Air Force Achievement Medal
Display Recognition
Site Index
Sample Display Recognition:
Displayed: Army.
All Five Service Branches, Army, Coast Guard,
Marine and Navy are Applicable.
Military Branches
All Military Service branches are applicable:
Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy
You have four display types to choose from:
Black & White (No Color)
Heavy Bond Enclosure
Heavy Bond Enclosure Colors: Regal, Black, Navy Trimmed in Appearance Gold Ready for Mantle or Shelf Display |
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Issue Requirements
You must submit the following:
This Display Recognition is available ONLY to authorized recipients who possess orders, or authorization form, or release documentation that confirms award eligibility. (See "Issue Requirements"). To obtain either a Display or a Display Recognition for your authorized award you will be required to provide military-issued documentation authorizing your award. There are no exceptions. You must NOT submit a military issued document or photocopy that:
Be advised that on request any knowingly fraudulent document sent by you will be released to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that may result in prosecution and/or fine/imprisonment. |
Personnel Branch
Processing and Delivery
Style | Admin | Shipping | Total | Full Color .PDF (Printable) | $7.50 | Emailed | $7.50 | Published Document only (Full Color) | $14.00 | $10.77 USPS | $24.77 | Published Document in Heavy Bond Enclosure (Full Color) | $19.00 | $10.77 USPS | $29.77 | Printable Certificates on CD-Rom or by Email; Full Color (minimum 20 Certificates) |
$7.50 | $7.50 | By Count | Printable Certificates on CD-Rom or by Email; Black&White (minimum 20 Certificates) |
$7.50 | $7.50 | By Count |
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You may apply for your Display Recognition using a...
(* Upon reception of required documentation)
Complete and MAIL this APPLICATION FORM.
Don't forget to include an unaltered COPY of your DD-214, WD AGO 53-55 or other pre-arranged document(s).
Click here for answers to common questions
Email: Air Force Achievement Medal Display Recognition InquiryTelephone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)
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Issue Regulations
Air Force Achievement Medal
Authorized for Distinguishing yourself by Outstanding Achievement or Meritorious Service. Click Certificate for larger image
Establishing Authority
The Air Force Achievement Medal was established on October 12, 1980, by Secretary of the Air Force Hans M. Mark.
Effective Dates
The Air Force Achievement Medal has been in effect since October 12, 1980.
Criteria
The Air Force Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States (and to foreign military personnel) below the grade of colonel who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force distinguish themselves by outstanding achievement or meritorious service but not to the extent that would warrant the award of a Commendation Medal.
Order of Precedence
The Air Force Achievement Medal is worn after the Joint Service Achievement Medal and before the Presidential Unit Citation.
Devices
Additional awards of the Air Force Achievement Medal are denoted by oak leaf clusters. Effective January 11, 1996 the bronze V device may be worn on Achievement Medals awarded for heroic actions that do not qualify for a Commendation Medal (with V device) provided the action occurs during a contingency operation that the Joint Chiefs of Staff has declared as a "hostile environment." Single heroic acts during terrorists acts and isolated combat incidents may also qualify, but the device may not be authorized for heroic acts that take place during peacetime.
Designer
The Air Force Achievement Medal was designed by Captain Robert C. Bonn, USAF, and sculpted by Donald Borja of the Army's Institute of Heraldry.
First Recipient
The first recipient of the Air Force Achievement Medal was A1C Heidi M. Uttrich, who received her medal in 1981.
Description and Symbolism
Obverse
The medal is a silver colored nebular-shaped disc one and three-eighths inches in diameter with an oxidized satin finish. The central portion of the medal is recessed and contains in its center a heraldic thunderbolt similar to that used on the shield of the Air Force Seal.
The heraldic thunderbolt signifies striking power through the medium of aerospace. The nebular border represents clouds and the firmament. There are eleven "clouds," which are the sum of 4 and 7, the digits of the year the Air force was established.
Reverse
Forming a circle around the center of the medal and just inside the nebular border, the inscription in raised letters, AIR FORCE MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT. The center of the medal is blank for engraving the recipient's name.
Ribbon
The ribbon to the Air Force Achievement Medal was designed by MSgt. William B. Dowling and Mr. Ruben Cortinas of the Air Force Military Personnel Center (Recognition Programs Branch) and consists of three sets of four vertical stripes of ultramarine blue over a silver-gray background. The colors have no meaning except to give the medal a distinctive appearance.
1. Description: (Front) The medal is a silver colored nebular-shaped disc one and three-eighths inches in diameter with an oxidized satin finish. The central portion of the medal is recessed and contains in its center a heraldic thunderbolt similar to that used on the shield of the Air Force Seal.
The heraldic thunderbolt signifies striking power through the medium of aerospace. The nebular border represents clouds and the firmament. There are eleven "clouds," which are the sum of 4 and 7, the digits of the year the Air force was established.
(Reverse Side) Forming a circle around the center of the medal and just inside the nebular border, the inscription in raised letters, AIR FORCE MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT. The center of the medal is blank for engraving the recipient's name.
2. Ribbon: The ribbon to the Air Force Achievement Medal was designed by MSgt. William B. Dowling and Mr. Ruben Cortinas of the Air Force Military Personnel Center (Recognition Programs Branch) and consists of three sets of four vertical stripes of ultramarine blue over a silver-gray background. The colors have no meaning except to give the medal a distinctive appearance.
3. Criteria: The Air Force Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States (and to foreign military personnel) below the grade of colonel who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force distinguish themselves by outstanding achievement or meritorious service but not to the extent that would warrant the award of a Commendation Medal.
4. Components: Additional awards of the Air Force Achievement Medal are denoted by oak leaf clusters. Effective January 11, 1996 the bronze V device may be worn on Achievement Medals awarded for heroic actions that do not qualify for a Commendation Medal (with V device) provided the action occurs during a contingency operation that the Joint Chiefs of Staff has declared as a "hostile environment." Single heroic acts during terrorists acts and isolated combat incidents may also qualify, but the device may not be authorized for heroic acts that take place during peacetime.
5. Background: The Air Force Achievement Medal was established on October 12, 1980, by Secretary of the Air Force Hans M. Mark. The Air Force Achievement Medal was designed by Captain Robert C. Bonn, USAF, and sculpted by Donald Borja of the Army's Institute of Heraldry. The first recipient of the Air Force Achievement Medal was A1C Heidi M. Uttrich, who received her medal in 1981.