The Bronze Star Medal is a United States decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
The United States Armed Forces awards and decorations are primarily the medals, service ribbons, and specific badges which recognize military service and personal accomplishments while a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. Such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a service member's career.
The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is a service award of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953.
The American Defense Service Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces, established by Executive Order 8808, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on June 28, 1941. The medal was intended to recognize those military service members who had served on active duty between September 8, 1939 and December 7, 1941.
The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-SM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was created through Executive Order 13289 on 12 March 2003, by President George W. Bush. The medal recognizes those military service members who have supported operations to counter terrorism in the War on Terror from 11 September 2001, to a date yet to be determined.
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFRM) is a service medal of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1950. The medal recognizes service performed by members of the reserve components and is awarded to both officers and enlisted personnel. The medal is considered a successor award to the Naval Reserve Medal and the Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon, which were discontinued in 1958 and 1967, respectively.
The Lone Star Medal of Valor is the second highest military decoration that may be awarded to a service member of the Texas Military Forces.
Awards and decorations of the state defense forces are presented to members of the state defense forces in addition to regular United States military decorations and state National Guard military decorations. Each of the state governments of the United States maintains a series of decorations for issuance to members of the state defense forces, with such awards presented under the authority of the various state adjutants general and/or respective state defense force commanders.
The State of Maryland Meritorious Service Medal is an award bestowed in the State of Maryland to honor meritorious service by members of the Maryland National Guard or military, active or retired.
The State of Maryland Commendation Medal is an award in the state of Maryland to honor exceptional service to the state by members of the Maryland National Guard or military, active or former.
The Maryland Outstanding Unit Ribbon is an award bestowed in the state of Maryland to recognize members of the annually selected outstanding unit of the fiscal year in the Maryland Air National Guard and the Maryland Army National Guard. Any service member who was assigned to the unit for at least a day during the year is entitled to receive the ribbon. Since 2010, the ribbon is modified to reflect multiple receipt of this award with Arabic numerals. Previously, it was marked with clusters of oak leaves.
The Adjutant General’s Distinguished Unit Ribbon, formerly the Maryland National Guard Adjutant General's Distinguished Unit Ribbon, is intended to recognize units or members of the military in Maryland who have performed acts to greatly benefit the Maryland Military Department or the state. Any member of the military is eligible regardless of time of service. This ribbon is only bestowed on organizational units that are not numbered.
The State of Maryland State Service Medal is an award bestowed on those who have served five years continuously in any branch of the Maryland Military Department. The Maltese cross is marked with bottony devices to indicate each additional five years of continuous service up to fifty, which is marked with two gold bottonees.
The Maryland Military Department Emergency Service Medal is bestowed to recognize uniformed members of the Maryland Military Department who are deployed to assist in domestic crisis under Title 32 of the United States Code, but not under Title 10, as recognized by the adjutant general of Maryland.
The 'State of Maryland Meritorious Civilian Service Medal' is an honor bestowed on civilians - including civilian employees, family members and others - to recognize outstanding service to the Maryland Military Department, the Maryland National Guard or the State of Maryland. The honorary award was redesigned in 2008.
Awards and decorations of the Illinois National Guard are provided to honor the service and dedication of the men and women who serve in the Illinois Army National Guard and the Illinois Air National Guard.
The Medal of Honor is the United States of America's highest and most prestigious personal military decoration that may be awarded to recognize U.S. military service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The medal is normally awarded by the President of the United States in the name of the U.S. Congress. Because the medal is presented "in the name of Congress", it is often referred to informally as the "Congressional Medal of Honor". However, the official name of the current award is "Medal of Honor". Within the United States Code the medal is referred to as the "Medal of Honor", and less frequently as "Congressional Medal of Honor". U.S. awards, including the Medal of Honor, do not have post-nominal titles, and while there is no official abbreviation, the most common abbreviations are "MOH" and "MH".
