US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

10 U.S.C. § 9281

Service medals: issue; replacement; availability of appropriations

(a)
The Secretary of the Air Force shall procure, and issue without charge to any person entitled thereto, any service medal authorized for members of the Air Force or the Space Force after , and any ribbon, clasp, star, or similar device prescribed as a part of that medal.
(b)
Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, any medal or other device issued under subsection (a) that is lost, destroyed, or becomes unfit for use without fault or neglect of the owner, may be replaced at cost. However, if the owner is a member of the Air Force or the Space Force, the medal or device may be replaced without charge.
(c)
The Secretary may spend, from any appropriation for the support of the Air Force or the Space Force, amounts necessary to provide medals and devices under this section.

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 542Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 806(b)(11)132 Stat. 1833Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 923(c)(12)(A)(v)134 Stat. 3811(, , § 8751; renumbered § 9281, , , ; amended , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

8751(a)

 

 

 

8751(b)

 

 

8751(c)

10:1415a (less 21st through 30th words, and less clauses (a) through (n)).

10:1415b (less applicability to 10:1415a (clauses (a) through (n))).

10:1415c (less applicability to 10:1415a (clauses (a) through (n))).

May 12, 1928, ch. 528, §§ 1 (less 25th through 34th words, and less clauses (a) through (n)), 2 (less applicability to § 1 (clauses (a) through (n))), 3 (less applicability to § 1 (clauses (a) through (n))), 45 Stat. 500.

5 U.S.C. 626c(e)In subsection (a), the words “authorized for members of the Air Force after ” are substituted for the words “hereafter authorized”, since, under Transfer Order 1, that date was the effective date of the transfer of personnel from the Army to the Air Force under section 208(e) of the National Security Act of 1947, as amended (). 10:1415a (proviso) is omitted as surplusage, since the revised section is not limited to persons who are members of the Air Force at the time of the issue.

In subsection (b), the words “member of the Air Force” are substituted for the words “persons in the military service of the United States”.

In subsection (c), the last 16 words are substituted for 10:1415c (last 16 words).

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–2832021— inserted “or the Space Force” after “the Air Force” wherever appearing after the first appearance.

Pub. L. 115–232section 8751 of this title2018— renumbered as this section.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–232section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232section 3001 of this titleAmendment by effective , with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see , set out as a note preceding .