The Air Force has released the criteria for a new service medal for airmen directly supporting the beleaguered nuclear missile community.
Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James on May 27 authorized the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal. Service members can receive the medal if they were assigned, deployed or mobilized to a wing, center or other organization supporting nuclear deterrence operations for 120 consecutive days or 179 nonconsecutive days, the Air Force said Oct. 10. The Air Force also said subsequent awards will only be authorized when an airman has a permanent change of station move to a qualifying unit.
The medal is being developed and is expected to be available in March.
"This service medal provides a clearly visible way to recognize the dedication and professionalism of our airmen who are the guardians of our nation's nuclear deterrence," said Col. Zannis Pappas, missile operations career field manager. "Because of our success, often times nuclear deterrence operations can be overlooked as a critical function. The medal acknowledges the special challenges faced by those airmen charged with supporting the nuclear enterprise and will be a point of pride by all who wear it."
The Air Force said it will be a bronze medal with a laurel wreath symbolizing achievement, an atomic symbol representing the nuclear surety mission, and a star with a disc representing the Air Force. The medal's reverse will have a triangle, alluding to the nuclear triad.
Also, the Air Force said, "the [medal's] blue represents the nuclear dominance in the sky; red represents the power and passion in which we provide nuclear deterrence; green represents the earth and our global capabilities; gold represents the wealth of our nuclear enterprise — our people."
"The Air Force continues to demonstrate its support to the most vital part of the nuclear enterprise — the airmen," said Maj. Gen. Garrett Harencak, Air Force assistant chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration. "This medal exists as a tangible way to acknowledge the importance of this mission and the dedication and pride that the men and women in the nuclear community show to their country. Having Secretary of the Air Force-level interest testifies to the importance of this decoration and impact on the nuclear operations."
The medal will be worn with an "N" device for airmen dispatched to a missile complex for 179 nonconsecutive days, who directly support intercontinental ballistic missile operations or nuclear weapon-carrying aircraft.
Airmen will only receive one "N" device, no matter how many qualifying assignments they serve in. When a permanent change of station occurs, airmen may receive an oak leaf cluster.
The Air Force said medal eligibility will be retroactive to Dec. 27, 1991. Currently serving airmen will have their nominations processed through their chains of command. An airman's current group commander will be the awarding authority for the medal.
Retired or separated airmen who wish to receive the medal can submit a request to the Air Force Personnel Center recognition section. Family members of deceased airmen can ask AFPC for information on receiving the medal posthumously.
The nuclear missile community was rocked over the last year by a cheating scandal and reports of low morale across the force. The medal is one of several incentives the Air Force announced in May to improve morale, including bonuses for new missileers who successfully complete initial skills training, and targeted incentive pay for airmen operating outside their main base, both of which became effective Oct. 1. The Air Force is also offering Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarships for missile duty.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
