Background

Established by Congress on July 6, 1960, as the highest Air Force award. It is the most prestigious military decoration conferred by the United States government. The first Air Force Medal of Honor was presented at the White House on January 19, 1967.

Criteria

Awarded for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action involving actual conflict with an opposing armed force.

Bronze Squadron Use

Operators who demonstrate conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their virtual life, above and beyond the call of duty, during mil-sim combat operations. Requires unanimous Awards Board approval and Detachment Commander authorization. Maximum one award per operational campaign.

Current Bronze Squadron Medal of Honor Recipients:

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Background / Criteria

Awarded for extraordinary heroism in combat not justifying the Medal of Honor. The act must be performed in the presence of great danger and at great personal risk.

Bronze Squadron Use

Awarded to operators who demonstrate extraordinary heroism during combat operations — such as leading a critical breach under heavy fire, extracting a downed teammate from a contested area, or executing a decisive action that turns the tide of an engagement. Distinguished from the MOH by scope and scale of impact.

Background / Criteria

Awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. The act must involve conspicuous gallantry while engaged in combat but not warranting a Navy Cross.

Bronze Squadron Use

Awarded for gallantry in action during MILSIM operations — such as holding a critical position against superior numbers, executing a flanking maneuver under fire that enables squad success, or providing suppressive fire that enables casualty evacuation under direct threat.

Background / Criteria

Awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. The act must be evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty.

Bronze Squadron Use

Awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement during aerial operations — such as piloting a helicopter insertion/extraction under heavy anti-aircraft fire, executing a critical CAS (close air support) mission that saves ground elements, or performing an emergency aerial extraction in a hot LZ during MILSIM air operations.

Background / Criteria

Awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement or service in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. May be awarded with "V" for valor or without for meritorious service in a combat theater.

Bronze Squadron Use

Awarded for heroic ground combat achievement during MILSIM operations — such as leading a fire team through an ambush, performing meritorious service as a squad leader during a sustained multi-day campaign, or achieving a critical objective under fire. With the "V" device for direct combat heroism; without for meritorious combat-zone service.

Background / Criteria

Awarded to any member who is wounded or killed in action against an enemy. The wound must be the result of enemy action and must have required treatment by a medical officer.

Bronze Squadron Use

Awarded to operators who are wounded (incapacitated/downed) or killed in action during MILSIM combat operations. This includes any operator neutralized by enemy fire during a sanctioned operation. The Purple Heart is never requested — it is automatically processed when a casualty is confirmed during an official operation.

Background / Criteria

Defense Distinguished Service Medal — highest non-combat joint service decoration

Exceptionally distinguished service in a position of great responsibility within a joint/combined command.

Bronze Squadron Use

Awarded for exceptionally distinguished service to Bronze Squadron in a position of great responsibility — such as serving as CO or XO with transformative impact on the unit, establishing inter-unit alliances that fundamentally strengthen the community, or overhauling unit infrastructure in ways that produce lasting excellence.

Background / Criteria

Exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility within the naval service.

Bronze Squadron Use

Awarded for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility within Bronze Squadron — such as sustained excellence as a team leader over multiple deployment cycles, building and maintaining unit training programs that measurably improve operational readiness, or distinguished service as unit administrator.

Background / Criteria

Superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility in a joint activity.

Bronze Squadron Use

Awarded for superior meritorious service during joint operations with allied MILSIM units — such as serving as the primary liaison during a coalition campaign, coordinating multi-unit operations with distinction, or leading a joint task force element with exceptional results.

Background / Criteria

Exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.

Bronze Squadron Use

Awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct over a sustained period — such as leading a team through an entire campaign season with zero mission failures, establishing SOPs that become unit-wide standards, or providing mentorship that demonstrably develops junior operators into effective leaders.