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Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110

§313 Bilateral or Regional Cooperation Programs: Awards and Mementos to Recognize Superior Noncombat Achievements or Performance

Title 10 › Subtitle A — General Military Law › PART I — ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS › CHAPTER 16 — SECURITY COOPERATION › SUBCHAPTER II — MILITARY-TO-MILITARY ENGAGEMENTS › § 313

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Defense may give awards and small mementos, paid for with operation and maintenance funds, to people from friendly foreign militaries and other foreign nationals for outstanding noncombat actions that clearly help U.S. national security. These awards can recognize work like shaping international security to protect U.S. interests; supporting U.S. presence, defense cooperation, or training overseas; helping deter aggression, build coalitions, and promote regional stability; or serving as a role model for military conduct in new democracies. The cost of mementos cannot be more than the minimal value in effect under section 7342(a)(5) of title 5.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §313

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)General Authority.—
The Secretary of Defense may present awards and mementos purchased with funds appropriated for operation and maintenance of the armed forces to recognize superior noncombat achievements or performance by members of friendly foreign forces and other foreign nationals that significantly enhance or support the National Security Strategy of the United States.
(b)Activities That May Be Recognized.—
Activities that may be recognized under subsection (a) include superior achievement or performance that—
(1)plays a crucial role in shaping the international security environment in ways that protect and promote United States interests;
(2)supports or enhances United States overseas presence and peacetime engagement activities, including defense cooperation initiatives, security assistance training and programs, and training and exercises with the armed forces;
(3)helps to deter aggression and coercion, build coalitions, and promote regional stability; or
(4)serves as a role model for appropriate conduct by military forces in emerging democracies.
(c)Limitation.—
Expenditures for the purchase or production of mementos for award under this section may not exceed the minimal value in effect under section 7342(a)(5) of title 5.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2016—Pub. L. 114–328 renumbered section 1051b of this title as this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 313

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110