§9280 — Title 10 Armed Forces | U.S. Code

Summary

The President can give an Airman’s Medal, with a matching ribbon, to anyone serving in any role with the Air Force or Space Force who shows heroism that did not involve fighting an enemy. That can include a Ready Reserve member who was not in a duty status described in section 101(d) when the heroism happened. A person may receive only one Airman’s Medal, but for later qualifying acts the President may award a bar or other device to wear instead.

Title 10, §9280

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The President may award a decoration called the “Airman’s Medal”, of appropriate design with accompanying ribbon, to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force or Space Force, distinguishes himself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy.

(2)The authority in paragraph (1) 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.

(b)Not more than one Airman’s Medal may be awarded to a person. However, for each succeeding act that would otherwise justify the award of such a medal, the President may award a suitable bar or other device to be worn as he directs.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 8750(a)10:1428 (less last sentence).July 2, 1926, ch. 721, § 11, 44 Stat. 789. 8750(b)10:1428 (last sentence). The words “Under such

Rules and Regulations

as he may prescribe” are omitted, since the President has inherent authority to issue

Regulations

appropriate to exercising his functions. The words “but not in the name of Congress” are omitted as surplusage, since a medal is presented in the name of Congress only if the law so directs. The word “award” is substituted for the word “present” to cover the determination of the recipients as well as the actual presentation of the medal. The words “a decoration called” are substituted for the words “a medal to be known as”. The words “including the National Guard and the Organized Reserves” are omitted as surplusage. The words “or herself” are omitted, since, under section 1 of title 1, words importing the masculine gender include the feminine. The words “after July 2, 1926” are omitted as executed. In subsection (b), the words “that would otherwise justify” are substituted for the words “sufficient to”.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2024—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 118–159 inserted “or Space Force” after “Air Force”. 2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 8750 of this title as this section. 1997—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–85 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2). 1960—Pub. L. 86–593 substituted “Airman’s Medal” for “Soldier’s Medal” in section catchline and wherever appearing in text.

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.

§9280 Airman’s Medal: award; limitations

Summary

Title 10, §9280

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Rules and Regulations

Regulations

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Amendments

Citations & Metadata