Talk:"V" device/Archives/2012/June

V device for Medal of Honor

Is there a source for this? I don't believe this is true. In addition, the last instruction out about the V device did not grant it to the Army Achievement Medal - although that might have changed. -OberRanks (talk) 16:51, 6 June 2012 (UTC)

There is obviously no 'V' device for the MOH. I believe your right about the AAM too. How much of this table is wrong? -Atfyfe (talk) 17:20, 6 June 2012 (UTC)

Here is some information to correct the list with from Stars and Stripes (http://www.stripes.com/news/pentagon-reviewing-v-device-for-consistency-1.55945):

From the Department of Defense Instruction 1348.33-M, “The Manual of Military Decorations and Awards”:

“C10.1.4. “V” (Valor) Device … is worn on … the JSCM [Joint Service Commendation Medal] when the medal was awarded for acts or service involving direct participation in combat operations on or after June 25, 1963.”

From Air Force Policy Directive 36-28, “Awards and Decorations Program”:

“A3.8. The ‘V’ (Valor) Device is … [w]orn on the BSM [Bronze Star Medal] service and suspension ribbons when awarded for heroism. Worn on the AFAM [Air Force Achievement Medal] and AFCM [Air Force Commendation Medal] … when awarded to appropriately recognize the noteworthy accomplishments of Air Force personnel placed in harm’s way during contingency deployment operations.”

From Army Regulation 600-8-22, “Military Awards”:

“The ‘V’ device is … worn to denote participation in acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy. It was originally worn only on … the Bronze Star Medal to denote an award made for heroism (valor). Effective 29 February 1964, the ‘V’ device was also authorized for wear on the Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal for heroic acts or valorous deeds not warranting awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross or the Bronze Star Medal with ‘V’ device. Effective 25 June 1963, the ‘V’ device was authorized additionally for wear on the Joint Service Commendation Medal when the award is for acts of valor (heroism) during participation in combat operations.”

For both the Marine Corps and Navy, from the Navy’s Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) INSTRUCTION 1650.1G, “Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual”:

“2. Letter Devices, d. Bronze ‘V’ … is authorized for wear on these decorations if the award is for acts or services involving direct participation in combat operations …. Eligibility for the Combat Distinguishing Device [the ‘V’] shall be based solely on acts or services by individuals who are exposed to personal hazard due to direct hostile actions, and not upon the geographical area in which the acts or services are performed. Each case must be judged on its own merits.”

With regard to the MOH, if you check DoDM 1348.33, Volume 1, paragraph 8h at the bottom of page 34 says "...no more than one MOH may be awarded to an individual. However, for each succeeding act that would otherwise justify award of the MOH, the individual receiving the subsequent award is authorized to wear an additional MOH ribbon and/or a “V” device on the MOH suspension ribbon." AzureCitizen (talk) 18:15, 6 June 2012 (UTC)

Well I'll be. That's nuts for a number of reasons. Good work AzureCitizen. I stand corrected. - Atfyfe (talk) 21:07, 6 June 2012 (UTC)

I find the concept weird myself too - "V" Devices used like oak leaf clusters to designate further awards?? What if they had 3 or 4 of them, LOL? But only 19 individuals have ever received the MOH more than once, and they were all before (or during) World War I. No individual has ever received the MOH more than twice, and none are of them are still alive today. So from that standpoint, maybe it isn't so crazy. If it weren't for researching it in connection with this Wikipedia article, I'd have never have found this out either. AzureCitizen (talk) 21:45, 6 June 2012 (UTC)

Very good info, everyone. This will actually directly affect a training instruction at the Military Personnel Records Center, so I thank you. One more question, what is the status of the V Device for the Legion of Merit? Thanks again! -OberRanks (talk) 02:29, 7 June 2012 (UTC)

See DoDM 1348.33, Volume 3, paragraph 2h(3), at the top of page 17, which specifies the "V" Device for the LOM is authorized only for the Navy and Marine Corps. For service implementation, SECNAVISNT 1650.1H paragraph 123.3d(1) and 123.3d(3) on page 1-9 give the periods the "V" Device (called a Combat "V" in the Navy/USMC) was authorized for the LOM, which is essentially prior to 4 April 1974 and again after 17 January 1991. AzureCitizen (talk) 03:08, 7 June 2012 (UTC)