Airman's Medal
The Airman’s Medal (AmnM) is a military award and decoration of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force to distinguish themselves by heroism involving voluntary risk of their life not involving actual combat with an armed enemy of the United States. The medal was established on 6 July 1960 and is awarded to those service members or those of a friendly nation who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Air Force or U.S. Space Force. The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger. The Airman’s Medal was authorized on  10 August 1956 to replace the U.S. Army's Soldier's Medal which had also been awarded to qualifying Air Force personnel since 26 September 1947. According to Air Force Instruction 36-2803, The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Personnel Council approves or disapproves recommendations for Airman's Medals requiring Secretary of the Air Force final approval and determines upon approval, entitlement to 10 percent increase in retirement pay for the Airman's Medal when awarded to enlisted members for extraordinary heroism. The Airman's Medal is equivalent to the Army's Soldier's Medal, the Navy  and Marine Corps Medal, and the Coast Guard Medal. Additional awards of the Airman's Medal are denoted by oak leaf clusters. The first recipient of the Airman's Medal was Captain John Burger, U.S. Air Force, who was awarded the medal at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, on 21 July 1960, for heroism performed on 9 September 1959.