The United States has a long-standing practice of honoring the bravery exhibited by its soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. The Continental Congress started the tradition of awarding medals to show appreciation for military service. The first medal ever given was the Badge of Military Merit, now known as the Purple Heart. George Washington created this military decoration in 1782 during the American Revolution to “foster and encourage every species of Military merit.”
The tradition remains sacred across all branches of the United States Armed Forces. Each branch has its own medals, and some medals can be given by any branch. The number of medals has increased dramatically. There are now more than 50 different types. Some medals indicate service in a particular conflict, such as the Global War on Terror. Others honor individual service. There are even medals issued to entire units, such as the Presidential Unit Citation. Each medal is distinct, in terms of what it means, how it’s earned, who issues it, and where it ranks in prominence and prestige.
Earning a medal is an immensely significant achievement for any soldier. It doesn’t matter if they are in peacetime or war, defending civilians or their unit, or in direct combat or not. One such military medal officers can hope to earn while beginning their careers is the Achievement Medal.
The military has four unique versions of the Achievement Medal. Each branch issues its own version. In addition, the Department of Defense authorizes a fifth version for joint activities between more than one branch. The Achievement Medal was introduced to recognize the exceptional accomplishments or meritorious service of enlisted personnel. These personnel sat below the rank of colonel and were not eligible for the Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service Medal. Junior officers were also recognized as capable of great things.
What’s the Army Medal’s History?
The United States Navy issued the first Achievement Medal in the early 1960s. It was originally known as the “Secretary of the Navy/Treasury Commendation for Achievement Medal”. In 1967, the name was shortened to simply the “Navy Achievement Medal,” or “NAM.”
On August 19, 1994, the title of the decoration was lengthened to the “Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal,” to recognize recipients who belonged to the United States Marine Corps. Despite this, the award is still often referred to as the “NAM,” for short.
In 1967, the United States Coast Guard instituted its own Coast Guard Achievement Medal to recognize its full time service members. In 1981, the Army, Air Force, and Space Force all followed suit and established their respective versions of the award with the Army Achievement Medal, or AAM, and Air Force Achievement Medal, or AFAM. Two years later in 1983, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, or JSAM, was created.
How Do You Get the Army Achievement Medal?
You might be asking yourself how you can qualify for an Army Achievement Medal. Across all branches, any active duty member of the Armed Forces who sits below the rank of colonel may be eligible to receive an Achievement Medal. Since it is reserved specifically for junior personnel, the Achievement Medal is typically only awarded to officers in and below the pay grade of O-4 and enlisted service members below the grade of E-7.
Army Achievement Medal Requirements
When first established in August 1981, the medal was specifically for meritorious service or achievement demonstrated in a non-combat setting. The Army was the only branch to award such a medal exclusively for non-combat performance. In September 2001, however, this limitation was lifted and the Army Achievement Medal became eligible for award in a combat area. More than 60,000 service members have been awarded Army Achievement Medals while serving in theaters of operations like Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal was initially created to recognize non-combat leadership and professional achievements. However, it can now be awarded for valorous acts during combat.
Who Awards Army Achievement Medals?
Currently, awarding authority belongs to local commanders in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and above. Over the years, however, award authority has varied drastically across branches. Until 2002, all nominations for the Achievement Medal within the Navy and Marine Corps had to be submitted to the Commodore or Air Wing Commander or the first appropriate O-6, or Colonel, in the chain of command for approval.
After the O-6 signed and returned the award, it would be presented to the nominated crew member. This restriction meant a NAM could not be approved by the commanding officers of ships, submarines, aviation squadrons, or shore activities who held the O-5 rank of Commander. Accordingly, a disproportionately lower number of these Achievement Medals were awarded in the Navy and Marine Corps than in the Army and Air Force.
To rectify this obstacle, the commanding officers of aviation squadrons and ships were granted the authority to award Achievement Medals without submission to a higher-up and have enjoyed this right since 2002. Conversely, in the Army, battalion commanders or the first O-5 in a soldier’s chain of command are the approving authority.
What Is the Order of Precedence?
Medals and ribbons follow a specific order known as the “order of precedence.” The order of precedence determines which award has a higher rank and must thus be mounted first, second, third, etc. on a uniform ribbon or medal rack.
The order of precedence of the Achievement Medal is 32, which dictates that it is to be worn after the Joint Service Achievement Medal and before the Prisoner of War Medal. The Army Achievement Medal in particular has the same level of precedence as that of the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Oak leaf clusters are granted to denote each additional Achievement Medal earned.
What Is the Army Achievement Medal Design?
Made of bronze and octagonal in shape, the Army Achievement Medal was designed by Jay Morris and sculpted by Donald Borja, both from the Army’s Institute of Heraldry. Its octagonal shape was adopted to distinguish it from other decorations.
The face of the medal is adapted from the official Army Seal, containing the Department of the Army emblem. This design features weaponry, flags, and a scroll that reads “this we’ll defend,” with the date “1775”—the year the Army was formed by the Continental Congress after the outbreak of the American Revolution—stamped at the bottom.
On the reverse side, the words “for military achievement” are spelled out in all caps across three lines and centered above two laurel leaves, which symbolize triumph and victory. Between the two sits a blank space for an inscription, where the recipient’s name is to be carved.
Army Achievement Medal Ribbon
The moire ribbon consists of a large central stripe of dark blue, which is bisected in the center by a thin white vertical stripe. On either side, the central blue stripe is bordered by white, green, white, and finally edged in green. This unique service ribbon can be worn on the recipient’s ribbon rack even when the full medal is not.
In addition to the medal itself, each award will come with an accompanying citation which will detail the outstanding actions that were displayed to warrant the distinction. The recipient will also earn ten promotion points for each Army Achievement Medal won.
Framing Your Army Medal of Achievement
If you’ve received the Army Achievement Medal, you might be wondering what to do with it when it’s not pinned to your uniform. Rather than burying it in a closet or tucking it away in storage, show it off. The Achievement Medal should be preserved with care and stored inside a shadow box for safekeeping. Our Army Medal Shadow Box is the perfect Army Achievement Medal frame—a true investment piece that hangs beautifully on any wall. Designed to protect your medal without compromising style, the shadow box has black and gold museum-quality matting that houses the Achievement Medal within a deep-profile cherry frame.
If you’re wondering whether you should display your Army Achievement Medal vs. Army Commendation Medal or own an Army Achievement Medal set, frame each one! If you earned five Army Achievement Medals or additional awards or ribbons, our large Military Shadow Box was designed just for that purpose. This box is perfect for your home or office. It has a glass-front hinged lid that displays your accolades with style. At the same time, it also shields them from dust and debris.
You Earned It!
Earning a medal, whether it be in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard, is a momentous occasion for a soldier. More than mere bling, a medal pinned to your uniform is a symbol of your service to your country—of your devotion to your country and its devotion back to you. The Achievement Medal honors junior officers for their valiant contributions, which may be overlooked. It is especially emblematic of this recognition to those officers.
