Combat Action Medal awards approach 2,000 - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Combat Action Medal awards approach 2,000

Since the Air Force awarded the first Combat Action Medal eight months ago, more than 1,950 airmen — nearly two-thirds of them enlisted — have pinned it on.

As of Feb. 20, 1,956 airmen and three members of other services had qualified for the medal, according to the agency that reviews medal applications, the 9th Air Force headquarters at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

The details of who qualified for the medal illustrate an Air Force far different from the pre-Iraq War service. Back then, combat was primarily the province of aircrews, tactical air control party members and combat controllers. Now, the combat role has expanded to include airmen performing a wide variety of ground duties, from aiming guns to aiming cameras.

Of the Air Force recipients, 1,189 were enlisted and 767 were officers. Within the enlisted ranks, staff sergeants accounted for the largest share of decorations, with 341 airmen recognized. Among officers, captains were first with 283 medals. The officers also included 38 colonels and two brigadier generals.

A complete breakout of medal recipients by Air Force Specialty Code is not available because the Air Force didn’t always track the AFSCs of medal recipients.

Of the nearly 1,300 medals awarded since officials began tracking AFSCs, records show that airmen whose jobs take them outside the wire are much more likely to earn a Combat Action Medal.

Of the 1,157 enlisted airmen whose AFSCs were available, the most recognized career field was Security Forces, with 225 airmen honored. Explosive ordnance disposal technicians were singled out for 138 medals and vehicle operators received 130.

Other ground-based jobs with large numbers of decorated airmen included tactical air control party members at 61 and combat controllers at 50. Civil engineering airmen in construction-related specialties earned 46. Office of Special Investigation agents received 14 medals.

Enlisted aircrew members took a large share of the medals, including 84 for aerial gunners, 62 for flight engineers, 60 for loadmasters and 23 for air battle managers.

Among officers, 111 pilots and 35 navigators qualified, with 59 of them performing special operations missions and three assigned to fly remote-controlled aircraft.

Also getting the medal were three special tactics/combat rescue officers.

Not all the recipients come from career fields often associated with combat. One enlisted flight attendant qualified, and two plans and programming officers earned the recognition.

The first Combat Action Medal was presented in June 2007 after a year of debate about whether the Air Force should have a medal recognizing combat experience and who would qualify for it.

Much of the original push for the medal came from enlisted airmen who experienced combat while attached to Army ground units. An airman could wear the Army unit’s patch on his right shoulder while deployed but had to take the patch off once he returned to his home base.

Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley backed the idea of recognizing combat experience but didn’t want to differentiate between airmen serving on the ground or in the air.

Airmen who have taken part in combat since Sept. 11, 2001, are eligible. Applicants need to document their war experience and have their request approved by a review board at 9th Air Force.

Service leaders emphasize that an airman must have participated in combat to qualify. Visiting a base that came under mortar fire doesn’t meet that standard, but being in a convoy that was attacked and returned fire or flying a close-air support mission does.