10 U.S.C. § 9280 — Airman’s Medal: award; limitations

Page 3482 TITLE 10—ARMED FORCES § 9278 The words ‘‘issued for wear with or in place of any of them’’ are inserted for clarity. The words ‘‘presented under the provisions of this title’’ and ‘‘such medal, cross, bar, ribbon, rosette, or device’’ are omitted as surplusage. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 8747 of this title as this section. 2001—Pub. L. 107–107 substituted ‘‘stolen, lost,’’ for ‘‘lost’’. 1960—Pub. L. 86–593 inserted ‘‘Air Force cross’’ in sec- tion catchline and in text. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2018 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title. § 9278. Medal of honor; Air Force cross; distin- guished-service cross; distinguished-service medal; silver star: availability of appropria- tions The Secretary of the Air Force may spend, from any appropriation for contingent expenses of the Department of the Air Force, amounts necessary to provide medals and devices under sections 9271, 9272, 9273, 9274, 9276, 9277, and 9282 of this title. (Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 541, § 8748; Pub. L. 86–593, § 1(5), July 6, 1960, 74 Stat. 332; renum- bered § 9278 and amended Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §§ 806(b)(11), 809(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1833, 1840.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 8748 ......... 10:1424. July 9, 1918, ch. 143 (13th par. under ‘‘Ordnance Department’’), 40 Stat. 871. The word ‘‘amounts’’ is substituted for the words ‘‘so much as may be’’. The word ‘‘provides’’ is substituted for the words ‘‘defray the cost of’’. The words ‘‘medals and devices under’’ are substituted for the words ‘‘med- als of honor, distinguished-service crosses, distin- guished-service medals, bars, rosettes, and other de- vices provided for in’’. The words ‘‘from time to time’’ are omitted as surplusage. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 8748 of this title as this section and substituted ‘‘sections 9271, 9272, 9273, 9274, 9276, 9277, and 9282’’ for ‘‘sections 8741, 8742, 8743, 8744, 8746, 8747, and 8752’’. 1960—Pub. L. 86–593 inserted ‘‘Air Force cross’’ in sec- tion catchline. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2018 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title. § 9279. Distinguished flying cross: award; limita- tions (a) The President may award a distinguished flying cross of appropriate design with accom- panying ribbon to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force or Space Force, distinguishes himself by heroism or ex- traordinary achievement while participating in an aerial or space flight. (b) Not more than one distinguished flying cross may be awarded to a person. However, for each succeeding act that would otherwise justify the award of such a cross, the President may award a suitable bar or other device to be worn as he directs. (Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 541, § 8749; re- numbered § 9279, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 806(b)(11), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1833; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title V, § 582(b)(4), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1412; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title V, § 521(k)(1), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1882.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 8749(a) ..... 8749(b) ..... 8749(c) ..... 10:1429 (less 2d and last sentences). 10:1429 (2d sentence). 10:1429 (last sentence, less 1st 49 words). July 2, 1926, ch. 721, § 12 (less 1st 49 words of last sentence), 44 Stat. 789; July 30, 1937, ch. 545, § 4, 50 Stat. 549. In subsection (a), the words ‘‘under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe’’ are omitted, since the President has inherent authority to issue regulations appropriate to exercising his functions. The words ‘‘but not in the name of Congress’’ are omitted as surplus- age, since a medal is presented in the name of Congress only if the law so directs. The word ‘‘award’’ is sub- stituted for the word ‘‘present’’ to cover the determina- tion of the recipients as well as the actual presentation of the medal. The words ‘‘since the 6th day of April, 1917, has distinguished, or who, after July 2, 1926’’ and 10:1429 (proviso of 1st sentence) are omitted as exe- cuted. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2024—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–159 inserted ‘‘or Space Force’’ after ‘‘Air Force’’ and ‘‘or space’’ after ‘‘aerial’’. 2019—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–92 struck out subsec. (c) which read as follows: ‘‘No distinguished flying cross, or device in place thereof, may be awarded or presented to a person whose service after he distinguished himself has not been honorable.’’ 2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 8749 of this title as this section. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2018 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title. § 9280. Airman’s Medal: award; limitations (a)(1) The President may award a decoration called the ‘‘Airman’s Medal’’, of appropriate de- sign with accompanying ribbon, to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force or Space Force, distinguishes himself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. Page 3483 TITLE 10—ARMED FORCES § 9282 (2) The authority in paragraph (1) includes au- thority to award the medal to a member of the Ready Reserve who was not in a duty status de- fined in section 101(d) of this title when the member distinguished himself by heroism. (b) Not more than one Airman’s Medal may be awarded to a person. However, for each suc- ceeding act that would otherwise justify the award of such a medal, the President may award a suitable bar or other device to be worn as he directs. (Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 542, § 8750; Pub. L. 86–593, § 1(6), July 6, 1960, 74 Stat. 332; Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title V, § 574(c), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1758; renumbered § 9280, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 806(b)(11), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1833; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title V, § 521(k)(2), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1882.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 8750(a) ..... 10:1428 (less last sen- tence). July 2, 1926, ch. 721, § 11, 44 Stat. 789. 8750(b) ..... 10:1428 (last sentence). The words ‘‘Under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe’’ are omitted, since the President has in- herent authority to issue regulations appropriate to ex- ercising his functions. The words ‘‘but not in the name of Congress’’ are omitted as surplusage, since a medal is presented in the name of Congress only if the law so directs. The word ‘‘award’’ is substituted for the word ‘‘present’’ to cover the determination of the recipients as well as the actual presentation of the medal. The words ‘‘a decoration called’’ are substituted for the words ‘‘a medal to be known as’’. The words ‘‘including the National Guard and the Organized Reserves’’ are omitted as surplusage. The words ‘‘or herself’’ are omitted, since, under section 1 of title 1, words import- ing the masculine gender include the feminine. The words ‘‘after July 2, 1926’’ are omitted as executed. In subsection (b), the words ‘‘that would otherwise justify’’ are substituted for the words ‘‘sufficient to’’. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2024—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 118–159 inserted ‘‘or Space Force’’ after ‘‘Air Force’’. 2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 8750 of this title as this section. 1997—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–85 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2). 1960—Pub. L. 86–593 substituted ‘‘Airman’s Medal’’ for ‘‘Soldier’s Medal’’ in section catchline and wherever appearing in text. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2018 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title. § 9281. Service medals: issue; replacement; avail- ability of appropriations (a) The Secretary of the Air Force shall pro- cure, and issue without charge to any person en- titled thereto, any service medal authorized for members of the Air Force or the Space Force after September 26, 1947, and any ribbon, clasp, star, or similar device prescribed as a part of that medal. (b) Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, any medal or other device issued under subsection (a) that is lost, destroyed, or becomes unfit for use without fault or neglect of the owner, may be replaced at cost. However, if the owner is a member of the Air Force or the Space Force, the medal or device may be re- placed without charge. (c) The Secretary may spend, from any appro- priation for the support of the Air Force or the Space Force, amounts necessary to provide med- als and devices under this section. (Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 542, § 8751; re- numbered § 9281, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 806(b)(11), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1833; amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 923(c)(12)(A)(v), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3811.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 8751(a) ..... 8751(b) ..... 8751(c) ..... 10:1415a (less 21st through 30th words, and less clauses (a) through (n)). 10:1415b (less applica- bility to 10:1415a (clauses (a) through (n))). 10:1415c (less applica- bility to 10:1415a (clauses (a) through (n))). May 12, 1928, ch. 528, §§ 1 (less 25th through 34th words, and less clauses (a) through (n)), 2 (less applicability to § 1 (clauses (a) through (n))), 3 (less applica- bility to § 1 (clauses (a) through (n))), 45 Stat. 500. In subsection (a), the words ‘‘authorized for members of the Air Force after September 26, 1947’’ are sub- stituted for the words ‘‘hereafter authorized’’, since, under Transfer Order 1, that date was the effective date of the transfer of personnel from the Army to the Air Force under section 208(e) of the National Security Act of 1947, as amended (5 U.S.C. 626c(e)). 10:1415a (proviso) is omitted as surplusage, since the revised section is not limited to persons who are members of the Air Force at the time of the issue. In subsection (b), the words ‘‘member of the Air Force’’ are substituted for the words ‘‘persons in the military service of the United States’’. In subsection (c), the last 16 words are substituted for 10:1415c (last 16 words). Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2021—Pub. L. 116–283 inserted ‘‘or the Space Force’’ after ‘‘the Air Force’’ wherever appearing after the first appearance. 2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 8751 of this title as this section. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2018 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title. § 9282. Medals: posthumous award and presen- tation (a) If a person dies before the award of a medal of honor, distinguished-service cross, distin- guished-service medal, distinguished flying cross, or device in place thereof, to which he is entitled, the award may be made and the medal