Награды и знаки отличия Гражданского патруля США

Recognitions for members of the United States Air Force Auxilary

The awards and decorations of Civil Air Patrol are "designed to recognize heroism, service, and program achievements" of members of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) of the United States of America. The CAP is the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force. These awards are made to improve the esprit de corps of members. In order to be considered for one of these awards, an individual must be a Civil Air Patrol member in good standing at the time of the act being recognized. There is a statute of limitations for these awards and all recommendations must be submitted within two years of the act being performed.

The Silver Medal of Valor is the highest decoration a Civil Air Patrol member can receive. It is awarded for "distinguished and conspicuous heroic action, at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of normal duty." If the situation does not put a member's life in immediate danger, they may qualify for the Bronze Medal of Valor (see below). The same ribbon is used for both the Silver and Bronze Medals of Valor; with the exception that the Silver Medal of Valor ribbon has three silver star attachments. The basic ribbon (without attachments) represents the Bronze Medal of Valor.

The Bronze Medal of Valor is awarded to members for "distinguished and conspicuous heroic action where danger to self is probable and known." A miniature medal is available for senior members to wear on their mess dress uniforms.

The Civil Air Patrol Unit Citation Award is presented for "exceptionally meritorious service or exceptionally outstanding achievement."

To accomplish its mission, the Civil Air Patrol requires an informed and active senior membership trained in leadership, management, and functional tasks. The Senior Member Professional Development Program prepares members to serve their units, their communities, and their nation. The professional development ribbons are awarded by National Headquarters to denote the level of achievement that a senior member has achieved in this program. The professional development program is divided into five levels.

The Gill Robb Wilson Award was first implemented in 1964 to replace the National Commander’s Citation. It is named after Gill Robb Wilson, the first director of the CAP, and is presented to senior members who complete the fifth level of training in the Senior Member Professional Development Program. This award is issued directly from Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters and is the highest award in the professional development program. This level of training is intended for those performing duty as commanders or staff officers, and is a prerequisite for consideration for duty performance promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel in CAP. The training program concentrates on advanced leadership and management subjects. The award is named for aerospace manufacturer Grover Cleveland Loening. This portion of the professional development program was designed for senior members serving as squadron, group, or wing commanders and for CAP staff officers. If members obtain a senior rating in a specialty track, they are authorized to wear a bronze star on the Leadership Award ribbon. A silver star is awarded for a higher master rating. This award does not come with a full sized medal. It consists of a ribbon and a certificate.

Awarded to members who provide 50 cadet orientation flights. Each cadet receiving credit for the flight, may be counted toward the total of 50. A bronze clasp may be added for each additional 50 flights.

The Senior Member Recruiter Ribbon is given to senior members who recruit seven new qualified cadets or senior members for CAP. For each additional ten members recruited, a bronze clasp may be worn on the ribbon. Once a senior member earns five bronze clasps, they may be replaced by a silver clasp. Bronze clasps are no longer worn after a silver clasp is received. For every fifty new members recruited after this, an additional silver clasp may be worn on the ribbon. Members recruited as cadets may be included in determining entitlement in the case of senior members who were former cadets.

The aerospace education awards are presented to senior members who excel in furthering the educational aspects of Civil Air Patrol's mission. These two awards are made to recognize completion of steps in the professional development program related specifically to aerospace education.

The A. Scott Crossfield Award is named after American naval officer and test pilot Albert Scott Crossfield. The award is made by Civil Air Patrol national headquarters. The Crossfield Award is presented to members who have "earned the master level rating in the aerospace education specialty track and served as aerospace education officer." This award does not come with a full sized medal. It consists of a ribbon and a certificate. A miniature medal is available for members to purchase for wear on their mess dress uniforms.

The Brigadier General Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award is presented to senior members who successfully complete Civil Air Patrol's Aerospace Education Program for Senior Members (AEPSM). The National Commander will determine when to grant this award and the period of service involved. This award ranks immediately before the Red Service Ribbon in the order of precedence. Only one award is earned per service period; awards during additional periods are recognized by the wear of the bronze triangle clasp. Any active member (cadet/senior/50 year or life) who has served at least 1 day in active status during the period is eligible to wear the ribbon. When the National Commander issues the award, individual member records will be automatically updated to reflect the award. In a letter attached to the interim change letter authorizing the award, CAP National Commander Major General Edward D. Phelka stated, "Beginning in March 2020, the COVID 19 pandemic resulted in CAP’s most noteworthy national service since World War II. Regular operations continued while new missions were explored, millions of meals delivered to the needy, thousands of blood donations were made, and distribution of masks and vaccines were completed across the country. At a time when simply holding regular squadron meetings was challenging due to isolation restrictions, CAP members served the Nation and ensured CAP’s continued operation. In recognition of this effort, I have approved the award of the CAP Crisis Service Ribbon to all active members who served at least one day after 1 March 2020 to a future point to be determined by CAP." On October 25, 2022, Major General Phelka remarked, in a letter to CAP members, that "since the crisis nature of the pandemic and its impact on CAP appears to be behind us, I am declaring an official end to the awarding of CAP’s Crisis Service Ribbon in response to the pandemic, effective Oct. 31" in 2022.

The Red Service Ribbon is given to any member of Civil Air Patrol who has been a member of the program for two years (as a cadet or Senior Member in good standing.) In addition, the following devices are awarded for additional years of service. A first Bronze Clasp is awarded at the end of 3 additional years (total of 5 years). Additional Bronze Clasps are awarded for each additional 5 years of service. A maximum of three bronze clasps (denoting 15 years of service) will be worn. Longevity Devices, A metal number, denoting years of service, awarded at the end of 20 years and in increments of 5 years thereafter. The longevity device is worn centered on the red service ribbon and the bronze clasps are no longer worn.

The Community Service Ribbon is awarded to senior members and cadets who complete 60 hours of community service. The community service is done outside of Civil Air Patrol, and is verified by someone other than the member. Civil Air Patrol headquarters has now authorized the wear of a bronze device for every additional 60 hours of community service.

The Neil Armstrong Achievement is awarded for successfully completing the specific requirements of Achievement 8 in Phase II of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program. Awarded for the second achievement of Cadet Chief Master Sergeant. A silver star is worn on the ribbon to denote completion of honor credit when promoting.

The Dr. Robert H. Goddard Achievement is awarded for successfully completing the specific requirements of Achievement 7 in Phase II of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program. Accompanies promotion to Cadet Chief Master Sergeant. A silver star worn on the ribbon denotes successful completion of the Model Rocketry Badge requirements (if Mitchell Award has been earned). A silver star is also worn on the ribbon to denote completion of honor credit when promoting. Two silver stars may be worn if honor credit and the Model Rocketry badge were earned. Prior to the creation of the Mary Feik Achievement in April 2003, the Wright Brothers award was the 3rd Achievement and accompanied promotion to the grade of Cadet Senior Airman.

The Mary Feik Achievement is awarded for successfully completing the specific requirements of Achievement 3 in Phase I of the cadet program. Accompanies promotion to the grade of Cadet Senior Airman. A silver star is worn on the ribbon to denote completion of honor credit when promoting. CAP squadron commanders may nominate one cadet officer each year for the award by submitting a nomination to the VFW detailing the cadet's accomplishments and certifying that cadet officer is in good standing academically, progressing satisfactorily in the CAP cadet program, demonstrated outstanding achievement in community service and the cadet program. The cadet must also be of high moral character, demonstrate a high level of professionalism in appearance and action and patriotism, actively promote Americanism, and demonstrate growth potential. A cadet may only receive this award once.

The VFW recognizes excellence in CAP cadet non commissioned officers (NCO) through an annual award to an outstanding cadet NCO in each CAP squadron.

Note: These Ranger tabs may be worn only on the BDU uniform (Battle Dress Uniform) or CAP corporate field uniform. They are being phased out and are not authorized for wear on the ABU (Airman Battle Uniform) other than at an HMRS activity as of 23 August 2021.

Cords are used to indicate that a certain cadet has received a notable position in a CAP program. These following ribbons were awarded to members for service as a member of Civil Air Patrol during World War II. Members who have earned them may continue to wear them, although they are no longer awarded.

The Wartime Service Ribbon is awarded to CAP members who served during World War II in any one of several capacities. The ribbon replaces several specific World War II ribbons, which are listed below.

The Anti Submarine Coastal Patrol Ribbon was awarded to members who patrolled the Atlantic coast for enemy submarine attacks during World War II. This ribbon is no longer available, but is still worn by those who have earned it.

The Southern Liaison Patrol Ribbon was awarded to members who patrolled the southern border of the United States. This ribbon is no longer available, but is still worn by those who earned it.

The Tow Target & Tracking Ribbon was awarded to members who flew aircraft which trailed aerial gunnery targets to assist with training of U. S. Army personnel. This ribbon is no longer available, but is still worn by those who earned it.

The Courier Ribbon was awarded to members who transported time sensitive messages, material, and personnel. This ribbon is no longer available, but is still worn by those who earned it.

The Forest Patrol ribbon was awarded to members who patrolled the Northern United States border from enemy attacks. This ribbon is no longer available, but is still worn by those who earned it.

The Missing Aircraft Ribbon was awarded to members who served as part of the search and rescue team for downed aircraft within United States borders. This ribbon is no longer available, but is still worn by those who earned it.