Military and civilian awards of the USA. The highest award of the USA

Each state has a number of awards, which encourage citizens of this country. The US is not an exception, in this country, a certain award system has been developed, which we will consider today. Of particular interest to us is the highest award of the United States, which has been leading its history since the Civil War.

The award system of the USA

Historically, the US state awards system is built around military awards. Civilians can receive awards from various funds, organizations and companies. The state rarely includes its citizens in the list of individuals who receive awards for their contribution to America's peaceful life.

This fact distinguishes the United States from many other countries, where the award system is more oriented toward ordinary citizens. All awards are not divided into orders and medals. They make up a structure that has division only according to the internal hierarchical system.

Military awards

In addition to American soldiers, foreign citizens can also be awarded the state award of America, especially those who showed themselves in military actions aimed at the welfare of the country. In the history of the state's existence, there were no more than three such cases.

All US military awards can be divided according to the characteristics of the body that decides on submission to the award, to the following categories:

• Federal;
• By types of armed forces.

Naturally, in the hierarchy of awards, federal insignia are more significant. In addition, all awards can be conditionally divided into:

• Personal;
• Collective.

Personal awards are given to the serviceman for personal services to the country, he is the only representative of his unit that has such encouragement. Collective awards are worn by all military units, as they are the property of the whole unit as a whole.

It is interesting that in cases where an American soldier is awarded several times with the same insignia, he wears only one award, and a number of stripes with a number are located next. It indicates the amount of rewards.

If a soldier has several different military awards, then they should be placed according to precedence:

• Personal;
• Collective;
• Awards related to certain campaigns;
• Foreign.

The highest award of the United States is the most important and significant in the hierarchy. I want to tell you more about it.

Medal of Honor: the highest award of the United States

It is not only the highest possible, but also the very first award of this level in the history of the state. Now it is awarded to servicemen who, during the performance of combat missions, managed to exceed their debt considerably. Their actions are classified as heroic.

For the first time the issue of creating awards rose during the War of Independence. During this period, there was a need to encourage soldiers who distinguished themselves in combat. In addition, the creation of the first award would indicate that the English colony acquires the status of a separate state with its own heraldry and award system.

But right up until the Civil War of the sixties of the nineteenth century, the awards were limited to a small badge. The original version of the Medal of Honor provided for the awarding of only the navy's servicemen. Two years later, a draft award for the Army was developed. The US government planned to award this distinction only for participation in the battles of the Civil War, but in the future the medal was transferred to the status of the highest state. The highest award of the United States at the moment has several design options, depending on the kind of troops to which it will be intended.

Due to its characteristic, providing incredible heroism, more than half of the soldiers presented to the award had the status "posthumously". The medal is a gold star with the head of the Minevra, it is attached to a blue ribbon decorated with silver stars.

Medal "Purple Heart" (US award)

There are awards in the system of this state, of which all Americans have a common opinion. "Purple Heart" - a reward that appeared during the war for independence. Designed and developed by George Washington, honoring this insignia of three officers.

In wartime, the medal was a piece of purple color that was sewn onto the uniform of a soldier. But after the end of the war, this award was forgotten for more than a hundred years. Only in the thirties of the last century they returned to it and developed a new design. Now the medal looks like a bronze heart with a Washington profile, attached to a purple ribbon.

"Purple Heart" is awarded posthumously or after a serious injury in combat.

Civil awards

To the highest and almost the only state civil awards of America is the Gold Medal of the US Congress. It was invented by George Washington in 1776 and was a military award. But already in the second half of the nineteenth century it became civilian. Now she is handed for special services to the people of the United States.

In parallel with this award, there is the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is handed personally to the President and is a recognition of the merits in the field of security and the maintenance of peace throughout the world. It is also considered the highest reward.