Air Force Combat Readiness Medal
Display Recognition

Site Index

      • Example Display Recognition
      • Click Here to EMAIL THIS PAGE to a friend
      • 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
      • Example Display Recognition



        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 (Report of Separation clearly displaying your Air Force Combat Readiness Medal authorization. If the AFCRM is not displayed on your DD-214 you must provide a copy of your DD-214 AND and copy of your AFCRM authorization orders.
      • 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
        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 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 Combat Readiness Medal Display Recognition Inquiry

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

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        Issue Regulations
        Air Force Combat Readiness Medal


        Click Certificate for larger image

        The Combat Readiness Medal was established by Secretary of the Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert on March 9, 1964, and amended by Secretary of the Air Force Harold Brown on August 28, 1967).

        Effective Dates

        The Combat Readiness Medal has been awarded for qualifying service retroactive to August 1, 1960.

        Criteria

        The Combat Readiness Medal is awarded to military service members after August 1, 1960, for sustained individual combat or mission readiness or preparedness for direct weapon system employment. Specifically, a service member must meet the following criteria:

      • Be a member of a unit subject to combat readiness as specified in appropriate directives;
      • Be individually certified as combat or mission ready; and, Complete 24 months of sustained combat or mission readiness with no more than a 120 calendar day break.
      • Have completed 24 months of sustained combat or mission readiness with no more than a 120 calendar day break.
      • Order of Precedence

        The Combat Readiness Medal is worn after the Prisoner of War Medal and before the Air Force Good Conduct Medal.

        Devices

        A bronze oak leaf cluster is awarded for each additional entitlement.

        Designer

        The Air Force Combat Readiness Medal was designed by Thomas Hudson Jones (1892-1969).

        First Recipient

        The identity of the first recipient of the Air Force Combat Readiness Medal was not recorded.

        Description and Symbolism

        Obverse

        Encircling a ring of stylized cloud forms, a border of concentric rays, its rim concave between 12 points, charged with six arrowheads alternating with the points of two triangular flight symbols having center lines ridged conversely, one pointed south and overlapping the one pointed north, whose apex extends beyond the rim, becoming the point of suspension of the medal.

        Combat readiness around the clock, as exemplified through the years by the vigilance and courage of veteran United States Air Force crew members is symbolized in a geometric pattern representing the teaming up of highly skilled, precision-trained men with complex modern defense weapons. The stress and strain exerted on men and machines by long hours of constant application is signified by two delta-shaped contrapuntal flight symbols. The twelve points on the rim are formed by the placement of arrowheads between the points of the flight symbols in such a way as to depict the major bearings of the compass as well as the hours of the clock, thus suggesting the scope and dimension of the operation of weapons delivery systems to which crew members must constantly exert themselves. The devotion of time and energy by these professionally skilled men is noted by the simulated clock dial on which each hour is ascribed equal importance. The glimpse of symbolic clouds around the inside of the rim attests to the spirit and zeal of men devoted to the surpassing of previous limitations.

        Reverse

        The inscription FOR COMBAT READINESS AIR FORCE, the whole forming a circle, with the words AIR FORCE at the base.

        Ribbon

        The ribbon to the Combat Readiness Medal consists of a red background with a stripe of Brittany blue bisected by an ultramarine pinstripe toward each edge of the ribbon. The Brittany blue and Ultramarine blue symbolically represent the Air Force, and the red alludes to combat readiness and zeal.

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