Title 10Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§8294 Silver star medal

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle C— - Navy and Marine Corps › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL › Chapter CHAPTER 837— - DECORATIONS AND AWARDS › § 8294

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President may give a Silver Star to a Navy or Marine who is officially cited for bravery that does not deserve the Medal of Honor or the Navy Cross. It applies in three specific combat situations.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §8294

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The President may award a silver star medal of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, is cited for gallantry in action that does not warrant a medal of honor or Navy cross—
(1)while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;
(2)while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
(3)while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 624434 U.S.C. 356a.Feb. 4, 1919, ch. 14, § 4; added Aug. 7, 1942, ch. 551, § 1, 56 Stat. 743. The word “award” is substituted for the word “present” to cover the determination of the recipient as well as the actual presenting of the decoration. The words “but not in the name of Congress” are omitted as surplusage, since a decoration is presented in the name of Congress only if the law so directs. The words “Navy or the Marine Corps” are substituted for the words “Navy of the United States” because the provision is interpreted as authorizing the award of the medal to persons serving with the Marine Corps. The words “since December 6, 1941, has distinguished himself” are omitted as executed.

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 8294, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 509; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(173), 72 Stat. 1518, provided that original appointments in Regular Air Force be made in grades of first lieutenant through colonel for medical and dental officers as Air Force requires, from qualified doctors of medicine, osteopathy, or dentistry who are citizens of the United States and have such other qualifications as Secretary of Air Force prescribes, with specific additional eligibility requirements for a doctor of osteopathy, and that officers so appointed receive service credit for determining grade, position on a promotion list, seniority in grade in Regular Air Force, and eligibility for promotion, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 204, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2880, effective Sept. 15, 1981. See section 532 of this title.

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 6244 of this title as this section. 1963—Pub. L. 88–77 enlarged the authority to award a silver star medal, which was limited to those cases in which persons distinguished themselves in action, to permit its award for gallantry while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of

Amendments

and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 8294

Title 10Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73