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 Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal (CGDSM) is a military decoration of the United States Coast Guard that was established 4 August 1949 and is presented to coast guardsmen for "Exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility." Prior to this date, members of the Coast Guard were eligible to receive the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. The Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal, which replaced the Transportation Distinguished Service Medal in 2002, is another higher precedence Distinguished Service Medal that may be awarded to Coast Guardsmen. The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is equivalent to the Army's Army Distinguished Service Medal, Naval Service's Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and the Air and Space Forces' Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.
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 United States military inter-service awards and decorations are those medals and ribbons which may be awarded to all members of the six military branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Each military department awards inter-service awards under the same criteria.
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 Maryland Medal for Valor (MMV) was an award bestowed on active members of the Maryland National Guard who demonstrated remarkable, voluntary acts of heroism which placed the member in personal danger and which went above and beyond the call of duty. The act may or may not have been performed during duty hours. In 2010, the Medal was replaced with the Maryland Distinguished Service Cross with an added device to indicate valor. Former recipients are entitled to continue to display the original medal or to request conversion.
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 Maryland National Guard Overseas Service Ribbon is an award in the state of Maryland bestowed upon members of the Maryland National Guard who serve outside the United States on foreign soil for at least 30 consecutive or 45 cumulative days, either for training or contingency operations.
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.
The United States Department of State, like other agencies of the U.S. federal government, gives civilian decorations for outstanding service, sacrifice, or heroism. The criteria for the awards are set down in 3 FAM 4820 - Foreign Affairs Manual, 3 FAM - Personnel, section 3 FAM 4800 Department Awards Program.
The Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal is a military decoration of the Department of Homeland Security, which is presented to United States Armed Forces service members for exceptionally meritorious service. The current version of the medal was established in February 2003, retroactive to March 1, 2002.
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 (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians, and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The medal is normally awarded by the President of the United States and is presented "in the name of the United States Congress." It is often, not strictly correctly, referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Awards and decorationsof the Texas Military are medals, ribbons, badges, tabs, trophies, plaques, certificates, memorials, monuments, holidays, and general honors that recognize service and achievement in the Texas Military Forces.
