32 C.F.R. § 578.2 Explanation of terms.
Title 32 - National Defense
The following definitions are furnished for clarity and uniformity in the determination and award of decorations: (a) Above and beyond the call of duty. Exercise of a voluntary course of action, the omission of which would not justly subject the individual to censure for failure in the performance of duty. It usually includes the acceptance of existing danger or extraordinary responsibilities with praiseworthy fortitude and exemplary courage. In its highest degrees it involves the voluntary acceptance of additional danger and risk of life. (b) Active Federal military service. The term “active Federal military service” means all periods of active duty, Active Guard Reserve (AGR) service and, except for service creditable for the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, excludes periods of active duty for training (ADT) and full-time training duty (FTTD). Service as a cadet at the United States Military Academy is considered to be active duty for the purposes of military awards and decorations. (c) Active Guard Reserve. Army National Guard of the U.S. (ARNGUS) and U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) personnel serving on active duty (AD) under 10 U.S.C. and Army National Guard personnel serving on full-time National Guard duty (FTNGD) under 32 U.S.C. These personnel are on FTNGD or AD (other than training) for 180 days or more for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the Reserve Components and are paid from National Guard Personnel, Army or Reserve Personnel Army appropriations. (d) Area of operation. The foreign territory upon which troops have actually landed or are present and specifically deployed for the direct support of the designated military operation; adjacent water areas in which ships are operating, patrolling, or providing direct support of operations; and the airspace above and adjacent to the area in which operations are being conducted. (e) Award. Recognition given to individuals or units for certain acts or services, or badges, accolades, emblems, citations, commendations, streamers, and silver bands. Also an adjectival term used to identify administrative functions relating to recognition (for example, awards boards, award recommendations, and so forth). (f) Award precondition. Any eligibility criterion not specified by this regulation which must be met before awarding a decoration. (g) Biographical sketch. Identification of an individual that includes as a minimum: Full name, Social Security Number (SSN), date and place of birth, marital status, education, and military service. (h) Bravery. Quality or state showing courage; level of conduct which is expected of professional Army soldiers. (i) Combat heroism. Act or acts of heroism by an individual engaged in actual conflict with an armed enemy, or in military operations which involve exposure to personal hazards, due to direct enemy action or the imminence of such action. (j) Combat zone. The region where fighting is going on; the forward area of the theater of operations where combat troops are actively engaged. It extends from the frontline to the front of the communications zone. (k) Decoration. Distinctively designed mark of honor denoting heroism or meritorious/outstanding service/achievement for individuals and units. (l) Direct participation. “Hands-on” activity at the site, or sites, of the military act or operation. The individual must be physically present at the designated location, having contributed to and influenced the action. (m) Direct support. Services being supplied the combat forces in the area of operations by ground units, ships, and aircraft providing supplies and equipment to the forces concerned, provided it involves actually entering the designated area; and ships and aircraft providing fire, patrol, guard, reconnaissance, or other military support. (n) Distinguished himself or herself by. A person to have distinguished himself or herself must, by praiseworthy accomplishment, be set apart from other persons in the same or similar circumstances. Determination of this distinction requires careful consideration of exactly what is or was expected as the ordinary, routine, or customary behavior and accomplishment for individuals of like rank and experience for the circumstances involved. (o) Duty of great responsibility. Duty which, by virtue of the position held, carries the ultimate responsibility for the successful operation of a major command, activity, agency, installation, or project. The discharge of such duty must involve the acceptance and fulfillment of the obligation so as to greatly benefit the interests of the United States. (p) Duty of responsibility. Duty, which by virtue of the positions held, carries a high degree of the responsibility for the successful operation of a major command, activity, agency, installation, or project, or which requires the exercise of judgment and decision affecting plans, policies, operations, or the lives and well being of others. (q) Extraordinary heroism. Act or acts of heroism or gallantry involving the risk of life. Minimum level of valorous performance in combat consistent with a recommendation for the Distinguished Service Cross. (r) Foreign Decoration. Any order, device, medal, badge, insignia, emblem or award, tendered by or received from a foreign government. (s) Foreign government. Includes any unit of a foreign governmental authority, including any foreign national, State, local and municipal Government; any international or multinational organization whose membership is composed of any unit of foreign government described above; and any agent or representative of any such unit or organization while acting as such. (t) Gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life. Fearless spontaneous conduct at the certain risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, which clearly sets the soldier apart from all other comrades. Minimum level of valorous performance in combat consistent with a recommendation for the Medal of Honor. (u) Gallantry in action. Spirited and conspicuous acts of heroism and courage. Minimum level of valorous performance in combat consistent with a recommendation for the Silver Star. (v) Heroism. Extreme courage demonstrated in attaining a noble end. Varying levels of documented heroic actions are necessary to substantiate recommendations for the Bronze Star Medal with “V,” Air Medal with “V,” and the Army Commendation Medal with “V.” (w) In connection with military operations against an armed enemy. This phrase covers all military operations including combat, support, and supply which have a direct bearing on the outcome of an engagement or engagements against armed opposition. To perform duty or to accomplish an act of achievement in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, the individual must have been subjected either to personal hazard as a result of direct enemy action, or the imminence of such action, or must have had the conditions under which his duty or accomplishment took place complicated by enemy action or the imminence of enemy action. (x) Key individual. A person who is occupying a position that is indispensable to an organization, activity, or project. (y) Medal. A term used to— (1) Include the three categories of awards, namely: Decorations, Army Good Conduct Medal, and service medals. (2) Refer to the distinctive physical device of metal and ribbon which constitutes the tangible evidence of an award. (z) Meritorious Achievement. An act which is well above the expected performance of duty. The act should be an exceptional accomplishment with a definite beginning and ending date. The length of time is not a primary consideration; however, speed of accomplishment of an important task can be a factor in determining the value of an act. (aa) Meritorious Service. Service which is distinguished by a succession of outstanding acts of achievement over a sustained period of time. Individual performance must exceed that expected by virtue of grade and experience, based on accomplishments during an entire tour of duty. (bb) Military merit. Demonstrated conduct or character deserving of recognition. (cc) Officer. Except where expressly indicated otherwise, the word “officer” means “commissioned or warrant officer.” (dd) Operation. A military action, or the carrying out of a strategic, tactical, service, training, or administrative military mission; the process of carrying on combat including movement, supply, attack, defense, and maneuvers needed to gain the objectives of any battle or campaign. (ee) Outstanding or unusually meritorious performance. Performance of duty determined by the employing component to have contributed to an unusually significant degree toward the furtherance of good relations between the United States and the foreign government tendering the decoration. This requires that the service be of national significance to the foreign government and that it be performed under exceptionally difficult, extraordinary, or hazardous conditions. (ff) Peacetime criteria. (1) In a period when the United States is not engaged in the prosecution of a formal declared war. (2) Applied outside a combat zone when the United States is engaged in military operations against an armed enemy, but is not prosecuting a formally declared war, except that in the communications zone those individuals whose duties are in connection with military operations against an armed enemy may be considered under wartime criteria. (3) A period in specified areas where U.S. troops are engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. (gg) Primary next of kin. Primary next of kin are, in order of precedence, surviving spouse, eldest child, father or mother, eldest brother or sister, or eldest grandchild. (hh) Reserve Components of the Army. The Army National Guard of the United States and the U.S. Army Reserve. (ii) U.S. Individual Army decorations. U.S. Individual Army decorations are the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. (jj) U.S. unit decorations. U.S. unit decorations are the Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and Army Superior Unit Award. (kk) Valor. Heroism performed under combat conditions. (ll) Wartime criteria. (1) A period of formally declared war and for 1 year after the cessation of hostilities. (2) A period of military operations against an armed enemy and for 1 year after cessation of hostilities. Only those individuals actually in the combat zone or those in the communications zone whose duties involve direct control or support of combat operations are to be considered under wartime criteria. (3) A period of national emergency declared by the President or by the Congress.
Title 32: National Defense
PART 578—DECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES
General
§ 578.2 Explanation of terms.
