Awards and decorations of the Texas Military are medals, ribbons, badges, tabs, trophies, plaques, certificates, memorials, and monuments that recognize service and achievement while serving in the

Texas Military Forces The Texas Military Forces (TXMF) are the principal instrument through which the Texas Military Department (TMD) executes security policy for Texas, which has the second-largest population and border in the United States, and the 9th-largest econ ...

Regulation

The

Texas Military Department The Texas Military Department (TMD) is an executive branch agency of the Texas government. Along with the Texas Department of Public Safety, it is charged with providing the security of Texas, which has the second largest population, border, and ...

medal and ribbon awards are governed by the Texas Government Code (Chapter 437, Subchapter H) and Joint Force Texas Regulation (1-07). Because

existence is authorized under Title 32 of the United States Code, wear and precedence of medals and ribbons on the service uniform and duty uniform is governed by the

United States Department of the Army The United States Department of the Army (DA) is one of the three military departments within the United States Department of Defense, Department of Defense of the U.S. The Department of the Army is the Federal government of the United States ...

Pamphlet regulation 670-1. Because

Texas National Guard The Texas Military Forces (TXMF) are the principal instrument through which the Texas Military Department (TMD) executes security policy for Texas, which has the second-largest population and border in the United States, and the 9th-largest econ ...

service members are also subject to

Title 10 Title 10 of the United States Code outlines the role of armed forces in the United States Code. It provides the legal basis for the roles, missions and organization of each of the services as well as the United States Department of Defense. ...

of the United States Code, they are also authorized to wear and eligible to earn awards, decorations, and badges of the

United States National Guard The National Guard is a state-based military force that becomes part of the reserve components of the United States Army and the United States Air Force when activated for federal missions.United States Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the ...

Texas State Guard The Texas State Guard (TXSG) is part of the state military force of Texas, and one of three branches of the Texas Military Forces. Along with the other two branches, the TXSG falls under the command of the Governor of Texas and is administered by ...

service members who previously earned awards, decorations, and badges of the

are authorized to wear them.

Order of precedence

Because

existence is authorized under Title 32 of the United States Code, precedence of medals and ribbons on the service uniform and duty uniform is governed by the Department of Defense Instruction 1348.33 and

Pamphlet regulation 670-1. Like the United States Armed Forces, Texas Military medals and ribbons are distinctly categorized by general service and achievement ''awards'', and distinguished service and achievement ''decorations'', which is reflected in the order of precedence. General order of precedence: # United States Armed Forces personal decorations # United States Armed Forces unit awards # United States Non-Military (personal) Decorations, to include certain Military Society Decorations and Medals, as outlined in DOD Instr. 1348.33 section 11 (c)(2019), and as defined by 10USC§ 1123, Right to Wear Badges of Military Societies, but only those to wit: 'a society originally composed of men who served in an armed force of the United States during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish–American War, the

Philippine–American War The Philippine–American War or Filipino–American War ( es, Guerra filipina-estadounidense, tl, Digmaang Pilipino–Amerikano), previously referred to as the Philippine Insurrection or the Tagalog Insurgency by the United States, was an arm ...

, or the Chinese Relief Expedition of 1900' (e.g.,

Society of the Cincinnati The Society of the Cincinnati is a fraternal, hereditary society founded in 1783 to commemorate the American Revolutionary War that saw the creation of the United States. Membership is largely restricted to descendants of military officers wh ...

Military Order of Foreign Wars The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States (MOFW) is one of the oldest veterans' and hereditary associations in the nation with a membership that includes officers and their hereditary descendants from all of the Armed Services. Memb ...

Veterans of Foreign Wars The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), formally the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, is an organization of US war veterans, who, as military service members fought in wars, campaigns, and expeditions on foreign land, waters, or a ...

, Army and Navy Union,

Sons of the American Revolution The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR or NSSAR) is an American Congressional charter, congressionally chartered organization, founded in 1889 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Louisville, Kentucky. A non-prof ...

), as well as US Government Agency personal decorations(e.g., DOD civilian medals, Homeland Security, NASA, etc.) (DODI1348.33Sec11c). # United States civilian unit awards # United States Armed Forces campaign and service medals # United States Armed Forces service and training awards # United States Merchant Marine awards and non-military service awards # Foreign military personal decorations # Foreign military unit awards # International service awards # Foreign military service awards # United States Armed Forces marksmanship awards # United States organization awards, and badges of military societies not included in/defined by 10USC1123 and/or formed after that statute, predominantly in the 20th century and later (after 1907) (e.g.,

American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is a non-profit organization of U.S. war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militi ...

). # United States National Guard personal decorations # United States National Guard unit awards # United States National Guard campaign and service medals # United States National Guard service and training awards # Texas Military decorations # Texas Military unit awards # Texas Military campaign and service awards # Texas Military service and training awards

Department level awards

Medals and ribbons

Because

service members are also subject to

of the United States Code, they are also authorized to wear, and eligible to earn, medals and ribbons of the

service members who previously earned medals and ribbons of the

are authorized to wear them. The following is a list of medals and ribbons from the Texas Military. They are distinctly categorized by distinguished service and achievement ''decorations'', and general service and achievement ''awards'', which is reflected by the order of precedence. It is generally stated that decorations are ''conferred'' and awards are ''issued.''

Badges

Because

service members are also subject to

of the United States Code, they are also authorized to wear, and eligible to earn,

Military badges of the United States Military badges of the United States are awards authorized by the United States Armed Forces that signify rating, qualification, or accomplishment in several career fields, and also serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain a ...

service members who previously earned

are authorized to wear them. The following is a list of badges from the Texas Military:

Special Skills

Identification

Tabs

Certificates

*The Texas Adjutant General's Certificate of Commendation **Awarded for outstanding achievement or performance of duty when such action or duty is noteworthy. It may be presented to any member of the

, or to any employee, civilian or military, of the

. It may also be awarded to a unit/detachment of the Texas Military Forces for outstanding administrative or training achievement performance. The certificate will not be awarded for any acts or performance covered by another award, except that awards in conjunction with retirement may cover the entire period(s) of service in the Texas Military Forces or with the Texas Military Department, regardless of any other awards. *The Texas Adjutant General's Certificate of Appreciation **Awarded to any individual, organization, or entity (military or civilian), not a member or part of the Texas National Guard or Texas State Guard, for significant aid, assistance, or support to any part or all of the Texas Military Forces.

Hall of Honor

The Hall of Honor was established by the Texas Military Department in 1980 to "recognize outstanding service and leadership" of

service members operating under state or federal command. As of 2018, it has 120 inductees. It is hosted by the Texas Military Forces Museum at

Camp Mabry Camp Mabry (ICAO: KATT) is a military installation in Austin, Texas, that houses the headquarters of the Texas Military Department, Texas Military Forces, and Texas Military Forces Museum. Established in 1892, Camp Mabry is the third-oldest activ ...

. It is both an exhibit with a digital kiosk that showcases inductee biographies, and an eponymous conference center that may be rented for conventions or banquets. Inductees also receive a trophy, which has varied in type since 1980.

Hall of Fame

The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame was established in 1964 to recognize service members who "significantly contributed to the development of the service or died heroically in the line of duty." As of 2019, it has 31 inductees — 24 of which served under the

. The Texas Rangers were a branch of the

from 1835 to 1935, providing

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

special operations Special operations (S.O.) are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment". Special operations may include ...

, and

military police Military police (MP) are law enforcement agencies connected with, or part of, the military of a state. In wartime operations, the military police may support the main fighting force with force protection, convoy security, screening, rear recon ...

capabilities. Administrative control (ADCON) of the Texas Rangers was transferred from the Texas Military Department to the

Texas Department of Public Safety The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas, commonly known as the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), is a department of the state government of Texas. The DPS is responsible for statewide law enforcement and driver license adminis ...

(DPS) in 1935. Under DPS, the Texas Rangers perform duties similar to the

Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, ...

(FBI) for Texas as a

State Bureau of Investigation A state bureau of investigation (SBI) is a state-level detective agency in the United States. They are plainclothes agencies which usually investigate both criminal and civil cases involving the state and/or multiple jurisdictions. They also typ ...

(SBI).

Texas State Cemetery

The Texas State Cemetery was established by the

Fifth Texas Legislature The Fifth Texas Legislature met from November 7, 1853, to February 13, 1854, in its regular session. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1853. Sessions * 5th Regular session: Nove ...

in 1854 as the burial site for General

Edward Burleson Edward Burleson (December 15, 1798 – December 26, 1851) was the third vice president of the Republic of Texas. After Texas was annexed to the United States, he served in the State Senate. Prior to his government service in Texas, he was a com ...

Austin Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...

. It is considered the " Arlington of Texas." It was extensively expanded after the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

for the burial of 2,000

officers An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...

and their wives. It has expanded over the ensuing years for the burial of "prominent" Texans. It is operated by the

Texas State Preservation Board The State Preservation Board preserves and maintains the Texas Capitol, the 1857 General Land Office BuildingTexas Capitol Visitors Center, and other designated buildings, their contents and grounds; preserves and maintains the Texas Governor's M ...

but remains predominately occupied by Texas military service members.

Other awards

* Texas Meritorious Service Award – presented to civilians, organizations, or non-Texas service members for exceptional service and support to the Texas Military Forces. *President's Volunteer Service Award – Service (volunteered hours) in the Texas Military Forces are eligible for the

President's Volunteer Service Award The President's Volunteer Service Award is a civil award bestowed by the President of the United States. Established by executive order by George W. Bush, the award was established to honor volunteers that give hundreds of hours per year helping ...

, a Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Lifetime

necklet A necklet is a type of decoration which is designed to be worn and displayed around a person's neck, rather than hung (draped) from the chest as is the standard practice for displaying most decorations. In the Middle Ages most order's insignias ...

award.

Branch level awards

Gonzales Cup

The Gonzales Cup is the top award of the Commander's Small Unit Excellence Challenge, an annual, two-day team and individual competition that tests core skills and physical endurance of

service members. It was established in 2013 and its namesake is the

Battle of Gonzales The Battle of Gonzales was the first military engagement of the Texas Revolution. It was fought near Gonzales, Texas, on October 2, 1835, between rebellious Texian settlers and a detachment of Mexican army soldiers. In 1831, Mexican authoriti ...

300 Club

The 300 Club is an unofficial award colloquially referred to by service members who achieve the maximum score of 300 points in the

Army Physical Fitness Test The Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) was designed to test the muscular strength, endurance, and cardiovascular respiratory fitness of soldiers in the United States Army. Soldiers were scored based on their performance in three events consistin ...

. While it is universally recognized among the Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, and Texas State Guard, there is no official list that documents its members. It is generally an esprit de corps tradition at the unit level.

Unit level awards

Unit level awards that may be worn on a service or duty uniform are authorized as a military

tradition A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...

Pamphlet regulation 670-1 at the discretion of the

commanding officer The commanding officer (CO) or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitu ...

Spur Walk (Discontinued)

Spur Walk, also known as Operation Heavy METL, is a 24hr, 18-mile team competition that consists of land navigation, leadership reaction tasks, obstacle course, and mission skills. Service members who earn enough points are awarded silver

spur A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse or other animal to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids (commands) and to back ...

s. It was established in 2008 and its namesake is the Order of the Spur, for which the competition mirrors.

Officer Candidate School (TXSG)

Honor Graduate

The Honor Graduate award, officially the BG Thomas C. Hamilton Distinguished Honor Graduate and formerly the MG Raymond C. Peters Distinguished Honor Graduate, is the top award of the

Officer Candidate School An officer candidate school (OCS) is a military school which trains civilians and Enlisted rank, enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a Commission (document), commission as Commissioned officer, officers in the armed forces of a country. ...

(OCS). It is awarded to graduates of the Officer Candidate Course (OCC) based on their combined Leadership, Academic, Physical Fitness, and Peer Evaluation performance. The award was established in 2003 by COL Mervyn J. Doherty when he established Officer Candidate School. Its first given namesake was the commanding general of the Texas State Guard, MG Raymond C. Peters, in 2009. It was renamed after BG Thomas C. Hamilton in 2014, who redesigned the school in 2010.

Crucible MVP

The Crucible MVP award, officially the Final Field Training Exercise Most Valuable Player Award, is the second highest award of the

(OCS). It is awarded to candidates of the Officer Candidate Course (OCC) final

field training exercise A field training exercise, generally shortened to the acronym "FTX", is a coordinated training exercise conducted by military units for training purposes. These are often military simulations conducted in open areas instead of training faciliti ...

based on their combined Leadership, Academic, and Physical Fitness performance during the exercise. The award was established in 2014 by CPT H. Lee Burton and its namesake is

week 10 A week is a unit of time equal to seven days. It is the standard time period used for short cycles of days in most parts of the world. The days are often used to indicate common work days and rest days, as well as days of worship. Weeks are oft ...

of United States Marine Corps Recruit Training, for which the exercise mirrors.

Other awards

* OCC Leadership Award * OCC Academic Award * OCC Physical Training Award * OCC Crucible Team Award

Command and General Staff College (TXSG)

Honor Graduate

The Honor Graduate award, officially the COL Stephen B. Springer Academic Excellence Award is the top award of the

Command and General Staff College The United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC or, obsolete, USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military ...

. It is awarded to graduates based on their academic performance. The award was established in 2014 by COL Stephen B. Springer when he established the Commander and General Staff College. It was given his namesake in 2015.

Inactive and obsolete awards

#Texas Military Department Awards: #*Texas National Guard: #** Texas National Guard Medal of Merit #** Texas National Guard Mexican War Service Medal #** Texas National Guard Outstanding Service Medal #** Texas National Guard Provost Marshal Section Ribbon #** Texas National Guard State Guard Civil Defense Ribbon #*Texas State Guard: #**Special Operations Tab (for Quick Response Teams, 2009–2014) #**Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon #**Marksmanship Qualification Badge #**Occupational Badges: #***(a) Command and Control (b) Law Enforcement/Security Forces (c) Enlisted Medical (d) Medical Corps (e) Medical Services/Biomedical Sciences (f) Nurse (g) Material Acquisition (h) Chaplain (all denominations) (i) Chaplain Services (j) Communications/Computer Systems (k) Information Management (l) Judge Advocate (m) Logistics (n) Personnel and Manpower Management (o) Operations Support (p) Public Affairs (q) Paralegal (r) Services (s) Supply #Texas State Guard Association awards: #* Texas State Guard Association Medal #* James Bowie Award #* Sam Houston Award #* William Travis Award #* Juan Seguin Award

References

{{Reflist Texas Military Forces Texas Military Department

Regulation

Order of precedence

Department level awards

Medals and ribbons

Badges

Special Skills

Identification

Tabs

Certificates

Hall of Honor

Hall of Fame

Texas State Cemetery

Other awards

Branch level awards

Gonzales Cup

300 Club

Unit level awards

Spur Walk (Discontinued)

Officer Candidate School (TXSG)

Honor Graduate

Crucible MVP

Other awards

Command and General Staff College (TXSG)

Honor Graduate

Inactive and obsolete awards

See also

References