Secretary of the Army Award for Valor | |
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Type | Civilian honorary award |
Awarded for | An act of heroism or sacrifice, with voluntary risk of personal safety in the face of danger either on or off the job. [1] |
Country | United States |
Presented by | the Department of the Army |
Eligibility | Army civilian employees |
Established | 15 April 2002 |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Department of the Army Distinguished Civilian Service Award |
Equivalent | Soldier's Medal |
Next (lower) | Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award |
Related | Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor |
The Secretary of the Army Award for Valor was an award that acknowledged acts of heroism or bravery connected with a United States Army solider or Army activity, or that in some way benefits the Army. The equivalent military decoration for this award is the Soldier's Medal. [2]
To be eligible for this award, the person must have distinguished themselves by exhibiting great courage or sacrifice involving heroism or bravery. The performance of the act must be a voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty. The act may be recognized if it is connected with an Army employee or Army activity, or if the Army in some way benefits from the act. Awards will be made only to recognize single acts of heroism or bravery. This award is not presented in recognition of activities or conflict with an armed enemy. The situation must have involved personal hazard or danger and a voluntary risk of life. Awards are not made solely for saving a life. [3]
The medal is gold in color and 34.925 millimeters (1.3750 in) in diameter. The obverse depicts a five pointed star on top of a laurel wreath. At the top of the medal is inscribed "VALOR". The reverse of the medal has a small laurel wreath under a rectangular plate for engraving the recipient's name. The words “AWARDED TO” are inscribed above and parallel to the name plate. Below the plate are the words “FOR EXHIBITING BRAVERY”. The medal is suspended from a ribbon 35 millimeters (1.4 in), in width in red. In the center of the ribbon are five stripes of blue, separated by four stripes of white, the center blue stripe being wider than the others. This award has a neck drape or neck ribbon, similar to that of the Medal of Honor, and therefore is worn by the recipient in formal attire around the neck as the Medal of Honor. These are two of the four U.S. awards that are authorized a neck ribbon, the other ones being the commander-degree Legion of Merit and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. [1] [4]
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army .