[Title 32 CFR 578.13]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - July 1, 2002 Edition]
[Title 32 - NATIONAL DEFENSE]
[Chapter V - DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY]
[Subchapter F - PERSONNEL]
[Part 578 - DECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES]
[Sec. 578.13 - Army Commendation Medal.]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


32NATIONAL DEFENSE32002-07-012002-07-01false578.13Sec. 578.13NATIONAL DEFENSEDEPARTMENT OF THE ARMYPERSONNELDECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES
Sec. 578.13  Army Commendation Medal.

    (a) Criteria. The Army Commendation Medal established by the 
Secretary of War on December 18, 1945, and amended in Department of the 
Army General Orders 10, 1960, is awarded to any members of the Armed 
Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the 
Army after December 6, 1941, shall have distinguished himself by 
meritorious achievement or meritorious service. (See figure 1.)
    (1) The required meritorious achievement or meritorious service 
while of lesser degree than that required for the award of the Legion of 
Merit must nevertheless have been accomplished with distinction and must 
have been of the same degree as required for the award of the Bronze 
Star Medal or Air Medal. An award may be made when the operational 
requirements for the award of the Bronze Star Medal have not been fully 
met.
    (2) An award may be made for acts of outstanding courage which do 
not meet the requirements for an award of the Soldier's Medal.
    (3) An award for meritorious service will not normally be made for a 
period of service of less than 6 months' duration.
    (4) The Army Commendation Medal will not be awarded to general 
officers.
    (5) It is particularly desirable that emphasis be placed on the 
award of this decoration to outstanding company grade officers, warrant 
officers, and enlisted personnel whose achievements and services meet 
the prescribed standards.
    (6) Awards may be made upon letter application to The Adjutant 
General to any individual commended after December 6, 1941, and prior to 
January 1,

[[Page 401]]

1946, in a letter, certificate, or order of commendation, as 
distinguished from letter of appreciation, signed by an officer in the 
grade or position of a major general or higher.
    (7) The Army Commendation Medal may be awarded in connection with 
military participation in the Department of the Army Suggestion Program.
    (8) Awards of the Army Commendation Ribbon and of the Commendation 
Ribbon with Metal Pendant are redesignated by Department of the Army 
General Orders 10, March 31, 1960, as awards of the Army Commendation 
Medal, without amendments of certificates or of orders previously 
issued.
    (b) Description. On a 1\3/8\-inch bronze hexagon, one point up, an 
American bald eagle with wings displayed horizontally grasping three 
crossed arrows and bearing on its breast a shield paly of 13 pieces and 
a chief. On the reverse between the words ``For Military'' and ``Merit'' 
a panel, all above a sprig of laurel. A moired silk ribbon 1\3/8\ inches 
in length and 1\3/8\ inches in width, composed of stripes of white (\3/
32\-inch), green (\25/64\-inch), white (\1/32\-inch), green (\1/16\-
inch), white (\1/32\-inch), green (\1/16\-inch), white (\1/32\-inch), 
green (\1/16\-inch), white (\1/32\-inch), green (\1/16\-inch), white 
(\1/32\-inch), green (\25/64\-inch), and white (\3/32\-inch).

[21 FR 7672, Oct. 6, 1956, as amended at 26 FR 6434, July 18, 1961]