Talk:Combat Action Medal

Untitled
I belive the medal shown is incorrect. I belive the eagle on this medal should be the "war eagle" variety. This means that the head should be pointing to the side with the arrows, not the Olive Branches.

Additional award devices
I believe that virtually ALL USAF additional award devices are 5/16 inch oak leaf clusters. This medal, however is a rare exception to that norm.Lind j a (talk) 01:47, 15 June 2014 (UTC)


 * Yes, very interesting! There is one ribbon exclusive to the USAF that I know of that uses a bronze star to denote a subsequent award and that would be the Small Arms Marksmanship ribbon. 71.99.198.67 (talk) 17:46, 8 January 2015 (UTC)


 * The two previous posts are in reference to a gold star being used as a ribbon device they assume denotes additional awards of the AFCAM based on their own interpretation of some AFCAM sources on the Net including Air Force AFCAM sources (AFCAM, Authorized Device: Gold star). However, in USAF Memo, 25 June 2015, AFI36-2803, 18 Dec. 2013 (Change 1, 22 June 2015) the gold star is not intended to indicate an additional award of the AFCAM: AFCAM, Authorized Device: A gold star will be worn to recognize subsequent operations when approved by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force (pages 148-49). The size of the gold star and what exactly the operations are is not specified. AFI-36-2803 does not authorized any ribbon device to denote additional awards of the AFCAM (pages 148-49) which normally would be oak leaf clusters).
 * AFI36-2803 authorizes service/campaign stars ($3/16$" bronze/silver stars) for use as a ribbon device, but does not include any gold stars for use in their list of AF ribbon devices on page 224. The Navy, Marine Corps, and CG authorizes a $5/16$" gold star, that may be used to denote additional awards of specific decorations. Lt. General Tod Wolters, USAF, publicly wears an AFCAM with a $3/16$" gold star on his uniform's service ribbons. However, in his AF biography's list of AF awards, the "gold star" is not included with his AFCAM. Wolter's fought in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom which may explain at least, why he is wearing the the AFCAM with gold star. YahwehSaves (talk) 21:13, 19 April 2016 (UTC)

AFCAM
I just spent 365 days in Iraq going on over 200 combat support missions, being directly engaged by enemy forces. Although i was not awarded the AFCAM... why? The Air Force feels as if a helicopter is more prone to hostil forces then a HUMVEE on the ground. My convoy was hit by 3 roadside bombs and engaged by small arms fire over 30 times. But "to the Air Force" I haven't seen combat. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.7.52.17 (talk) 13:38, 3 January 2008 (UTC)

What does your complaint against the USAF have to do with this article? The Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM) is granted to airmen who directly took part in active combat, whether it was in the air or on the ground while serving their official duty. In order to receive this award the airman's involvement must be documented and submitted by a person with first-hand knowledge of the incident to the first O-6 in their operational chain of command. This is then processed through the chain of command and then the Commander of Air Forces approves or disproves the request.

For the purposes of this award, the combat conditions are met either when:

•Individual(s) deliberately go outside the defended perimeter to conduct official duties - either ground or air, and come under enemy attack by lethal weapons while performing those duties, and are at risk of grave danger.

•Individual(s) are defending the base (on the defended perimeter), and come under fire and engage the enemy with direct and lethal fire, and are at risk of grave danger; also meet the intent of combat conditions for the award.

In addition, airmen that serve as crew members on a C130 and who contribute support to Coalition forces or airmen serving as a convoy escort operation that takes fire could be eligible to apply for the award.

The criteria appears to be very specific. If you meet this criteria, contact your current/former unit and ask that your combat action be documented and recognized. If you were riding in the HUMVEE and not engaging the enemy personally yourself with return fire, then you probably don't meet the criteria. Lind j a (talk) 01:47, 15 June 2014 (UTC)

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Forgotten
The section about the forgotten airmen lacks any citations. 204.139.85.145 (talk) 16:08, 25 November 2022 (UTC)
 * Thank you for pointing that out. It has been removed.Garuda28 (talk) 20:10, 25 November 2022 (UTC)