New medal established for combat Airmen

  • Published
  • By Carol O'Maley
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE , Ariz. --  Luke servicemembers with the rank of airman basic
through colonel who actively participated in
ground or air combat since Sept. 11, 2001, are
now eligible to receive the newly-created
Air Force Combat Action Medal as
announced March 15 by Secretary of
the Air Force Michael Wynne.
AFCAM eligibility criteria
include being at risk of grave
danger while:
􀁷􀀁serving under direct and hostile
fire while operating in a combat zone
(outside the defended perimeter), or
􀁷􀀁physically engaging hostile forces
with direct and lethal fire.
The AFCAM and ribbon also may be
awarded to other servicemembers and
foreign soldiers serving in a U.S. Air Force
unit, provided they meet the award criteria.
Master Sgt. Raymond Fleming, 56th Fighter Wing
Military Personnel flight customer support and relocations
superintendent, said, "Luke personnel who meet the above
criteria and have since returned from deployment
must apply for the award by submitting
certain paperwork to their current unit
commander's support staff. Applicants
must prove deployment and receipt of
imminent danger pay/hostile fire
pay by producing contingency
exercise deployment orders and paid
travel vouchers or tax statements.
Other supporting documentation
should include a narrative from a
senior leader, preferably endorsed
by the servicemember's current wing
commander."
For more information, visit your unit
CSS, www.afpc.randolph.af.mil, or call
Sergeant Fleming at (623) 896-7870.