Unit Citations

Awards

1. 

   Presidential Unit Citation (PUC)

   History

   The Distinguished Unit Citation was established as a result of Executive Order No. 9075, dated 26 February 1942. The Executive Order directed the Secretary of War to issue citations in the name of the President of the United States to Army units for outstanding performance of duty after 7 December 1941. The design submitted by the Office of the Quartermaster General was approved by the G1 on 30 May 1942. The Distinguished Unit Citation was redesignated the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) per DF, DCSPER, date 3 November 1966. The Presidential Unit Citation is the highest unit decoration which may be bestowed upon a U.S. Army unit.

   Prerequisites

   The Presidential Unit Citation shall be awarded to any unit of the 3rd Infantry Division for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy by order of the commander. Awarded: 04SEP2016 - Operation Bronze Fire - Soldiers who participated in eighteen (18) to twenty two (22) Combat missions 03JAN2021 - Operation Thin Ice - Soldiers who participated in twenty one (21) to twenty six (26) Combat missions 05DEC2021 - Operation Silver Guardian - Soldiers who participated in seventeen (17) to twenty one (21) Combat missions 04DEC2022 - Operation Blue Giant - Soldiers who participated in fifteen (15) to nineteen (19) Combat missions

2. 

   Valorous Unit Award (VUA)

   History

   As a result of a request from the Commander, USMACV, to expand the scope of the Meritorious Unit Commendation to include acts of valor, a review of the unit awards program was conducted in 1965. The study concluded that a gap existed in the awards program. The Distinguished Unit Citation was awarded for gallantry in action for heroism that would warrant the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual. There was no lesser unit award for heroism. Based on the study, a recommendation was submitted to expand the scope of the Meritorious Unit Commendation to include acts of heroism. The recommendation was disapproved by the DCSPER and in a memorandum to the CSA, dated 7 January 1966, the DCSPER recommended a Valorous Unit Award be adopted to signify unit gallantry in combat to a degree equivalent to that required for award of a Silver Star to an individual. The recommendation with proposed design was approved by the Chief of Staff, Army, on 12 January 1966. The Valorous Unit Award is the second highest unit decoration which may be bestowed upon a U.S. Army unit.

   Prerequisites

   The Valorous Unit Award shall be awarded to any unit of the 3rd Infantry Division which displays extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the United States of America by order of the commander. Awarded: 04SEP2016 - Operation Bronze Fire - Soldiers who participated in nine (9) to seventeen (17) Combat missions 04NOV2018 - Operation Freedom Sentinel - Soldiers who participated in a minimum of one (1) Combat mission out of forty-seven (47) 03JAN2021 - Operation Thin Ice - Soldiers who participated in eleven (11) to twenty (20) Combat missions 05DEC2021 - Operation Silver Guardian - Soldiers who participated in ten (10) to sixteen (16) Combat missions 04DEC2022 - Operation Blue Giant - Soldiers who participated in eight (8) to fourteen (14) Combat missions

3. 

   Army Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC)

   History

   The Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon worn to show award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation is 1 7/16 inches wide and 9/16 inch in height. The Scarlet ribbon is contained within a 1/16 inch wide Gold frame with laurel leaves. The previously issued emblem was a 1 5/8 inch gold, embroidered laurel wreath on a two-inch square Olive Drab cloth. The unit receiving the award must have shown devotion and superior performance of extremely complex tasks that set their unit above and beyond other units under similar circumstances with similar missions.

   Prerequisites

   The Army Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) shall be awarded only to Commissioned Officers and Chief Warrant Officers who have rendered distinguished meritorious service in a position of enormous responsibility whilst serving as an Officer. Awarded at every one (1) year time in service.

4. 

   Army Superior Unit Award (ASUA)

   History

   As part of the Army Cohesion and Stability Study (ARCOST) of 1980, a proposal to adopt the Army Superior Unit Award was forwarded to Major Army Commands (MACOM) for comment on 18 March 1981. This recommendation was based on the fact that present Army unit awards were for combat service only. While all MACOM\ and most of the Army Staff supported the proposal, the leadership elected not to approve the new award. In 1984, the Vice Chief of Staff, Army, directed that a Peacetime Unit Award be developed and submitted for approval. In April 1985, the Secretary of the Army (SECARMY) approved the Army Superior Unit Award for meritorious unit performance of a uniquely difficult and challenging mission under extraordinary circumstances that involved the national interest. As a result of the strict criteria and lack of approving awards, the criteria was changed by SECARMY in July 1986. This change deleted the words "unique" and "national interest". Only one award was approved prior to the revision and it went to the 3d Battalion, 502d Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Nearly 200 of the 248 soldiers that were killed in the plane crash in Gander, Newfoundland, were from the battalion and were on their way home in December 1985 from duty with the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai Desert. The Army Superior Unit Award is the third highest unit decoration which may be bestowed upon a U.S. Army unit.

   Prerequisites

   The Army Superior Unit Award shall be awarded at peacetime to any unit of the Army which displays outstanding meritorious performance of a difficult and challenging mission carried out under extraordinary circumstances as ordered by the commander. Awarded: 04SEP2016 - Operation Bronze Fire - Soldiers who participated in one (1) to eight (8) Combat missions 03JAN2020 - Operation Thin Ice - Soldiers who participated in one (1) to ten (10) Combat missions 05DEC2021 - Operation Silver Guardian - Soldiers who participated in one (1) to nine (9) Combat missions 04DEC2022 - Operation Blue Giant - Soldiers who participated in one (1) to seven (7) Combat missions