Army Awards and Decorations: Verification Guide 2026

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## Quick answer Army awards and decorations are official honors documented on your DA Form 638 and recorded on your DD Form 214 or Soldier Record Brief (SRB). To verify your awards, active soldiers use the Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army (IPPS-A), while veterans must request their Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) via the National Archives or MilConnect.

In detail

The Army uses a specific hierarchy for decorations. They are generally categorized into decorations for valor, meritorious service, and achievement.

Key Army Decorations Explained

* **Bronze Star Medal (BSM):** Awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service in a combat zone. It is the fourth-highest ranking award for bravery and the ninth-highest military award in the order of precedence. A "V" device is attached for specific acts of valor. * **Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM):** Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces who distinguishes themselves by heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service. It is frequently awarded for high-level performance during a specific mission or tour of duty. * **Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM):** Awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service. It is generally awarded for every three years of continuous active service completed on or after August 27, 1940.

### Award Hierarchy and Order of Precedence | Award Title | Category | Criteria | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Bronze Star** | Valor/Merit | Heroism or merit in a combat zone | | **Meritorious Service Medal** | Merit | Outstanding non-combat achievement | | **Army Commendation Medal** | Achievement | Specific act of heroism or meritorious service | | **Army Achievement Medal** | Achievement | Noteworthy performance of duties (non-valor) | | **Good Conduct Medal** | Service | 3 years of honorable active service |

### How to Verify Your Awards In 2026, the process for verifying awards depends on your current status:

1. **Active/Reserve/National Guard:** Use the **Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army (IPPS-A)**. Your Soldier Record Brief (SRB) is the primary living document. If an award is missing, you must provide the signed DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award) to your S-1. 2. **Veterans and Retirees:** Your **DD Form 214** (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) is the primary source. If you believe your DD214 is missing awards, you must request a correction (DD Form 215) through the Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR). 3. **Modern Access:** Use the **milConnect** portal to access your "Personnel File" and view the OMPF (Official Military Personnel File) tab.

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Soldiers:** Awards impact "promotion points" (e.g., an ARCOM is worth 20 points, an AAM is worth 10 points for E-5/E-6 promotions). * **Veterans:** Decorations determine eligibility for many VSO (Veterans Service Organization) memberships, such as the VFW (requires a campaign medal or combat ribbon). * **Retirees:** Awards are necessary for correct display on retirement certificates and for potential "combat-related" disability designations (CRSC). * **Army Families:** Verification is often required for scholarships or state-level benefits that require proof of specific service medals.

Common scenarios

* **The Missing ARCOM:** A Sergeant leaves a unit in 2025 but the ARCOM they were "put in for" never shows up on their SRB. They must contact their former S-1 to find the tracked DA Form 638 in IPPS-A. Without that digital footprint, the award doesn't officially exist for promotion points. * **VA Disability Verification:** A veteran claims PTSD linked to combat. The VA looks for a "V" device on a Bronze Star or an Army Commendation Medal on the DD214 as "conclusive evidence" of a stressor, simplifying the claims process. * **Replacement Medals:** A retiree’s medals are lost in a fire. In 2026, they can request one-time free replacements of all earned decorations by filing a request through the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis.

## Related terms * **DA Form 638:** The official recommendation form used to initiate, process, and approve Army awards. * **V Device:** A miniature bronze letter "V" worn on specific medals to denote "valor" in combat, distinguishing it from meritorious service. * **iPERMS:** The Interactive Personnel Electronic Records Management System, the digital vault where your permanent military records are stored. * **Order of Precedence:** The strict chronological order in which medals must be worn on the Army Service Uniform (ASU) or Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU). * **Oak Leaf Cluster:** A device representing a second or subsequent award of the same decoration.

## Sources * **Army Human Resources Command (HRC):** https://www.hrc.army.mil/ * **National Archives (Veterans' Service Records):** https://www.archives.gov/veterans * **IPPS-A Official Site:** https://ipps-a.army.mil/ * **Army Publishing Directorate (Regulation 600-8-22):** https://armypubs.army.mil/