The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight uniformed services of the United States as well as to military and political figures of foreign governments.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of the three main service branches; the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. The President of the Philippines is the Commander-in-Chief of the AFP and forms military policy with the Department of National Defense, an executive department acting as the principal organ by which military policy is carried out, while the Chief of Staff is the overall commander and the highest-ranking officer in the AFP. The Philippine Coast Guard also serves as an attached service of the AFP in wartime. Military service is entirely voluntary.
The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat. The Navy Cross is awarded primarily to a member of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard for extraordinary heroism. The medal is equivalent to the Army's Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Force and Space Force's Air Force Cross, and the Coast Guard Cross.
Vice Admiral Eli Thomas Reich was a highly decorated United States Navy officer and World War II submarine commander — the only one to sink a battleship during the war. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
The orders and decorations conferred upon civilians and military personnel in the Republic of the Philippines are listed by order of precedence. Philippine civilian orders and decorations are conferred by the President of the Philippines in his or her capacity as head of state. In certain instances, the conferment of certain orders and decorations requires the concurrence of the Congress of the Philippines, or of certain advisory bodies.
The Philippine Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It has an estimated strength of 25,000 active service personnel, including the 7,500-strong Philippine Marine Corps. It operates 115 ships and 25 aircraft. It shares the responsibility of patrolling the maritime borders with the Philippine Coast Guard, a formerly attached unit which became a separate maritime law enforcement agency in 1998.
The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Badge is a unit decoration of the Republic of the Philippines. It has been awarded to certain units of the United States military and the Philippine Commonwealth military for actions both during and subsequent to the Second World War.
The Medal of Valor is the Armed Forces of the Philippines' highest military honor awarded for a conspicuous deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty that distinguishes the recipient from his comrades. It is defined in the Philippine Army Awards and Decorations reference material FC 1-0062, itself adapted from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Awards and Decorations Handbook, Second Edition published in 1997, as an award for "heroism in combat" and is foremost in the order of precedence of awards and decorations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Awards and decorations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The Gold Cross is a decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines which recognizes gallantry in action. It is the fourth highest military award of the Philippines. It is awarded by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, or other senior commanders, to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for gallantry in action not warranting the award of the Distinguished Conduct Star.
The Distinguished Service Star is the third highest military award of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is awarded for eminently meritorious and valuable service rendered while holding a position of great responsibility.
The Distinguished Conduct Star is the second highest military award of the Philippines, preceded in precedence only by the Medal of Valor. The award was established in 1939, by President Manuel L. Quezon. With its establishment the award replaced the Philippine Constabulary Distinguished Conduct Star.
The Combat Commander's Kagitingan (K) Badge is awarded by the Commanding General, PA to PA officers and enlisted personnel who have commanded combat and combat support units for at least one cumulative year; all other PA military personnel who have rendered at least one cumulative year of combat duty regardless of their assignment, including those engaged in combat service support operations. Corresponding honorary badges may maybe awarded to all other personnel from the PAF, PN, and PMC who have been assigned to units engaged in combat, combat support, combat support operations for at least one cumulative year, regardless of duty assignment or position.
The Outstanding Achievement Medal is a single grade decoration of the Philippines awarded by the Secretary of National Defense.
The Gawad sa Kaunlaran is awarded by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Area Command, and Major Service Commanders to Philippine citizens. It is the second highest distinction presented by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to civilians and government officials.
The Distinguished Aviation Cross is a military decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is presented for heroism or achievement during aerial operations.
The Bronze Cross Medal is a single grade military decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines which is awarded for "heroism involving risk of life" under conditions not warranting the award of the Gold Cross Medal. It may be awarded for: 1) voluntary action in the face of great danger above and beyond the call of duty; or 2) other deeds evidenced by extraordinary bravery not involving direct combat with the enemy.
The Military Merit Medal is a military decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The medal is awarded for heroic achievement or meritorious service during, or in support of military action against an enemy.
Emmanuel Trinidad Bautista is a Filipino General who served as the 44th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as he succeeded Gen. Jessie Dellosa as AFP Chief. He is currently the Executive Director of the Cabinet Cluster on security, justice, and peace at the Office of the President, Malacañang. He was appointed to that position on 1 September 2014 shortly after retirement from the military service as Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines. Concurrently, he heads the National Task Force on the Whole of Nation Initiative and is also the executive Director of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea. He was succeeded by Gregorio Pio Catapang as AFP chief.
The Silver Cross is a non-combat decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines which recognizes distinguished achievement or heroism in the conduct of intelligence operations not involving armed confrontations with the enemy. It is awarded by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, or Unified Command and Major Service Commanders.
