Air Force
The Air Force version of the Meritorious Unit Commendation is known as the Meritorious Unit Award. In March 2004, the Secretary of the Air Force approved the ribbon to recognize organizations for outstanding achievement or service in direct support of combat operations.
The Meritorious Unit Commendation is awarded to Air Force units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding achievement or service in direct support of combat operations for at least 90 continuous days during the period of military operations against an armed enemy of the United States on or after September 11, 2001. The unit must have displayed such outstanding devotion and superior performance of exceptionally difficult tasks as to set it apart and above other units with similar missions. The degree of achievement required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Legion of Merit. Superior performance of normal mission will not alone justify award of the ribbon. Service in a combat zone is not required, but service must be directly related to the combat effort. Squadrons, groups, and wings may be recommended for this award. The ribbon is not awarded to any unit or unit component previously awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, or unit awards from other service components for the same act, achievement, or service. The component commander will automatically consider all disapproved Meritorious Unit Awards for the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
The Meritorious Unit Award is worn immediately before the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Subsequent awards of the ribbon are denoted by bronze oak leaf clusters.
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