Air Force Meritorious Unit Award

In March of 2004, the Secretary of the Air Force established the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award. These Air Force ribbons are some of the newest medals of America, and they are bestowed for exceptionally meritorious unit conduct for at least a 90 day period during operations against an armed enemy. While service in the combat zone is not required to win these military medals, the unit’s activities must be directly related to the combat effort. The unit must display superior performance and devotion in exceptionally difficult tasks that sets them above other units performing similar tasks. The unit performance required to win one of these Air Force ribbons must be equal to the achievement required for an individual to earn one of the prestigious US military medals and military ribbons known as the Legion of Merit. The Air Force Meritorious Unit Award will not be given to any unit previously awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, or the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award. The general order of precedence that has been established for the proper display of all military medals and ribbons requires that the Meritorious Unit Award be worn after the Gallant Unit Citation, and immediately before the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.