Air Force Combat Action Medal Q&A

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Questions and Answers

1. Q: When will the first AFCAM be awarded?
A: We anticipate the first AFCAM may be awarded by late April early May 07.

2. Q: Who is eligible to receive the award?
A: Any Airmen who is conducting official duties in a combat zone (on ground or in the air), by entering into unsecured space and comes under enemy fire by lethal weapons while performing those duties.

3. Q: Is anyone eligible to receive the award?
A: Yes, if the individual meets the award criteria, the AFCAM may be awarded.

4. Q: What are the criteria for award?
A: The principal eligibility criterion is that the individual must have been under direct and hostile fire while operating outside the wire in a combat zone, or personally engaging hostile forces with direct and lethal fires. For the purposes of this award, combat conditions are met when; 1) Individuals deliberately go into unsecured space (outside the defended perimeter) to conduct official duties, on the ground and in the air; 2) they come under enemy fire by lethal weapons while performing those duties; and 3) are at risk of grave danger. Or, individuals defending the base (on the defended perimeter) and come under fire and engage the enemies with direct and lethal fire, and at risk of grave danger, also meet the intent of combat conditions for this award.

5. Q: What are the differences and similarities between the AFCAM and the Army Combat Action Badge (ACAB)?
A: In keeping with the spirit of the Warrior Ethos, the Army’s Combat Action Badge (CAB) provides many similarities to the AFCAM as it recognizes Soldiers who personally engage the enemy, or are engaged by the enemy during combat operations. The award authority for the CAB may be more universal as it may be awarded by any commander delegated authority by the Secretary of the Army during wartime and announced by permanent orders. The AFCAM is first recommended by the Airmen’s Commander to the first Colonel (O-6) in the member’s operational chain who submits the request.

6. Q: Is earning the ACAB enough to earn the AFCAM?
A: No, award of the ACAB in itself is not enough to earn the AFCAM. All combat recognition requests for the award of the AFCAM must be boarded and approved by Commander, Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR).

7. Q: Will the AFCAM be awarded if during the operation the enemy does not have the ability to return fire, i.e. surprise attack?
A: If the enemy has the ability to respond, and can not due to the surprise attack, in this case the AFCAM criteria may be met.

8. Q: Will the AFCAM be awarded if during the attack, Airmen are unable to return fire but are under attack?
A: Yes, as long as the conditions of the award criteria are met, as stated above.

9. Q: Is aerial combat included in the combat criteria?
A: Yes, aerial combat is included in the award criteria for award of AFCAM.

10. Q: What is the award process?
A: The COMAFFOR is the approval authority for all awards that meet the requirements identified in the award criteria. The AFCAM will be awarded and announced issued through the COMAFFOR.

11. Q: Who initiates the process?
A: As a minimum, a narrative explanation of the circumstances (date, time, location, event description, individuals present, etc), submitted by a person with first-hand knowledge of the incident through the commander to the first colonel in he operational chain who then submits

12. Q: Is this award retroactive?
A: Yes, as of 11 September 2001.

13. Q: Why is a heritage symbol being used to represent a modern war?
A: The heritage symbol used to represent the AF Combat Action Medal was selected to embrace the theme for the 60th Anniversary of the Air Force “Heritage to Horizons”.

14. Q: Why is a pilot’s insignia being used to represent an honor that isn’t specifically for air combat?
A: The medal is a characterization of an emblem that was on General Billy Mitchell’s aricraft when he commanded American air combat units in France. Part of this emblem was the American eagle with shield. That combined—the eagle and the shield—are part of the National Emblem of the United States. Therefore, the medal has its roots in Air Force heritage.

15. Q: How does this award differ from the present Combat Recognition awards?
A: Present Combat Recognition awards only recognize those individuals who support combat operations in a combat zone. The AFCAM recognizes those individuals who are engaged with the enemy.

16. Q: Why a medal and not a badge?
A: Medals and ribbons signify recognition of acts or achievement. Air Force badges recognize career fields or special skills and skill levels. Therefore, it was deemed more appropriate for the AFCAM to be a medal and ribbon.

17. Q: Is it possible to earn in a Purple Heart and not earn an AFCAM? Why?
A: Yes, The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed Force or any civilian national of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded. This differs to the criteria for award of the AFCAM. The AFCAM recognizes individuals who deliberately go into the enemy’s domain (outside the defended perimeter) to conduct official duties, on the ground and in the air, who come under enemy fire by lethal weapons while performing those duties. Individuals, who are inside the wire and are wounded, killed or die after being wounded will not normally earn the AFCAM.

18. Q: Why the focus on “outside the defended perimeter”?
A: Because the focus is on combat ops and this usually is conducted outside the defended perimeter.

19. Q: Would an Airman terribly or mortally wounded by mortar attack in camp get it?
A: Most likely not. A possible exception worth submitting would be if the Airman was actively posting to defend the base and then hit by the mortar.

20. Q: If a convoy is hit by an IED/VBIED, or takes small arms fire, who gets it?
A: Depends on what the Airmen are doing. Those who are actually hit, and those who dismount or maneuver to engage and then actually engage, are the ones for whom the AFCAM is intended. Those in the convoy who stop and await orders (as might be the right thing to do) are not the intended recipients; however, COMAFFOR will make the final decision.

21. Q: Why the start date of 9/11/2001? What about previous “valid” combat?
A: America’s expectation of the military changed on 9/11/2001. Along with this change came a broader exposure to combat, for more of our Airmen, due to our roles supporting the global war on terror. Managing the collection and validation of submissions previous to 9/11/2001 would be overwhelming and not relevant to the pivotal change brought about following 9/11/2001.

22. Q: Why the requirement for “risk of grave danger”…aren’t we all at this risk?
A: Everyone in the AOR is “potentially exposed to” this level of risk; however, for award of the AFCAM, the true measure needs to be based on actually being in a situation where the Airman can see, feel, and react specifically to that danger.

23. Q: Why doesn’t my CAB qualify me automatically for the AFCAM?
A: The requirements are not the same. The AFCAM criteria call for the action to take place outside the wire, with some exceptions for actions on the wire, while the Army does not make this distinction. “Risk of grave danger” is another prerequisite not found in the Army’s criteria. Individuals with the CAB should submit their application to the CFACC if their conditions that earned them the CAB also meet the AFCAM criteria.

24. Q: Why no promotion points?
A: The AFCAM is not based on an evaluative or scaled process; rather, it is based on prerequisite conditions and circumstances mostly beyond the Airman’s control. This is a “right place, right time, right response” recognition; therefore, we deliberately left this out of the WAPS arena. A medal that earns promotion points, such as the Bronze Star, can reference acts during the same combat used for award of the AFCAM.

25. Q: Why nothing on the ABU? It’s our daily uniform and we want to show it.
A: The thought process for this approach is central to the culture and privilege of being an Airman. The ABU is our daily “go to war” utility uniform, it accentuates our focus on the Air Force Team and away from ourselves as individuals. This is not the appropriate uniform to highlight personal achievements or histories. Therefore, we should all continue to be proud of our accomplishments. The service dress, blues, or mess dress are the appropriate uniforms to showcase our individual achievements.

26. Q: I’ve read the criteria and the FAQs and it seems like this will be exceptionally difficult to qualify for. Have we made this too narrowly focused?
A: The focus is purposefully narrow. It is worth noting that our Combat Recognition Feedback Forum, held at HQ AFPC with a cross section of Airmen from all commands, made a distinct unanimous plea: “Don’t let this get watered down.” Plus, there will be Airmen in the AOR, outside this narrow focus, who perform well and/or get injured, who will get other appropriate recognition and medals.

27. Q: Can Air Force Civilians earn the AFCAM?
A: Civilians are normally designated as noncombatants and as such, do not qualify for the AFCAM; however, there are Air Force civilian-specific awards (e.g. AF Command Valor Award) that recognize acts of unusual courage or competence in an emergency and acts of heroism, with voluntary risk of personal safety in the face of danger.

28. Q: What is the order of precedence for the AFCAM?
A: The AFCAM shall be worn between the AF Achievement Medal (AFAM) and the AF Presidential Unit Citation (AFPUC). The AFCAM will be the highest-level Air Force individual award to not earn points under the Weighted Airmen Promotion System.

29. Q: Will the AFCAM impact eligibility for Veterans Administration benefits for Air Force veterans who served in same or similar circumstance as entitled Army veterans?
A: We asked the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to review our award policy for combat recognition. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Regulation Policy and Management concluded the Air Force award policy should not adversely affect Air Force personnel because it is consistent with the Army’s award policy.

[RR691983]

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