by the 86th Congress on July 6, 1960), amending Title 10 of the United States Code to provide the Air Force with authority to present a distinctive version of the Soldiers Medal to be known as the "Airman's Medal."