DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE WASHINGTON DC OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY AFI36-2803_AFGM2017-01 27 JANUARY 2017 MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTION C ALMAJCOM-FOA-DRU/CC FROM: SAF/MR 1660 Air Force Pentagon Washington, DC 20330-1660 SUBJECT: Air Force Guidance Memorandum for Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program Releasability: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication. This is a Guidance Memorandum immediately implementing changes to AFI 36-2803. It adds Commander Support Staff responsibility, the new forms for the Virtual Personnel Center and the criteria for the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal and Air Force Special Duty Ribbon; changes to the Legion of Merit eligibility criteria; expansion of the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and Air Force Achievement Medal approval authorities; and announces the closeout date for the Air Force Recruiter Ribbon and Air Force Basic Military Training Instructor Ribbon. Compliance with this memorandum is mandatory. To the extent its directions are inconsistent with other publications; the information herein prevails in accordance with AFI 33-360, Publications and Forms Management. See attachments 1, 2 and 3 for changes. If you have questions, please contact AFPC Contact Center at 800-525-0102/DSN 665-5000. This memorandum becomes void after one-year has elapsed from the date of this memorandum, or upon publication of an Interim Change or rewrite of the affected publication, whichever is earlier. GABRIEL O. CAMARILLO Assistant Secretary of Air Force (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) Attachments: Attachment 1 Attachment 2 Attachment 3 Attachment 1 (Add) 1.10.11. The Military Personnel Sections will ensure the Commander Support Staff (CSS) manages, monitors and resolves issues pertaining to the Military Awards and Decorations Program within their assigned unit. This responsibility may not be further delegated outside of the CSS. (Add) 1.11.3. Commanders may consolidate CSS-assigned duties as appropriate, and/or discontinue non-critical duties beyond their ability to resource. Attachment 2 A2.1. General Considerations before Submitting a Decoration Recommendation: In accordance with Section 6249 of Title 10 U.S.C., “No medal, cross, or bar, or associated emblem or insignia may be awarded or presented to any USAF member or their representative, if the member’s entire service subsequent to the time of the distinguished act, achievement, or service has not been honorable.” Section 8744 of title 10 U.S.C. also stipulate the Medal of Honor (MOH), the Air Force Cross (AFC), and the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) can only be considered and approved for members whose character of service is exemplary and this requirement will not be waived. Supervisors and commanders, at all levels, are responsible to ensure only deserving personnel are submitted for decorations. Submit recommendations as soon as possible following the act, achievement, or service. Enter each recommendation (except the Purple Heart (PH)) into official channels within 3 years and award within 5 years of the act, achievement, or service performed. This will be strictly enforced. Note: A recommendation is placed in official channels when the recommending official signs the recommendation (DECOR6 and justification) and a higher official in the nominee’s chain of command endorses it. Refer to paragraph 1.14 for who may recommend an award. Table A2.1. Decoration Approval Authority (see notes 1 and 2). Decorations (An “X” in a column DSM LOM BSM MSM AM AAM AFCM AFAM indicates approval (see (see (see (see (see (see authority for the decoration note note 3, note 4) note 22, note note 7) in the heading.) 14 and 18 and 23 and 4 and 21) 21) 24) 7) HAF: CSAF and X AF/CV HAF: Secretariat, Air X X X X X X Staff DCS/ADCS and (see 2-Letter Directors (Lt note 15) Gen or higher and civilian leader (CL) equivalent) (see note 11 & 12) HAF: Air Staff ADCS X X X X X and Directors (colonel or higher and CL equivalent) MAJCOM/CC, X X X X X X X Director/Deputy (see (see Director ANG, and note note Superintendent of 19) 12) USAF Academy (refer to paragraph 2.11) MAJCOM X X X X Director/Head of Staff Office, or DCS/Staff Office, (colonel or higher and CL equivalent), and Chief Air Directorate Staff/ANG (see note 8) NAF, DRU, FOA and X X X X X X Center CC (see note 6 (see and 20) note 19) NAF, DRU, FOA and X X X X X Center CV (colonel or higher and CL equivalent) (see note 5 and 6) JTF/CTF X X X X X X Commander/Air Force Component Commander (Maj Gen or higher) (see notes 10 and 12). (Refer to paragraph 2.11.2 for special procedures.) USAF Element X X X Commander at Combatant Commands (Brig Gen or higher) (see note 16) Wing CC/CV (colonel X X X X or higher and CL equivalent) (see note 13) Group/CC/CV X X X X (colonel or higher and (see (see note (see note CL equivalent) note 9) 10) 13) State Adjutants X X X X General Group/CC (Lieutenant X X colonel or lower and (see note (see note CL equivalent) 9) 9) (military must be on G-series orders) Squadron/CC (military X must be on G-series (see note orders) 9) Notes: 1. The SECAF approved delegations are outlined in the table above and applies to Air Force officers and CL. 2. SECAF retains award/approval authority for the AFC, DSM, SS, DFC, Airman’s Medal, and Air Medal (if recommended for heroism), unless delegated. The AFDB acts on behalf of SECAF and approves, disapproves, downgrades, upgrades recommendations. Exception: See paragraph 2.18 for procedures for awards arising out of combat operations. 3. LOM nominations should be approved IAW Table 1.1 and paragraph 3.3.5. 4. Unless otherwise delegated, SECAF approves BSM and AM recommendations based solely on involvement in an international incident. An international incident is “any peacetime event involving U.S. military forces that generate or could generate formal protests by the government of the U.S. and/or foreign government involved.” 5. SECAF authorized Air Staff Deputy Chiefs of Staff/Assistant Chiefs of Staff/Heads of Special Staff to delegate MSM approval authority, all conditions, and lesser decorations, to their FOA Commanders/Directors (colonel and above or CL an organization designated as a unit IAW AFI 38-101) for all conditions. This authority may not be further delegated. 6. Authority for AFDW/CC also includes Air Force Element personnel. 7. Limited to units with flying missions. 8. SECAF authorized MAJCOM commanders to delegate MSM approval authority, all conditions, to MAJCOM Directors/Heads of Staff Office (Colonel and above/CLs an organization designated as a unit IAW AFI 38-101) and NAF CCs. 9. Authority does not include Acts of Courage (condition code 0). 10. Upon delegation by SECAF, the COMAFFOR will act as the sole approval authority for personnel entering the AOE to support the operations within their purview. The COMAFFOR may further delegate MSM and below approval authority to USAF theater commanders in the rank of colonel (O-6) and above or CLs in those positions designated as a unit IAW AFI 38-101. The COMAFFOR will process all decorations based solely on accomplishments in the AOE. 11. SECAF authorized AF: Secretariat, Air Staff Deputy Chiefs of Staff and Assistant Chiefs of Staff to delegate MSM approval authority, all conditions, and lesser decorations, to their Directors in the grade of colonel and above (to include equivalent CLs). This authority may not be further delegated. 12. Delegate AM approval authority, all conditions, and lesser decorations to CLs of an organization designated as a unit IAW AFI 38-101. 13. MSM approval authority has been delegated to Group CC, Equivalents, and CLs in Group CC-positions for retirements (Condition Code 1) and separations (Condition Code 2). CLs in Wing CC positions also now have MSM approval authority for all conditions. Must be O-6/equivalent or above. 14. On 12 May 09, SECAF delegated to MAJCOM/CC's (4-star and 3-star equivalent only) and AF/CV (for Air Staff/FOAs/DRU) DSM approval and disapproval authority for retiring general officers meeting all eligible criteria. AFDB maintains approval authority for all other DSM nominations (PCS/PCA/extended tour and exceptions to policy). 15. Air Staff directorates headed by a 2-star general or below (or CL equivalent), LOM nominations are forwarded to AF/CVA for approval. 16. USAF element commanders designated as the senior USAF officer of a combatant command—i.e., PACOM, CENTCOM, EUCOM, etc.) retain approval authority of the MSM, AFCM and AFAM for USAF personnel assigned to USAF billets only. All other USAF personnel assigned to the combatant command in a joint billet are eligible for joint decorations only, except for the purpose of retirement/separation which are processed IAW paragraph 2.10.4. 17. On 23 July 14, SAF/MR delegated to HQ AF/CV authority to approve DSM nominations for retiring MAJCOM/CCs. 18. Upon retirement, after a long and distinguished career, liberal interpretation of the LOM criteria is appropriate for officers serving in the grade of Colonel (O-6) and above, provided the officer's most recent performance warrants such consideration. 19. On 8 Sep 14, SecAF authorized MAJCOM/CCs to delegate LOM approval authority to MAJCOM/CVs in the grade of Major General (MajGen) and above (or CL equivalent). Also, SecAF delegated LOM approval authority to commanders of Number Air Forces (NAF), Field Operating Agencies (FOA), Centers and Direct Reporting Units (DRUs), in the rank of MajGen and above (or CL equivalents) for retirement, separation, and posthumous conditions.