AFH 1 · Chapter 8 · Section 8.21

DAF DoD Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service Awards

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DAF Awards — Combat Action, Combat Readiness, Good Conduct, Reserve MSM, Outstanding Airman, Recognition Ribbon

Purpose and Eligibility

DoD campaign, expeditionary, and service awards recognize:

Participation in military campaigns and expeditions
Significant military operations
Personal military service
Attainment of a requirement

Civilian and Foreign Eligibility

U.S. civilians, foreign nationals, and foreign military personnel are not eligible for campaign, expeditionary, or service awards, unless specified in the award criteria.

Nomination Process

Nominations are submitted on the AF Form 104, *Service Medal Award Verification*:

Approved by the commander
Submitted to the servicing military personnel flight

The military personnel flight procures and provides the initial issue of all achievement medals and ribbons.

References

Attachment 6 — DAF Ribbons and Medals
Attachment 7 — Devices

Combat Action Medal

CAM Eligibility

Awarded to military members (grades E-1 through O-6) who actively participated in ground or air combat on or after 11 September 2001.

Actions eligible include:

Deliberately going into an enemy's domain or defending the base while conducting official duties
Having experienced enemy fire by lethal weapons
Having fired upon the enemy at the risk of grave danger

Combat Readiness Medal

CRM Standard

Awarded for sustained individual combat or mission readiness or preparedness for direct weapon-system employment.

Requirements:

Subject to combat readiness reporting
Individually certified as combat and/or mission ready
Subject to a continuous individual positional evaluation program
Upon completion of 24 months of sustained combat or mission readiness

Air Force Good Conduct Medal

AFGCM Eligibility

Awarded to enlisted personnel for exemplary conduct while on active military service.

AFGCM Automatic

Award of the AFGCM is automatic unless denied by the unit commander for reasons of less than exemplary conduct.

Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal

ARFMSM Service Length.

Awarded on or after 1 April 1965 for 4 continuous years of service
Awarded on or after 1 July 1975 for 3 continuous years of service

Recognizes exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in an enlisted status in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.

Active Duty Effect

Creditable service ends when called to active duty.

Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon

OAY Recognition

Recognizes certain competitors and awardees of the Twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year Program.

Air and Space Recognition Ribbon

ASRR Eligibility

Awarded to individuals and members of small teams selected as overall winners of a Headquarters Air Force or functional community award, unless prohibited in the award criteria.

DAF Awards — Remote Combat Effects, Air & Space Campaign, Nuclear Deterrence, Overseas, Expeditionary, Longevity

Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal

RCECM Criteria

Recognizes DAF military members who, on or after 11 September 2001, distinguished themselves by direct participation in a DoD combat operation.

To qualify, the member must have:

Been assigned or attached to a unit directly supporting a DoD combat operation
Served in a remotely piloted aircraft, cyber, space, or intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance career field
Personally provided hands-on employment of a weapon system that had direct and immediate impact on a combat operation
Was not physically exposed to hostile actions or at risk of exposure to hostile action

Air and Space Campaign Medal

ASCM Eligibility

Awarded to members of the USAF who, after 24 March 1999, supported a significant military operation designated by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Recognizes personnel who provided support of combat operations:

At home station, or
From outside the geographic area of combat

…and were not eligible for the Kosovo Campaign Medal or other Operation Allied Force DoD Campaign Medals.

Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal

NDOSM Date

Recognizes DAF members who directly supported nuclear deterrence operations on or after 27 December 1991.

Additional qualifications can be found in DAFMAN 36-2806.

Air and Space Overseas Ribbon

ASOR Recognition

Recognizes completion of an overseas short or long tour.

Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon

ASESR Deployment Definition

The Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon is awarded in recognition for Air Expeditionary Force deployed status.

Deployment status is defined as:

45 consecutive days, or
90 non-consecutive days in deployed status

Air and Space Longevity Service Award

ASLSA Active Duty Criteria

Authorized for active-duty personnel based on an aggregate of 4 years of honorable active federal military service with any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces or Reserve components.

ASLSA Reserve Criteria

Reserve Component members are credited with the award for each 4 years of satisfactory military service creditable to a reservist for retirement.

DAF Awards — DSDR, EPME, BMT Honor, Small Arms Expert, A&S Training

Developmental Special Duty Ribbon

DSDR Eligibility

Authorized for members who:

Are awarded a DAF developmental special duty specialty code or a special duty identifier
Successfully completed the developmental special duty assignment (includes consecutive assignments)

Air Force Enlisted Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon

EPME Graduate Ribbon

Recognizes in-residence graduates of certified noncommissioned officer professional military education schools.

Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon

BMT Honor Standard

Awarded to basic military training honor graduates who have demonstrated excellence in all academic and military training phases.

Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

SAEMR Eligibility

Awarded to regular Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve members who qualify as "Expert" with either:

The M-16 rifle (to include the M-4 and GAU-5), or
An issued handgun on the Air Force qualification course
An appropriate orientation course prescribed in other Air Force Instructions
Other Military Departments' qualification course
Or who satisfactorily complete the Combat Rifle Program

Air and Space Training Ribbon

ASTR Initial Accession

Awarded to USAF members upon completion of initial accession training:

Basic military training
Officer training school
Reserve officers training corps, etc.

…after 14 August 1974.

USSF Eligibility

On or after 20 December 2019, the ribbon may be awarded to USSF members.

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