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Who rates Good Conduct Medal

The Air Force Good Conduct Medal is awarded to active-duty enlisted airmen who:

* Demonstrate “‘exemplary conduct’ (exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity).”

* Complete three years of continuous federal military service, with no breaks in service of 24 hours or greater.

* Complete a single year of service if the nation is at war during the entire year of service (operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom do not meet this definition).

Subsequent medals are awarded for every three years of continuous service thereafter, denoted by a bronze oak leaf cluster or a silver oak leaf cluster for five awards.

At the end of each month, the Military Personnel Element for each unit publishes a list of airmen who have qualified by completing three years of continuous service, either total or since their last GCM.

Unit commanders may deny the award to anyone whose conduct “has been less than exemplary.” The commander will consult the airman’s immediate supervisor and submit a memorandum detailing why the award is being denied and setting a new start date on the three-year clock.

Source: AFI 36-2803