Military Awards Frequently Asked Questions
References:
o AR 600-8-22, Military Awards, Chapter 7.
o AR 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, Paragraph 29-11
o HRC Awards Branch listing of approved unit awards.
Question 1: How do I find out if my unit received a unit award for our service in the combat theater?
Answer 1: Check the HRC Military Awards Branch listing of approved unit awards (link above). If your unit is not listed (only approved unit
awards are listed), and you believe an award was submitted, the only way to find out if an award was in fact submitted is to check with the
recommended unit (or their higher HQs who should have submitted the award recommendation) who may request a status from HRC.
Question 2: My unit received a Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) during a rotation to Iraq. I was not assigned to the unit then. Since
I am assigned to the unit now, do I wear the unit award on a permanent basis?
Answer 2: No, only Soldiers assigned to the unit during the awarding period are authorized to permanently wear the award IAW AR 670-1. You
would only wear the unit award temporarily while you are assigned to the unit. Refer to Table 29-1, AR 670-1.
Question 3: How long does it take for unit awards to be approved and posted to the unit award page?
Answer 3: The unit awards process is lengthy and processing through to decision can take over a year. After a unit award is approved the HRC
Military Awards Branch posts the approval information on their approved unit awards link. Unit awards must be boarded by the Army Unit
Awards Board and must be reviewed by the Center of Military History (CMH). The CMH’s review currently takes a few months to, sometimes, a
year to complete. The review ensures historical accuracy, verifies duplicity, and updates the units lineage and honors. In the end, the process
is long and arduous. The website’s unit awards link is updated systematically when the award approval process is complete and the awards are
announced officially.
Question 4: Are MiTT teams (Transition Teams) authorized to put in for a unit award?
Answer 4: MiTT teams cannot be considered for unit awards. However, the MiTT teams' achievements can be included in a recommendation for
their unit. Unit decorations are intended to recognize units that displayed superior performance of an exceptionally difficult task that set it apart
and above other units with similar missions.
Question 5: My unit served in OIF II and was (supposedly) recommended for several unit awards for operations in Najaf (AUG
2004) and Fallujah (NOV 2004). Is there a way to track down the status of the unit awards that my BN/BDE/Division were
recommended for?
Answer 5: First, check the HRC Unit awards link (above). If not listed there as an approved award, you must contact the higher headquarters
the unit award was submitted through to verify if the award was submitted and, if so, the status of the recommendation.
Question 6: I was assigned to the 293rd MP Co during OIF II. My platoon was OPCON to 3/21 Infantry, which is part of 1st Brigade,
25th ID (SBCT). I have recently learned that 1/25th has received the VUA for its service. Do the members of my platoon qualify for
permanent wear of the VUA even though we were only OPCON?
Answer 6: If your platoon/unit was listed as one of the authorized subordinate commands for the Valorous Unit Award (VUA) awarded to the
1/25th, then yes you are authorized the award if you served during with the unit during the awarded time frame. If your platoon/unit is not listed
as a subordinate unit for the award, you must contact the awarded unit to find out why your unit was not included.
However, if the members of your platoon were OPCON to the unit and on "official orders" assigning/attaching them to the awarded unit, IAW
Table 29-1, AR 670-1, they may qualify for the unit award but must meet the time requirement. Note 1 states “a Soldier may wear the unit award
permanently if the individual was assigned to, and present for duty with the unit any time during the period cited; ……..or who was attached by
competent orders to, and present for duty with the unit during the entire period, or for at least 30 consecutive days of the period cited.”
Question 7: I was tasked to find out about some awards that my unit was awarded during the Vietnam War. I would like to know
who is authorized to wear them. The awards are RVN Gallantry Cross w/palm and the RVN Civil Actions Honor Medal, FC.
Answer 7: No one currently assigned to your unit should be wearing either award unless they were assigned to the unit during the Vietnam War.
The Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross with Palm is a foreign unit award awarded to Army units during the Vietnam War. Only those
Soldiers assigned to the unit at the time the foreign unit award was received are authorized to wear it on their uniforms. IAW paragraph 29–11d
(7), AR 670-1, “the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation is authorized for permanent wear only.” The RVN Civil Actions Honor
Medal, First Class (also called the RVN Civil Actions Unit Citation, First Class) is a foreign unit citation like the RVN Gallantry Cross. It is also
only authorized to be worn permanently by Soldiers assigned
to the unit during the awarding period. IAW paragraph 29–11d(7), AR 670-1, “the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation is authorized
for permanent wear only.” As a result, both decorations are not authorized for temporary wear.
Question 8: Are Air Force personnel authorized award of an approved Army unit award if they were assigned or attached to the
unit that was awarded the unit award?
Answer 8: The authority for another service branch member to permanently wear a U.S. Army decoration on their military uniform must be
approved by that service member’s military department. In this situation, the Air Force must prescribe the authority for Airmen to be able to
permanently wear an U.S. Army unit award. In that, like the Army, other service departments require concurrence to be requested from the
award approval authority in order for their members to be authorized to wear the unit award. If the Air Force concurs, the Air Force will contact
the Airmen stating that they are now authorized to wear the unit award permanently on their Air Force uniforms. So, service members from
other branches must inquire with their service as to whether or not they are authorized to wear an Army award.
Question 9: Where can I find the codes to input other services awards into eMILPO?
Answer 9: You can find them in the Awards Branch Data Code Quick Reference Guide at the following link: https://www.hrc.army.
mil/site/Active/TAGD/awards/Data_Codes/Quick_Reference_Guide1.doc
You may also refer to the links provided by DBHelper located on the S-1 net’s Awards main page.
Question 10: How do I find out what unit awards my unit has received in the past (official lineage and honors)?
Answer 10: You can check with the Center of Military History (CMH) (link below) to verify exactly what your unit has listed on their official
Lineage and Honors. http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/html/forcestruc/lh.html
Question 11: I have a unit that was just awarded the MUC. To receive this as a permanent award, do the Soldiers have to have
served in theater?
Answer 11: Refer to Table 29-1, AR 670-1 for criteria on wear of unit awards. To answer your question, those Soldiers permanently assigned to
the unit during the cited period are authorized permanent wear of the unit award, regardless if the Soldier deployed.
Question 12: JMUA question. I was mobilized from April 03-June 04 and sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The JMUA was awarded
to cover the period through Oct 03. Another JMUA was recently awarded from 2 Nov 03 - 1 Nov 05. The regulation states that
subsequent awards are designated with an oak leaf cluster. Can the JMUA be awarded 2 times for the same mobilization period?
Answer 12: The Joint Meritorious Unit Award (JMUA) like Army unit awards is awarded for a designated period of service. In the case of the
JMUA, the award period of service normally covers on year after the other, especially when it comes to Joint Task Force operations like that at
GITMO. If you were assigned to the HQ, JTF during the given periods of service, yes you are authorized to be awarded each JMUA for each
separate period of service.
References:
o AR 600-8-22, Military Awards, Chapter 7.
o AR 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, Paragraph 29-11
o HRC Awards Branch listing of approved unit awards.
Question 1: How do I find out if my unit received a unit award for our service in the combat theater?
Answer 1: Check the HRC Military Awards Branch listing of approved unit awards (link above). If your unit is not listed (only approved unit
awards are listed), and you believe an award was submitted, the only way to find out if an award was in fact submitted is to check with the
recommended unit (or their higher HQs who should have submitted the award recommendation) who may request a status from HRC.
Question 2: My unit received a Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) during a rotation to Iraq. I was not assigned to the unit then. Since
I am assigned to the unit now, do I wear the unit award on a permanent basis?
Answer 2: No, only Soldiers assigned to the unit during the awarding period are authorized to permanently wear the award IAW AR 670-1. You
would only wear the unit award temporarily while you are assigned to the unit. Refer to Table 29-1, AR 670-1.
Question 3: How long does it take for unit awards to be approved and posted to the unit award page?
Answer 3: The unit awards process is lengthy and processing through to decision can take over a year. After a unit award is approved the HRC
Military Awards Branch posts the approval information on their approved unit awards link. Unit awards must be boarded by the Army Unit
Awards Board and must be reviewed by the Center of Military History (CMH). The CMH’s review currently takes a few months to, sometimes, a
year to complete. The review ensures historical accuracy, verifies duplicity, and updates the units lineage and honors. In the end, the process
is long and arduous. The website’s unit awards link is updated systematically when the award approval process is complete and the awards are
announced officially.
Question 4: Are MiTT teams (Transition Teams) authorized to put in for a unit award?
Answer 4: MiTT teams cannot be considered for unit awards. However, the MiTT teams' achievements can be included in a recommendation for
their unit. Unit decorations are intended to recognize units that displayed superior performance of an exceptionally difficult task that set it apart
and above other units with similar missions.
Question 5: My unit served in OIF II and was (supposedly) recommended for several unit awards for operations in Najaf (AUG
2004) and Fallujah (NOV 2004). Is there a way to track down the status of the unit awards that my BN/BDE/Division were
recommended for?
Answer 5: First, check the HRC Unit awards link (above). If not listed there as an approved award, you must contact the higher headquarters
the unit award was submitted through to verify if the award was submitted and, if so, the status of the recommendation.
Question 6: I was assigned to the 293rd MP Co during OIF II. My platoon was OPCON to 3/21 Infantry, which is part of 1st Brigade,
25th ID (SBCT). I have recently learned that 1/25th has received the VUA for its service. Do the members of my platoon qualify for
permanent wear of the VUA even though we were only OPCON?
Answer 6: If your platoon/unit was listed as one of the authorized subordinate commands for the Valorous Unit Award (VUA) awarded to the
1/25th, then yes you are authorized the award if you served during with the unit during the awarded time frame. If your platoon/unit is not listed
as a subordinate unit for the award, you must contact the awarded unit to find out why your unit was not included.
However, if the members of your platoon were OPCON to the unit and on "official orders" assigning/attaching them to the awarded unit, IAW
Table 29-1, AR 670-1, they may qualify for the unit award but must meet the time requirement. Note 1 states “a Soldier may wear the unit award
permanently if the individual was assigned to, and present for duty with the unit any time during the period cited; ……..or who was attached by
competent orders to, and present for duty with the unit during the entire period, or for at least 30 consecutive days of the period cited.”
Question 7: I was tasked to find out about some awards that my unit was awarded during the Vietnam War. I would like to know
who is authorized to wear them. The awards are RVN Gallantry Cross w/palm and the RVN Civil Actions Honor Medal, FC.
Answer 7: No one currently assigned to your unit should be wearing either award unless they were assigned to the unit during the Vietnam War.
The Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross with Palm is a foreign unit award awarded to Army units during the Vietnam War. Only those
Soldiers assigned to the unit at the time the foreign unit award was received are authorized to wear it on their uniforms. IAW paragraph 29–11d
(7), AR 670-1, “the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation is authorized for permanent wear only.” The RVN Civil Actions Honor
Medal, First Class (also called the RVN Civil Actions Unit Citation, First Class) is a foreign unit citation like the RVN Gallantry Cross. It is also
only authorized to be worn permanently by Soldiers assigned
to the unit during the awarding period. IAW paragraph 29–11d(7), AR 670-1, “the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation is authorized
for permanent wear only.” As a result, both decorations are not authorized for temporary wear.
Question 8: Are Air Force personnel authorized award of an approved Army unit award if they were assigned or attached to the
unit that was awarded the unit award?
Answer 8: The authority for another service branch member to permanently wear a U.S. Army decoration on their military uniform must be
approved by that service member’s military department. In this situation, the Air Force must prescribe the authority for Airmen to be able to
permanently wear an U.S. Army unit award. In that, like the Army, other service departments require concurrence to be requested from the
award approval authority in order for their members to be authorized to wear the unit award. If the Air Force concurs, the Air Force will contact
the Airmen stating that they are now authorized to wear the unit award permanently on their Air Force uniforms. So, service members from
other branches must inquire with their service as to whether or not they are authorized to wear an Army award.
Question 9: Where can I find the codes to input other services awards into eMILPO?
Answer 9: You can find them in the Awards Branch Data Code Quick Reference Guide at the following link: https://www.hrc.army.
mil/site/Active/TAGD/awards/Data_Codes/Quick_Reference_Guide1.doc
You may also refer to the links provided by DBHelper located on the S-1 net’s Awards main page.
Question 10: How do I find out what unit awards my unit has received in the past (official lineage and honors)?
Answer 10: You can check with the Center of Military History (CMH) (link below) to verify exactly what your unit has listed on their official
Lineage and Honors. http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/html/forcestruc/lh.html
Question 11: I have a unit that was just awarded the MUC. To receive this as a permanent award, do the Soldiers have to have
served in theater?
Answer 11: Refer to Table 29-1, AR 670-1 for criteria on wear of unit awards. To answer your question, those Soldiers permanently assigned to
the unit during the cited period are authorized permanent wear of the unit award, regardless if the Soldier deployed.
Question 12: JMUA question. I was mobilized from April 03-June 04 and sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The JMUA was awarded
to cover the period through Oct 03. Another JMUA was recently awarded from 2 Nov 03 - 1 Nov 05. The regulation states that
subsequent awards are designated with an oak leaf cluster. Can the JMUA be awarded 2 times for the same mobilization period?
Answer 12: The Joint Meritorious Unit Award (JMUA) like Army unit awards is awarded for a designated period of service. In the case of the
JMUA, the award period of service normally covers on year after the other, especially when it comes to Joint Task Force operations like that at
GITMO. If you were assigned to the HQ, JTF during the given periods of service, yes you are authorized to be awarded each JMUA for each
separate period of service.
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