The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while a member of the Air Force or the Space Force, distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty-
10 U.S.C. § 9271
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTE | ||
Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
8741 | 10:1403. | July 9, 1918, ch. 143, (8th par. under "Ordnance Department"), 40 Stat. 870. |
EDITORIAL NOTES
AMENDMENTS2021- Pub. L. 116-283 inserted "or the Space Force" after "the Air Force" in introductory provisions.2018- Pub. L. 115-232 renumbered section 8741 of this title as this section. 1963-Pub. L. 88-77 enlarged the authority to award the medal of honor, which was limited to those cases in which persons distinguished themselves in action involving actual conflict with an enemy, to permit its award for distinguished service while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2018 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 115-232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115-232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.
- officer
- The term "officer" means a commissioned or warrant officer.