In 1964 the U.S. Air Force created a new military medal called The Combat Readiness Medal. Originally it was superior to the Air Force Commendation Medal, but in 1967 the criteria was changed and these military decorations were designated a campaign service award. These Air Force medals are now awarded to Active Duty and Reserve personnel who have sustained individual combat mission readiness, or who have achieved levels of preparedness for direct weapon-system employment that amount to 24 cumulative months of sustained duty performance.
The Air Force Major Headquarters awards the Combat Readiness Medal to Air Force personnel, and it is not uncommon for individuals receiving it to also be awarded the Air Medal and/or the Aerial Achievement Medal at the same time, since the qualifications are quite similar.
The Combat Readiness Medal is worn below the Prisoner of War Medal, and just above the Air Force Good Conduct Medal in the general order of precedence for military ribbons and medals. Multiple awards of the Combat Readiness Medal are denoted by Oak Leaf Clusters.
If an Air Force member has transitioned into the Army, the Combat Readiness Medal must be worn as the last domestic medal/ribbon, but before any foreign awards.
The Combat Readiness Medal is generally available as Air Force medals, ribbons, and lapel pins to name a few common forms. These military decorations can be worn as traditional slide-on military medals or mini-medals, traditional slide-on military ribbons, and the sleek ultra thin military medals, mini-medals or military ribbons that are becoming so popular due to their thinner and trimmer appearance in racks of mounted military medals and mounted thin military ribbons.