Awards and decorations of the Civil Air Patrol

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Awards and decorations of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) recognize heroism, service, and program achievements by CAP members. They are worn as medals or ribbons on CAP uniforms and are considered civilian decorations. Recommendations must come from a CAP member in good standing and are subject to a two-year time limit from the act being recognized. In some cases, the next of kin can receive an award that a member earned but did not receive. Awards are reviewed by boards at the region, wing, group, and squadron levels. Any CAP member can start a nomination, but awards for commanders typically require higher-level approval. The National Executive Committee (NEC) holds the authority to award decorations, with the NEC’s promotion and awards team handling most approvals. A few top awards—Silver Medal of Valor, Bronze Medal of Valor, and the Distinguished Service Medal—require full NEC approval.

Key points about wear and recognition
- Awards are announced in CAP National Headquarters personnel actions.
- The United States Air Force may recognize CAP with awards (for example, the 2016 Air Force Organizational Excellence Award for CAP members in good standing who served during a specific period). Special instructions may apply to how such awards are worn.

Major categories of awards

Valor and lifesaving
- Silver Medal of Valor: CAP’s highest decoration for distinguished, conspicuous heroic action at the risk of life.
- Bronze Medal of Valor: Awarded for heroic action where life risk is present but not necessarily immediate danger.
- Certificate of Recognition for Lifesaving: For lifesaving acts that don’t meet the criteria for valor medals.
- All valor awards include a medal, ribbon, and certificate (and a miniature medal for some uniforms).

Outstanding service and achievement
- Distinguished Service Medal: CAP’s top honor for outstanding service of national importance and great responsibility.
- Exceptional Service Award: For exceptionally outstanding service benefiting CAP at the region or wing level; comes with a ribbon and certificate.
- Meritorious Service Award: For outstanding achievements or meritorious service clearly above normal duties, not requiring the level of the Distinguished Service Medal.
- Commander's Commendation Award: For outstanding duty performance that is clearly above normal duties; can be approved by wing, region, or national commanders. It uses a ribbon and certificate (no full medal).

Other awards that recognize specific contributions
- Achievement Award: For outstanding service to a unit, group, or wing when the achievement is not enough for the higher awards.
- Certificate of Recognition for Lifesaving: See above (lifesaving awards include devices to show multiple awards).
- National and Unit Citations: For units that provide extraordinary service or achievements; ribbons are worn by unit members who were part of the unit during the award period. Streamers may be attached to unit colors.

Professional development and awards for adult members
CAP’s Senior Member Professional Development Program has several levels, culminating in two major awards:
- Gill Robb Wilson Award: The highest level of the Senior Member Professional Development Program. It recognizes the most advanced leadership and management training; no full medal is issued, just a ribbon and a certificate. Stars on the ribbon reflect completed courses (highest star for Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, or Air War College).
- Paul E. Garber Award: Level IV award for senior members aiming at leadership roles; also ribbon and certificate, with stars for completed advanced schooling.
Other development awards acknowledge progress in training and leadership, including the Grover Loening Aerospace Award (for Level III graduates), Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Award (Level II), Leadership Award (for achieving a technical or leadership rating in a CAP specialty track), and the basic Membership Award (Level I, Orientation Course). These awards generally come with ribbons and certificates, not full medals.

Cadet awards
- The General Carl A. Spaatz Award: CAP’s highest cadet award, earned after completing all cadet program stages and passing a comprehensive exam and fitness test. Earning Spaatz often leads to cadet promotion to Cadet Colonel and eligibility to transfer to the CAP officer program at a later age.
- Other notable cadet achievements recognize completion of early cadet phases (e.g., Wright Brothers, Mary Feik, General Hap Arnold, General J. F. Curry) and lead to corresponding promotions in the cadet program.
- The Wright Brothers Award (Phase I), Earhart Award (Phase III), Billy Mitchell Award (Phase II), and other phased achievements come with promotions and are often marked with stars on ribbons indicating higher levels of honor.
- Encampment, National Cadet Special Activities, International Cadet exchanges (IACE), Color Guard, and National Cadet Competition have dedicated ribbons, with devices to indicate repeated or national-level achievements.
- Other cadet-related awards may recognize teamwork, leadership, and participation in cadet activities; some awards may include a miniature medal for wear with certain uniforms.

World War II and related historic ribbons
- CAP has a Wartime Service Ribbon to recognize service during World War II. It consolidates several historical ribbons (e.g., Anti-Submarine Coastal Patrol, Southern Liaison Patrol, Tow-Target & Tracking, Courier, Forest Patrol, Missing Aircraft). These are no longer awarded, but those who earned them may continue to wear them.

Other items of note
- The CAP awards program also includes unit-level recognition such as the National Commander's Unit Citation Award and the Civil Air Patrol Unit Citation Award, which reward units for exceptional service or achievements above the standard expectations. These do not come with full-sized medals; ribbons (and sometimes miniature medals) are worn, and units may display streamers or colors as appropriate.
- Cap badges and cords indicate specific roles or achievements (e.g., Ground Team Badge, USAF Aide de Camp shoulder cord, cadet color-guard and National Cadet Competition cords), and may indicate leadership or participation in special CAP programs.
- Some changes and updates to awards and wear policies occur over time, including changes to how multiple awards are worn together and which devices (stars, clasps) denote repeated achievements.

Summary
CAP awards cover a broad range of heroism, service, leadership, and program achievements for both cadets and senior members. They are designed to strengthen morale and recognize excellence, with a structured process for nominations and approvals and clear rules for how they are worn on CAP uniforms. While many awards use ribbons and certificates, a few awards come with medals or miniature medals for wear on mess dress. The CAP awards program also includes significant professional development milestones for senior members and a substantial cadet awards track leading to the prestigious Spaatz Award.