"R" device

United States military award device February 2026 February 2026 "R" Device 'R' Device.png Achievement in remote combat operations United States Armed Forces 100px Ribbon device Currently awarded 2017 3 15 "C" device The "R" Device, or "Remote Impact Device", is a miniature bronze R that may be placed on certain individual awards of the United States Armed Forces to denote remote employment of a weapons systems that has a direct impact on a combat operation. Being established on March 15, 2017, the "R" device is one of the newer military devices.C and R devices https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/C%20and%20R%20devices https://web.archive.org/web/20251019211315/https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/C%20and%20R%20devices 19 October 2025 2025-12-17 www.hrc.army.mil en live The "R" Device replaced the earlier effort by Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta to create the Distinguished Warfare Medal in 2013.Garamone Jim February 14, 2013 Panetta announces Distinguished Warfare Medal https://www.jble.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/257962/panetta-announces-distinguished-warfare-medal/ Joint Base Langley-Eustis The Navy awarded its first "R" devices to two unmanned aerial system (UAS) operators in 2017 from the Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 (VMU-3) based at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.Eckstein Megan 2017-12-18 2 Marine UAV Operators Earn First Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with New 'Remote Impact' Device https://news.usni.org/2017/12/18/marines-earn-first-remote-impact-device 2025-12-17 USNI News en-US The Air Force awarded that service's first "R" devices in 2018 to five airmen from the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.Rempfer Kyle 2018-07-23 Air Force awards first-ever 'R' devices for remote combat ops https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/07/12/air-force-awards-first-ever-r-devices-for-remote-combat-ops/ 2025-12-17 Air Force Times en Criteria Air Force thumb|right|upright=1.25|A Meritorious Service Medal with "R" device The device may be awarded to Airmen who served in the following career fields: remotely piloted aircraft; cyber; space; or intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.Award Devices - Valor "V," Combat "C" and Remote "R" https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1316685/award-devices-valor-v-combat-c-and-remote-r/ https://web.archive.org/web/20250331081940/https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1316685/award-devices-valor-v-combat-c-and-remote-r/ 31 March 2025 2025-12-17 Air Reserve Personnel Center en-US live Pawlyk Oriana 2017-10-31 Air Force Announces Who's Eligible for New 'R' Device https://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/06/24/air-force-announces-whos-eligible-for-new-r-device.html 2025-12-17 Military.com en The "R" device is only authorized for a specific achievement Recognition for direct and immediate impact shall be based on the merit of the individual's actions, the basic criteria of the decoration, and the "R" device criteria The act must have been: performed in a manner significantly above that normally expected and sufficient to distinguish the individual above members performing similar acts A decoration should only be recommended in cases where the event clearly merits special recognition of the action The "R" device may only be placed on the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air and Space Force Commendation Medal and Air and Space Force Achievement Medal. Army The device may be awarded to a soldier when they remotely, but directly, contributed to a combat operation.2017-03-28 New combat-related devices authorized for decorations https://www.army.mil/article/184881/new_combat_related_devices_authorized_for_decorations 2025-12-17 www.army.mil en The "R" device is part of the "commander's program" to give the command discretion to interpret the appropriateness of an award. A qualifying action for the device; the soldier must be:Wayback Machine https://www.hrc.army.mil/wcmt-api/sites/default/wcmtfiles/files/15928_0.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20250303201716/https://www.hrc.army.mil/wcmt-api/sites/default/wcmtfiles/files/15928_0.pdf 3 March 2025 2025-12-17 www.hrc.army.mil live Engaged in military operations against an enemy of the United States; Engaged in military operations involving conflict against an opposing foreign force; or Serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in military operations with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Examples of remote weapons systems include: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) weapon-systems Activities that mitigate or disrupt adversary anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities including cyber Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) operations. The "R" device may only be placed on the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal. Joint Service The device may be awarded to a military service member to recognize hands-on employment of a weapon system or other remote war-fighting system with direct and immediate impact on an operation. A qualifying action for the device; the service member must be:deGrandpre Andrew Panzino Charlsy 2017-03-30 12 military awards now eligible for new 'C' and 'R' devices, and 2 no longer rate a 'V' https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2017/03/30/12-military-awards-now-eligible-for-new-c-and-r-devices-and-2-no-longer-rate-a-v/ 2025-12-17 Military Times en Engaged in military operations against an enemy of the United States; Engaged in military operations involving conflict against an opposing foreign force; or Serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in military operations with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The "R" device can be placed on the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Joint Service Achievement Medal. Navy and Marine Corps The device may be awarded to a sailor or marine to provide distinctive recognition of personnel whose actions deliver significant effects on the enemy, or have direct impact on friendly forces - when the physical location is outside of enemy threats and keeps them from receiving other awards or devices.December 21, 2016 New Devices Authorized for Wear on Certain Military Medals and Ribbons https://www.navy.mil/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Print.aspx?PortalId=1&ModuleId=793&Article=2235039 www.navy.milAugust 21, 2017 Navy Implements Changes to Devices on Awards https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/2252691/navy-implements-changes-to-devices-on-awards/ www.navy.mil Examples of remote weapons systems include: Unmanned aerial vehicle weapon system strikes. Ship-to-shore or surface-to-surface weapon system strikes. Remote piloting of an aircraft providing direct and immediate real-time support vital to the success of forces engaged in combat or other operations. Active cyberwarfare that disrupts the adversary's capabilities or actions. Surface-to-air engagement that disrupts or denies enemy attack on or surveillance of friendly forces. Personally exercising real-time tactical control of a raid or other combat mission from a location not exposed to hostile action. The "R" device may only be placed on the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Appearance The appearance of the "R" device varies when an individual receives it multiple times (per award): +"R" Remote Impact DevicesAF releases criteria for new valor “V”, combat “C” and remote “R” devices https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1226132/af-releases-criteria-for-new-valor-v-combat-c-and-remote-r-devices/ https://web.archive.org/web/20250804184450/https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1226132/af-releases-criteria-for-new-valor-v-combat-c-and-remote-r-devices/ 4 August 2025 2025-12-18 Air Force en-US live center|frameless|107x107pxcenter|frameless|114x114pxcenter|frameless|114x114pxcenter|frameless|126x126pxcenter|frameless|120x120pxcenter|frameless|120x120pxBronze RSilver RGold RBronze R with WreathSilver R with WreathGold R with Wreath1st Award2nd Award3rd Award4th Award5th Award6th Award Authorized awards The awards authorized to receive the device vary by service branch and are noted in each of the above sections. Gallery thumb|upright=1.6|left thumb|upright=2|left thumb|upright=2|left See also United States military award devices References Category:United States military award devices Category:Awards established in 2017 Category:2017 establishments in the United States Category:Articles with quotation marks in the title