[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-160159-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":80,"doc-detail-160159-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":73,"head_meta":75,"extra_data":77,"updated_unix":79},105,"en","maxwell-decorations-guide-purpose-of-this-guide","Maxwell-Decorations - Guide Purpose of this Guide","","This guide is an unofficial reference for personnel assigned to Ira C. Eaker College for Professional Development (CPD) to prepare military decorations. It explains how to recommend individuals based on performance, mission contributions, grade, and responsibility level. It also covers common unit decoration types, when specific recommendations are appropriate (such as PCS, PCA, separation, retirement, outstanding achievement, and extended tour), and key procedural points. For official requirements, it directs readers to applicable AFI and pamphlet references and advises contacting the Commander’s Support Staff (CSS) for guidance.",{"@graph":14,"@context":72},[15,34,55],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/","Letters",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/maxwell-decorations-guide-purpose-of-this-guide/160159/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/maxwell-decorations-guide-purpose-of-this-guide/160159.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Rhys","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/octet-stream","2026-09-20","2026-08-30",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":26},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",{"@type":56,"mainEntity":57},"FAQPage",[58,64,68],{"name":59,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":61},"What is the purpose of this guide for CPD personnel?","Question",{"text":62,"@type":63},"The guide helps CPD personnel prepare military decorations by providing basic information for commonly awarded unit decorations and clarifying unique CPD and Air University procedures.","Answer",{"name":65,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":66},"What factors should be considered when recommending an individual for a decoration?",{"text":67,"@type":63},"Recommendations should be based on performance and mission contributions, compared with peers of similar grade and position. Decorations are appropriate when contributions are above peers.",{"name":69,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":70},"When is it appropriate to recommend a decoration for PCS or PCA?",{"text":71,"@type":63},"For PCS, the decoration is tied to the member’s time at the station from arrival until departure. For PCA, the new assignment must be markedly different from the previous one, with a distinct type of work at the new assignment.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":74,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":76,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":78,"site_id":7},160159,1788051100,{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":82},"success",[83,88,93,98,103,108,113,117,122],{"id":84,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":89,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":90,"show_sort_weight":91,"slug":92},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":94,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":95,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":97},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":99,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":100,"show_sort_weight":101,"slug":102},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":104,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":105,"show_sort_weight":106,"slug":107},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":109,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":110,"show_sort_weight":111,"slug":112},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":114,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":115,"slug":116},18,30,"letters",{"id":118,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":119,"show_sort_weight":120,"slug":121},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":123,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":125},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":127},{"doc_id":78,"user_id":128,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":22,"category_id":114,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":26,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":94,"language":135,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":79,"read_time":120},687207024643,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","Ira C. Eaker college for professional development\nHow to Prepare Decorations\nCPD/CSS\n525 Chennault Circle\nMaxwell Air Force Base, Alabama\nDSN 493-2132 • Fax 493-6428\n\u000fPurpose of this Guide\nt\nhis unofficial guide was written to assist personnel assigned to the Ira C. Eaker College for Professional Development (CPD) in preparing military decorations.  The guide provides basic information to assist you in writing the most commonly awarded unit decorations (e.g., Air Force Commendation Medal upon the member’s reassignment) and to help you understand the unique procedures in CPD and Air University (AU).\nFor official procedures use AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Awards and Decorations Program.  For civilian decorations refer to AFI 36-1004, Managing the Civilian Recognition Program, and AF Pamphlet 36-2861, Civilian Recognition Guide.\nIf you have any questions regarding the preparation of the decoration, then contact any member of the Commander’s Support Staff (CSS) for clarification and guidance.\nUnderstanding the Icons\nThe “icon key” at left will help you navigate through this guide.  Since this guide is a reference tool, use the icons to identify the location of key information.\nWhy should I recommend someone for a decoration?\nCPD personnel should be recognized for their contributions to the mission.  Recognition bolsters morale as well as retention of superior performers.  For those individuals who are retiring or separating, it is a special way of saying “Thank you for your contributions to the defense of our nation.”\nWhen you consider recommending an individual for a decoration, look at their performance and contributions to mission accomplishment and how it compares with others of similar grade and positions.  If the person’s contributions are above his or her peers, then a decoration may be appropriate.\n“The sweetest of all sounds is praise.”\n\u000fWhen is it appropriate to recommend a decoration?\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS)\nThis decoration is based on a period of time, generally from the date the member arrived on station until the date he or she departs for a new assignment.\nPermanent Change of Assignment (PCA)\nThe new assignment must be markedly different from the previous assignment (i.e., there needs to be a different type of work at the new assignment for the member to be considered for a PCA decoration).\nSeparation\nThe period of this award is generally from the date the member arrived on station until the last day on active duty.\nRetirement\nThe period of this award is generally from the date the member arrived on station until the retirement date.\nOutstanding Achievement\nRecognition for a single act or achievement so notable that delay in recognizing the event would diminish the significance of the act.\nExtended Tour\nClearly outstanding and unmistakably exceptional service for an extended period of at least 3 years.  This type of recommendation will not be done if an assignment is projected or pending.\nWhat are the commonly awarded decorations?\n(\nAir Force Achievement Medal (AFAM)\nThe AFAM is normally appropriate for lieutenants and airmen who have demonstrated meritorious service in a responsible position.\n\u000fAir Force Commendation Medal (AFCM)\n(\nThe AFCM is normally appropriate for captains, technical sergeants and staff sergeants who have demonstrated meritorious service in a responsible position.\n(\nMeritorious Service Medal (MSM)\nThe MSM is the highest decoration most personnel receive in their Air Force career.  Therefore, we have the responsibility to recognize and reward outstanding performers while avoiding proliferation and perception of gaming an award for promotion purposes.\nGuidelines for award of the MSM were outlined in HQ AFPC/DPPP message 171430Z Aug 98.\nFirst, the grade of the individual is a factor in the award of the medal.  The MSM is normally appropriate for field grade officers and senior NCOs.\nSecond, the individual should serve in a responsible position for a minimum of 2 years.\nFinally, the individ","cbCaijqARYrzI5P9","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaijqARYrzI5P9","doc",181248,"English","# Purpose of this Guide\n## How to Prepare Decorations\n## Understanding the Icons\n## Why Recommend Someone for a Decoration\n## When to Recommend a Decoration\n## What Are the Commonly Awarded Decorations","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of this guide for CPD personnel?\",\"answer\":\"The guide helps CPD personnel prepare military decorations by providing basic information for commonly awarded unit decorations and clarifying unique CPD and Air University procedures.\"},{\"question\":\"What factors should be considered when recommending an individual for a decoration?\",\"answer\":\"Recommendations should be based on performance and mission contributions, compared with peers of similar grade and position. Decorations are appropriate when contributions are above peers.\"},{\"question\":\"When is it appropriate to recommend a decoration for PCS or PCA?\",\"answer\":\"For PCS, the decoration is tied to the member’s time at the station from arrival until departure. For PCA, the new assignment must be markedly different from the previous one, with a distinct type of work at the new assignment.\"}]","Maxwell-Decorations - Guide Purpose of this Guide | DOC"]