Awards & Decorations

Categories of Awards

• Decorations: Awarded for heroism, meritorious service, or achievement (e.g., Bronze Star, MSM, ARCOM, AAM).
• Good Conduct Medal: Awarded for exemplary conduct for 3 years of active service.
• Service Medals/Ribbons: Awarded for participation in campaigns or service (e.g., NDSM, GWOTSM, GWOTEM).
• Unit Awards: Awarded to an entire unit (e.g., Meritorious Unit Commendation, Presidential Unit Citation).
• Badges: Earned through qualification or assignment (e.g., CIB, EIB, CAB, Airborne, Air Assault).

Order of Precedence (Common)

Decorations (highest to lowest for common enlisted awards):
1. Medal of Honor
2. Distinguished Service Cross
3. Silver Star
4. Bronze Star Medal (BSM)
5. Purple Heart
6. Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)
7. Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM)
8. Army Achievement Medal (AAM)
9. Good Conduct Medal
10. National Defense Service Medal

Awards Process (DA Form 638)

• Initiation: Any individual having personal knowledge of the act, achievement, or service can initiate a recommendation using DA Form 638.
• Routing: The recommendation is routed through the Soldier's chain of command for recommendation and final approval.
• Time Limits: The recommendation must be entered into military channels within 2 years of the act/service, and the award must be made within 3 years.
• Approval Authority: Varies by award level (e.g., AAM can be approved by a LTC/O-5, ARCOM by a COL/O-6, MSM by a GO/O-7+).

Board Tips

Know the common awards and their exact order of precedence (remember the Purple Heart is higher than the MSM). Be able to identify every single award on your own uniform and explain exactly what you did to earn it. Know the difference between a decoration (individual achievement) and a service medal (participation, like the GWOTEM for a deployment). Know that AR 600-8-22 is the governing regulation and DA Form 638 is the recommendation form.