Achievement Medal#Joint Service

{{short description|Military decoration of the United States Armed Forces}}

{{Infobox award

|name= Achievement Medal

|caption=Five Achievement Medals are awarded by branch or service. From left to right: Joint Service, Army, Navy & Marine Corps, Air Force & Space Force, and Coast Guard.

|presenter= United States Department of Defense
United States Department of the Army{{Cite web |url=http://govdocs.rutgers.edu/mil/army/r600_8_22.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111110243/http://govdocs.rutgers.edu/mil/army/r600_8_22.pdf |archive-date=2018-01-11 |url-status=dead}}
United States Department of the Navy{{Cite web |url=https://awards.navy.mil/awards/webdoc01.nsf/(vwDocsByID)/DL060927142728/$file/1650.1H.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918020113/https://awards.navy.mil/awards/webdoc01.nsf/(vwDocsByID)/DL060927142728/$file/1650.1H.pdf |archive-date=2010-09-18 |url-status=dead}}
United States Department of the Air Force{{cite web |url=http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2803/afi36-2803.pdf |title=Production publication |website=static.e-publishing.af.mil |access-date=2018-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127192422/http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2803/afi36-2803.pdf |archive-date=2018-01-27 |url-status=dead}}
United States Department of Homeland Security{{cite web|url=https://media.defense.gov/2017/Mar/29/2001723556/-1/-1/0/CIM_1650_25E.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904105203/https://media.defense.gov/2017/Mar/29/2001723556/-1/-1/0/CIM_1650_25E.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2017 |title=Data |date=2017 |website=media.defense.gov}}

|type= Medal (decoration)

|eligibility= Military personnel only

|awarded_for= "Meritorious service or achievement in either combat or noncombat situations based on sustained performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature but which does not warrant a Commendation Medal or higher."

|campaign=

|status= Currently awarded

|description=

|clasps=

|established= Naval Service (1961)
Coast Guard (1963)
Army (1981)
Air and Space Forces (1980)
Joint Service (1983)

|firstawarded=

|lastawarded=

|total_awarded=

|total_awarded_posthumously=

|total_recipients=

|individual=

|higher= Service commendation medals

|same=

|lower= Army: Prisoner of War Medal
Naval Service: Combat Action Ribbon
Air and Space Forces: Combat Action Medal
Coast Guard: Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon

|caption2=Service ribbons for the Joint Service, Army, Naval & Marine Corps Service, Air and Space Forces, and Coast Guard Achievement Medals

}}

The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize outstanding achievement or meritorious service{{Cite web|url=https://www.afpc.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/421869/air-force-achievement-medal/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217012252/http://www.afpc.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/421869/air-force-achievement-medal/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 17, 2017|title=Air Force Achievement Medal}} of military personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service Medal.

Each military service issues its own version of the Achievement Medal, with a fifth version authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense for joint military activity. The Achievement Medal is awarded for outstanding achievement or meritorious service not of a nature that would otherwise warrant awarding the Commendation Medal. Award authority rests with local commanders, granting a broad discretion of when and for what action the Achievement Medal may be awarded.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}

History

File:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon with "V" device, 3rd award.svg denoting combat bravery. The "V" device ceased being awarded with Achievement Medals in 2016.]]

File:Midshipman Madison L. O'Donnell's Navy Achievement Medal certificate.jpg

=Navy and Marine Corps=

The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM), is the United States Navy and U.S. Marine Corps' version of the Achievement Medal. The U.S. Navy was the first branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to award such a medal, doing so in 1961, when it was dubbed the "Secretary of the Navy Commendation for Achievement Medal." This title was shortened in 1967 to simply, the "Navy Achievement Medal." On August 19, 1994, to recognize those of the United States Marine Corps who had received the Navy Achievement Medal, the name of the decoration was officially changed to the "Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal". The award is still often referred to in shorthand speech as the "Navy Achievement Medal" or "NAM" for short.

==Chain of Command approval==

From its inception in the early 1960s to 2002, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal could not be approved by the commanding officers of ships, submarines, aviation squadron, or shore activities who held the rank of Commander (O-5). Awards for crewmembers had to be submitted to the Commodore or Air Wing Commander or the first appropriate O-6 in the chain of command for approval, who then signed the award and returned it. This led to a dramatically lower awarding rate when compared to similar size units in the Army or Air Force awarding their own achievement medals, especially considering that those services did not establish their respective achievement medals until the 1980s. Since 2002 the commanding officers of aviation squadrons and ships have had the authority to award NAMs without submission to higher authority.{{cite report |title=SECNAVINST 1650.1H - NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AWARDS MANUAL |publisher=United States Navy |url=https://awards.navy.mil/awards/webdoc01.nsf/(vwDocsByID)/DL060927142728/$file/1650.1H.pdf |page=13 |date=August 22, 2006 |access-date=10 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918020113/https://awards.navy.mil/awards/webdoc01.nsf/(vwDocsByID)/DL060927142728/$file/1650.1H.pdf |archive-date=2010-09-18 |url-status=dead }} This is in contrast to the Army, where battalion commanders or the first O-5 in a soldier's chain of command are the authorizing official.

=Army, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard=

The United States Coast Guard created its own Coast Guard Achievement Medal in 1967; the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force issued their own versions of the award with the Army Achievement Medal (AAM) in 1981{{cite web|url=http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/army_achievement.aspx|title=Error|work=pentagon.mil|access-date=2011-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121085947/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/army_achievement.aspx|archive-date=2012-01-21|url-status=dead}} and Air Force Achievement Medal (AFAM) in 1980.{{cite web|url=http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7779|title=Factsheets : Air Force Achievement Medal|work=af.mil|access-date=2011-05-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616183900/http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7779|archive-date=2011-06-16|url-status=dead}} Effective 11 September 2001, the Army Achievement Medal may be awarded in a combat area.{{cite web|url=http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/julqtr/32cfr578.21.htm|title=Army Achievement Medal.|website=edocket.access.gpo.gov}} Since this change over sixty thousand Army Achievement Medals have been awarded in theaters of operations such as Iraq and Afghanistan.[https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/awards/STATS/Historical_Stats.htm#ERAOIF Awards and Decorations Statistics by Conflict, Operation or Incident] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815025347/https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/awards/STATS/Historical_Stats.htm#ERAOIF |date=August 15, 2011 }} On 16 November 2020, the Air Force Achievement Medal was renamed to the Air and Space Achievement Medal (ASAM) by the Secretary of the Air Force.{{Cite web |date=October 27, 2022 |title=Department of the Air Force Manual 36-2806 |url=https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafman36-2806/dafman36-2806.pdf |access-date=December 19, 2022 |website=Air Force}}

=Joint Service Achievement Medal=

The Joint Service Achievement Medal (JSAM) was created in 1983.{{cite web |title=Joint Service Achievement Medal |url=http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/joint_srv_achievement.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303123914/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/joint_srv_achievement.aspx |archive-date=2011-03-03 |access-date=2011-05-28 |work=The Institute of Heraldry}}{{cite web|url=http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7778|title=Factsheets : Joint Service Achievement Medal|work=af.mil|access-date=2011-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207172901/http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7778|archive-date=2012-02-07|url-status=dead}} This award was considered a Department of Defense decoration senior to the service department Achievement Medals.

Ribbon devices

The following devices may be authorized to be worn on the following achievement medals suspension ribbon and service ribbon:

All Achievement Medals{{Snd}} "C" device, which signifies meritorious performance "under combat conditions" after January 2016{{cite news |last1=deGrandpre |first1=Andrew |last2=Panzino |first2=Charlsy |date=30 March 2017 |title=12 military awards now eligible for new 'C' and 'R' devices, and 2 no longer rate a 'V' |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2017/03/30/12-military-awards-now-eligible-for-new-c-and-r-devices-and-2-no-longer-rate-a-v/ |work=Military Times |location=Virginia |access-date=17 March 2018 }}
{{cite news |last=Dickstein |first=Corey |date=31 March 2017 |title=Pentagon implements 'C' and 'R' awards devices, removes 'V' from 2 awards |url=https://www.stripes.com/news/pentagon-implements-c-and-r-awards-devices-removes-v-from-2-awards-1.461526 |work=Stars and Stripes |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=17 March 2018 }}
Joint Service Achievement Medal (all service branches){{Snd}} for additional awards, oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal{{Snd}} for additional awards, oak leaf clusters
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal{{Snd}} for additional awards, 5/16 inch stars
Air and Space Achievement Medal{{Snd}} for additional awards, oak leaf clusters
Coast Guard Achievement Medal{{Snd}} for additional awards, 5/16 inch stars
Coast Guard Achievement Medal{{Snd}} Operational Distinguishing Device ("O" device)
Coast Guard Achievement Medal{{Snd}} Combat Distinguishing Device (Combat "V")

=Former ribbon devices=

The following ribbon devices were authorized in the past but have now been discontinued:{{cite web|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/pentagon-implements-c-and-r-awards-devices-removes-v-from-2-awards-1.461526|title=Pentagon implements 'C' and 'R' awards devices, removes 'V' from 2 awards}}

Air Force Achievement Medal{{Snd}} "V" Device until December 2016{{cite web|url=http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134833_dodi_2016.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427120106/http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134833_dodi_2016.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 April 2017|work=DoD Instruction 1348.33: DoD Military Decoretions and Awards Program|access-date=27 April 2017|publisher=Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness|date=21 December 2016|first1=Peter|last1=Levine|page=13|title=Section 3: Award Requirements and Restrictions|quote=Includes Army Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and Air Force Achievement Medal.}}
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal{{Snd}} Combat Distinguishing Device (Combat "V") until December 2016

Notable recipients

Allison Black, U.S. Air Force officer{{cite web |author= |date= |title= Recognizing Extraordinary Acts of Service MSgt John A. Chapman Service Before Self Award|url= https://www.combatcontrolfoundation.org/combat-control-first-there-programs/heritage/master-sergeant-john-a-chapman-service-before-self-award|website= Combat Control Foundation|location= |publisher= |access-date= February 23, 2025}}
HRH The Prince of Wales - 6 July 2008{{cite web | url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/51278/Medal-for-drug-buster-Wills | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719011451/https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/51278/Medal-for-drug-buster-Wills | archive-date=2023-07-19 | title=Medal for drug-buster Wills | date=6 July 2008 }}
JD Vance: United States Senator from Ohio and Vice President of the United States[https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/07/16/jd-vances-marine-corps-service-would-set-him-apart-most-vice-presidents.html JD Vance's Marine Corps Service Would Set Him Apart from Most Vice Presidents]
Tim Walz: Minnesota Governor and Democratic nominee for Vice president in the 2024 U.S. election{{Cite news |last=Nieberg |first=Patty |date=July 29, 2024 |title=Here are the four military veterans Kamala Harris might pick for VP |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/military-life/four-veterans-kamala-vp/ |work=Task & Purpose |access-date=July 30, 2024 |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806141918/https://taskandpurpose.com/military-life/four-veterans-kamala-vp/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite book |url=https://www.ausa.org/sites/default/files/once-a-soldier-113th-congress.pdf |title=Once a soldier... always a soldier: Soldiers in the 113th Congress |publisher=Association of the United States Army |year=2013 |pages=100–101 |access-date=July 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806132514/https://www.ausa.org/sites/default/files/once-a-soldier-113th-congress.pdf |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Chidi |first=George |date=2024-08-16 |title=Walz attacked by Trump but military record shows honorable service |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/16/walz-military-record-service |access-date=2024-08-18 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823172127/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/16/walz-military-record-service |url-status=live }}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20090210142406/http://navywriter.com/namcam.htm Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Citation Examples]
[https://www.hrc.army.mil/SITE/Active/TAGD/awards/FAQs/Joint_Awards.htm HRC Joint Awards FAQ]

Category:Awards and decorations of the United States Air Force

Category:Awards and decorations of the United States Army

Category:Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard

Category:Awards and decorations of the United States Marine Corps

Category:Awards and decorations of the United States Navy

Category:Awards and decorations of the United States Space Force

Category:Awards established in 1961

Category:Awards established in 1967

Category:Awards established in 1981

Category:Awards established in 1983

Category:Awards established in 1994

Category:1961 establishments in the United States