§9276. Silver star: award

The President may award a silver star of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force or the Space Force, is cited for gallantry in action that does not warrant a medal of honor or Air Force cross-

(1) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

(2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or

(3) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 541 , §8746; Pub. L. 88–77, §3(3), July 25, 1963, 77 Stat. 95 ; renumbered §9276, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §806(b)(11), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1833 ; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, §923(c)(12)(A)(iv), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3811 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
8746	10:1412.	July 9, 1918, ch. 143 (words after 2d semicolon of 12th par. under "Ordnance Department"); restated Jan. 24, 1920, ch. 55, §1 (last sentence); restated Dec. 15, 1942, ch. 736, 56 Stat. 1052 .

The words "may award" are inserted to conform to other sections of this chapter. The words "if the person earned" are inserted for clarity. The words "commanded by" are omitted as surplusage.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021-Pub. L. 116–283 inserted "or the Space Force" after "the Air Force" in introductory provisions.

2018-Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 8746 of this title as this section.

1963-Pub. L. 88–77 substituted provisions permitting the issuance of a silver star for gallantry while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party, and requiring it to be of appropriate design, for provisions which authorized the issuance of the silver star for gallantry in action and which required that the silver star be three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter, the citation thereof be published in orders issued from the headquarters of a force that is the appropriate command of a general officer, and that it be worn as directed by the President.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.