Air Force Achievement Medal
Display Recognition

Site Index

      • Example Display Recognition
      • Click Here to EMAIL THIS PAGE to a friend
      • Applicable Military Branches
      • Display Types
      • Issue Requirements
      • Issue Regulations
      • Who May Apply
      • Administration Processing and Delivery
      • How To Apply For This Display Recognition and/or
      • Mailing Address
      • Questions?
      • Other Display Recognitions
      • Air Service Master Resource Guide
      • 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

        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, WD AGO, NAVPERS, NG or other military issued document clearly displaying your Air Force Achievement Medal authorization.
      • 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 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
        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

      • *** 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 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: Air Force Achievement Medal Display Recognition Inquiry

        Telephone: 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.

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