Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Which U.S. military awards require presidential or Secretary-level approval versus command-level approval?
Executive summary
U.S. military awards follow a tiered approval system: the most prestigious decorations (e.g., Medal of Honor, some DoD-level awards and Presidential-level civilian honors) require approval at the presidential or service‑secretary level, while many individual and unit awards are routinely approved at command echelons that AR 600‑8‑22 and DoD Manual 1348.33 formally delegate (not all specific awards are listed in the available sources) [1] [2].
1. How approval authority is organized: law, DoD manuals and service regs
Approval authority for military awards is set by statute, Department of Defense issuances and individual service regulations; DoD Manual 1348.33 spells out award procedures and notes explicit “Approval Authority” sections, and Army Regulation 600‑8‑22 provides tables delegating peacetime and wartime approval authority down the chain of command [2] [1]. These documents create a default hierarchy but also permit written delegations by service secretaries, so the formal approver for a named medal can be delegated in practice [1] [2].
2. Presidential- or Secretary-level awards: which ones the sources highlight
Sources show that some awards are explicitly conferred by or require action by the President or a Secretary: Presidential Rank Awards (civilian SES/SFS recognitions) are approved by the President [3] and the Commander‑in‑Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence is announced at DoD/Secretary level and styled “Commander in Chief’s” [4] [5]. DoD and service‑level honorary and DoD‑level awards are established and controlled at the DoD/secretary level per Air Force personnel policy guidance [6]. DoD Manual 1348.33 contains sections that reserve certain DoD and joint award authorities to senior officials [2].
3. High‑level military decorations commonly requiring senior officer authority
Certain high‑precedence military decorations have awarding authority reserved for senior officers. For example, the Legion of Merit’s authority resides with general/flag officers at the O‑9 (lieutenant general/vice admiral) level or higher and equivalent senior civilian officials — a threshold well above unit or company command levels [7]. This demonstrates that some mid‑to‑high level decorations are not approved at low‑level command but at general/flag or Secretary equivalents [7].
4. Typical command‑level approvals: medals and commendations
Many common awards are approved at the command level. The Army Commendation Medal and analogous service commendation medals require approval by an officer at the grade of colonel (O‑6) or higher for the Army example cited [8]. AR 600‑8‑22 contains explicit tables (Table 3‑2, Table 3‑4, etc.) that delegate award approval authority for peacetime and wartime to commanders by echelon, indicating most routine decorations are processed through and approved within the chain of command unless reserved otherwise [1].
5. Unit awards and joint awards: different rules and elevated processing
Unit awards have particular processing rules: wartime unit awards may be approved in theater by commanders authorized in AR guidance but some unit awards must be boarded and forwarded to higher headquarters (e.g., U.S. Army Human Resources Command and Center of Military History) for final approval and permanent order publication — and if time limits lapse, Congress‑sponsored initiation may be needed [9]. Joint Meritorious Unit Awards and DoD joint PMDs involve DoD‑level procedures in DoD Manual 1348.33 and approved lists are maintained centrally [2] [10].
6. Delegations, wartime flexibilities, and exceptions
The services can and do delegate approval authority; during wartime AR 600‑8‑22 instructs that SecArmy (or designee) will request delegation to commanders and that those delegations specify which awards may be approved at what level — a built‑in flexibility that accelerates recognition during intense operations [11] [1]. Conversely, some awards are retained at senior levels or centralized boards (e.g., Secretary’s Decorations Board in the Air Force) unless explicit delegation is granted [12].
7. What the sources do not provide and practical takeaways
Available sources do not provide a single, comprehensive list mapping every named U.S. military award to its exact approver for all services; instead the picture is regulatory: DoD Manual 1348.33 and service regulations (AR 600‑8‑22, DAFI/DAFMAN publications) define categories and delegation tables and cite examples such as the Legion of Merit and commendation medals to illustrate thresholds [2] [1] [7]. Practical takeaway: consult the applicable service regulation or DoD Manual for a specific award — if it’s high‑precedence or a DoD/joint decoration expect Secretary/DoD/President or very senior officer involvement; if it’s a routine commendation or achievement medal, expect command‑level approval consistent with the delegation tables [1] [8].
If you want, I can extract the specific delegation table entries from AR 600‑8‑22 or the DoD Manual 1348.33 provided here and map common awards (e.g., Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation/Achievement Medals, JMUA) to the typical approval echelon cited in those tables.