The Humanitarian Service Medal has been approved for award to airmen soldiers and other U.S. service members who participated in Operation Damayan, the massive Pacific Command relief effort that followed Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in fall 2013.
Eligible airmen soldiers were among 13,400 service members who were assigned to Joint Task Force 505, functional component commands and Pacific Command, and who were physically present and provided humanitarian assistance from Nov. 10 to Dec. 1, 2013.
Airmen who helped provide relief to the Philippines after the massive 2013 typhoon will soon find out how they can apply for a new Humanitarian Service Medal.
Air Force Personnel Center spokesman Mike Dickerson said in a Tuesday email that AFPC expects to announce the application and processing procedures for the medal honoring those who took part in Operation Damayan "in the near future."
Dickerson said AFPC was told that the Office of the Secretary of Defense had approved the medal on Jan.uary 22.
Operation Damayan was the massive Pacific Command relief effort that followed Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in fall 2013. The mammoth typhoon reduced much of the Philippine coastal city of Tacloban and parts of Leyte to rubble. The U.S. military response included 13,400 service members, 66 aircraft, 12 naval vessels, and the evacuation of 21,000 people from the storm area.
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.
