Silver Star

Silver Star Medal
Silver Star Medal
Type	Personal Valor Decoration
Awarded for	Gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States
Presented by	United States Department of the Army; United States Department of the Navy; United States Department of the Air Force; United States Department of Homeland Security;
Eligibility	United States Armed Forces personnel, foreign allied personnel and civilians serving alongside U.S. military personnel in combat
Status	Currently awarded
Established	9 July 1932: Army Citation Star (SS) (Retroactive to 15 April 1861); 19 July 1942: Silver Star Medal; 7 August 1942: Navy, SSM (Retroactive to 6 December 1942); 16 December 1942: Army, SS (Retroactive to 6 December 1941);
First awarded	August 1932 (WWI Army Silver Star conversion)
	Service ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher)	Army: Distinguished Service Medal (Army) ; Naval Service: Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Air and Space Forces: Distinguished Service Medal (Air and Space Forces) ; Coast Guard: Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Next (lower)	Defense Superior Service Medal

The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.

^ "Army Regulation 600–8–22: Military Awards" (PDF). Department of the Army. 11 January 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ "SecNav Instruction 1650.1H: Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual" (PDF). Department of the Navy. 18 September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ "Air Force Guidance Memorandum for Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program" (PDF). Department of the Air Force. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
^ "Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual" (PDF). Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved 4 August 2018.

[1] "Army Regulation 600–8–22: Military Awards" (PDF). Department of the Army. 11 January 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.

[2] "SecNav Instruction 1650.1H: Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual" (PDF). Department of the Navy. 18 September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2018.

[3] "Air Force Guidance Memorandum for Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program" (PDF). Department of the Air Force. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.

[4] "Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual" (PDF). Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved 4 August 2018.

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