Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73
§8296 Navy and Marine Corps Medal
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle C— - Navy and Marine Corps › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL › Chapter CHAPTER 837— - DECORATIONS AND AWARDS › § 8296
Summary
The President can award the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and device to anyone serving in the Navy or Marines for heroism not involving fighting an enemy. Those given a Navy letter of commendation for heroism before August 7, 1942, may apply, including Ready Reserve members not in the duty status in section 101(d).
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §8296
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The President may award a medal called the “Navy and Marine Corps Medal” of appropriate design with accompanying ribbon, together with a rosette or other device to be worn in place thereof—
(1)to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or the Marine Corps, distinguishes himself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy; or
(2)to any person to whom the Secretary of the Navy, before August 7, 1942, awarded a letter of commendation for heroism, and who applies for that medal, regardless of the date of the act of heroism.
(b)The authority in subsection (a) includes authority to award the medal to a member of the Ready Reserve who was not in a duty status defined in section 101(d) of this title when the member distinguished himself by heroism.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 624634 U.S.C. 356b.Feb. 4, 1919, ch. 14, § 5; added Aug. 7, 1942, ch. 551, § 1, 56 Stat. 744. The word “award” is substituted for the word “present” to cover the determination of the recipient as well as the actual presenting of the award. The words “but not in the name of Congress” are omitted since a decoration is presented in the name of Congress only if the law so directs. The words “including the Naval Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve” are omitted as covered by the definitions of the Navy and the Marine Corps. The last sentence, relating to additional pay, is omitted for the reason that, under the Career Compensation Act of 1949 (37 U.S.C. 231 et seq.), there is no additional pay authorized for any medal. The words “since December 6, 1941” are omitted as executed. The words “or herself” are omitted as covered by the rules of
Construction
in 1 U.S.C. 1.
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 8296, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 510; Aug. 6, 1958, Pub. L. 85–600, § 1(16), 72 Stat. 523; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(156), (175), 72 Stat. 1513, 1519, provided for promotion lists in Regular Air Force for all commissioned officers in grades below brigadier general on active list, with exceptions, which officers are known as “promotion-list officers”, a separate list for chaplains, judge advocates, medical officers, dental officers, veterinary officers, medical service officers, Air Force nurses, Air Force medical specialists, and any category established by Secretary of Air Force under section 8067(i) of this title, and determination of place on list upon transfer or promotion, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 204, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2880, effective Sept. 15, 1981. See section 624 of this title.
Amendments
2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 6246 of this title as this section. 1997—Pub. L. 105–85 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).
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. § 8296
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73