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Bronze Star

  The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in the Armed Forces of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Title 10, United States Code, section 1133, (10 USC 1133) limits award of the Bronze Star Medal to service members receiving imminent danger pay.

  Awards may be made for acts of heroism, performed under circumstances described above, which are of lesser degree than required for the award of the Silver Star.

  Criteria: The Bronze Star Medal may be awarded for meritorious achievement or meritorious service according to the following:
  (1) Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or meritorious service. The lesser degree than that required for the award of the Legion of Merit must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with distinction.
  (2) Award may be made to each member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 6 December 1941, has been cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945, inclusive, or whose meritorious achievement has been otherwise confirmed by documents executed prior to 1 July 1947. For U.S. Army personnel, an award of the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge is considered as a citation in orders. Documents executed since 4 August 1944 in connection with recommendations for the award of decorations of higher degree than the Bronze Star Medal will not be used as the basis for an award under this paragraph.

Description: The Medal has a bronze star bearing in the center a small star of the same color.
The ribbon is predominantly red with a white edged narrow blue band in the center and white lines at each edge.

Category of Award: Personal Performance Award

Authorized: Executive Order 9419, "Bronze Star Medal," February 4, 1944, superseded by Executive Order 11046

Device(s): Bronze and/or Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and V Device (if applicable)

Air Force Promotion System Point Value: 5

References:
AR 600-8-22, Military Awards, Page 42.
AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program, Pages 83 and 84.
SECNAVINST 1650.1H, Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, Page 2-26 and 2-27.
DoD Manual 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Page 102.
DoD Manual 1348.33, Volume 3, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards: DoD-Wide Performance and Valor Awards, Pages 19 to 21.

Page updated October 16, 2016

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