Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-102
§9273 Distinguished-service Medal: Award
Title 10 › Subtitle D — Air Force and Space Force › PART II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 937 — DECORATIONS AND AWARDS › § 9273
Summary
The President can give a top-level service medal, a matching ribbon, and a small rosette or similar badge that may be worn instead of the medal. The award is for anyone serving in any role with the Air Force or the Space Force who performs especially outstanding service to the United States while carrying a duty of great responsibility.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §9273
Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The President may award a distinguished-service medal of appropriate design and a ribbon, together with a rosette or other device to be worn in place thereof, to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force or the Space Force, distinguishes himself by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States in a duty of great responsibility.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 874310:1407.July 9, 1918, ch. 143 (10th par., less words after 1st semicolon, under “Ordnance Department”), 40 Stat. 870. 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 words “since the 6th day of April, 1917” are omitted as executed. 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, and to conform to other sections of this chapter. The words “or herself” are omitted, since, under section 1 of title 1, words importing the masculine gender include the feminine. The words “or who shall distinguish” are omitted as surplusage.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2021—Pub. L. 116–283 inserted “or the Space Force” after “the Air Force”. 2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 8743 of this title as this section.
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. § 9273
Title 10, Armed Forces
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102