Criteria released for new Air Force nuclear medal

The Air Force announced in late May that it would award the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, and on Friday, it announced the nomination criteria for the new medal.

The medal will be awarded to airmen for direct support of nuclear deterrence operations, according to the Air Force.

The Tribune reported in May that the medal is “intended to recognize airmen dedicated to national strategic deterrence objectives,” according to information released by the Air Force Personnel Center.

The creation of the medal came out of the Force Improvement Program, which was initiated after a cheating investigation earlier this year revealed low morale and other issues throughout the nuclear force.

Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James authorized the medal May 27.

“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. Because of our success, often times nuclear deterrence operations can be overlooked as a critical function,” Col. Zannis Pappas said in a news release. Pappas is the missile operations career field manager. “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.”

Eligibility for the medal is retroactive to Dec. 27, 1991. Nominations for currently serving airmen will be processed through their respective chain of command, according to the Air Force.

The medal is currently under development with a projected date of availability through the Defense Supply System of March 2015.

Airmen may be awarded the medal if they were assigned, deployed or mobilized to a wing, center or below in support of the nuclear enterprise for 120 consecutive days or 179 nonconsecutive days. Subsequent awards will only be authorized when a permanent change of station to a qualifying unit has occurred, according to the Air Force.

The medal will be worn with an “N” device for those who dispatched to a missile complex for 179 nonconsecutive days in direct support of intercontinental ballistic missile operations or are in direct support of nuclear laden aircraft. Only one “N” device will be worn, regardless of the number of qualifying assignments. An oak leaf cluster will be worn for subsequent awards.

An airman’s current group commander is considered the awarding authority for the medal. Retired or separated airmen can submit a request to the AFPC recognition section for validation. The award can be presented posthumously, as well, so family members of deceased airmen can also contact AFPC for information.