USAF Gallant Unit Citation
Display Recognition

Site Index

      • Example Display Recognition
      • Display Types
      • Issue Requirements
      • Issue Regulations
      • Who May Apply
      • Administration Processing and Delivery
      • How To Apply For This Display Recognition and/or Medal
      • Mailing Address
      • Questions?
      • Other Display Recognitions
      • Air Service Websites

        • Example Display Recognition:
        Actual Size: 8 1/2 x 11



        Who May Apply

        • Veteran recipients
        • Active Duty recipients
        • Family Members of recipients
        • Estate Inheritors

        Display Types

        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

        Issue Requirements
        You must submit the following:

      • An unaltered photocopy of your DD-214 displaying your unit's award of the MUA.

      • Contact The War Library if you do not have a DD-214: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone).

        • NOTICE

        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 Medal or a Display Recognition for your authorized award you will be required to provide military-issued documentation authorizing your award. There are no exceptions.

        WARNING!
        You must NOT submit a military issued document or photocopy that:

        • has been altered in any way by you after
          the original's official issue
        • contains information or corrections or
          additions that you entered
        • lists awards or training you knowingly did not receive
        • contains highlighting, colorizing or other markings you entered

        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.

        Email Questions, or Phone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

        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 $10.50 USPS $24.50
        Published Document in Heavy Bond Enclosure (Full Color) $19.00 $10.50 USPS $29.50
        Full Color Printable Certificates
        on CD-Rom (minimum 20 Certificates)        		 $7.50 $7.50 By Count

      • *** USPS USPS Shipping fee based on 1 Certificate shipped to any U.S. state, FPO or APO
      • ** USPS USPS Shipping fee based on 1 Certificate shipped to any U.S. state, FPO or APO
      • Contact The War Library for international shipping cost

        • How to Apply

        You may apply for your Display Recognition using a...

      • Check Debit card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Charge card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Personal, Business, Bank or Cashiers Check ( Shipped in 6 weeks)
      • Money Order (* Shipped in 6 weeks)

        • (* 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).

        DISPLAY RECOGNITION and/or MEDAL APPLICATION FORM

        Mailing Address

        Records Chief (REC-AMW)
        The American War Library
        817 East Via Carmelitos Ste 319
        Long Beach CA 90805-7549

        Questions?

        Click here for answers to common questions

        Email: Gallant Unit Citation Display Recognition Inquiry

        Telephone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

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        Issue Regulations


        Gallant Unit Citation


        Click for larger image

        Awarded to Air Force Active Duty, AFRes, ANG units for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the US while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force on or after 11 September 2001. The GUC requires a lesser degree of gallantry, determination and esprit de corps than that required for the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Silver Star which is awarded for gallantry and heroism of high degrees, including risk of life in action. This award will normally be earned by units that have participated in single or successive actions covering relatively brief time spans. Only on rare occasions will a unit larger than a group qualify for the GUC. Extended periods of combat duty or participation in a large number of operational missions, either air or ground, is not sufficient.

        Approval authority for this award will be the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council (SAFPC), however, must be processed through HQ AFPC/DPPPRA.

        Devices associated with award of the Gallant Unit Citation are Oak Leaf Clusters to denote multiple awards.

        Establishing Authority

        The Air Force Gallant Unit Citation was established by Secretary of the Air Force James G. Roche.

        Effective Dates

        The Air Force Gallant Unit Citation is effective retroactive to September 11, 2001.

        Criteria

        The Air Force Gallant Unit Citation is awarded to Air Force active duty, Reserve, and Guard units for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force.

        The Air Force Gallant Unit Citation requires a lesser degree of gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps than that required for the Presidential Unit Citation. Nevertheless, the unit must have performed with marked distinction under difficult and hazardous conditions in accomplishing its mission so as to set it apart from and above other units participating in the same conflict.

        The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Silver Star to an individual.

        This award will normally be earned by units that have participated in single or successive actions covering relatively brief time spans.

        Only on rare occasions will a unit larger than a Group qualify for this award. Although units larger than a Group may submit, it will be extremely rare that a large organization will receive this award due to the degree of valor required.

        Order of Precedence

        The Gallant Unit Citation is worn after the Presidential Unit Citation and before the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.

        Devices

        Additional awards are denoted by oak leaf clusters.

        First Award

        The first award of the Air Force Gallant Unit Citation was made to the 16th Operations Group at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The 16th Operations Group, part of the 16th Special Operations Wing, was singled out for its performance from the start of Operation Enduring Freedom in October of 2001 to the opening months of Operation Iraqi Freedom, ending in May 2003. The Group was recognized for destroying 1,200 targets, firing 658,134 rounds of ammunition, airlifting 4.1 million pounds of cargo, and flying 7,064 combat sorties.

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