Texas Legislative Medal of Honor

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor is the highest state military award. It is awarded by the Governor of Texas upon the passage of a concurrent resolution of the Texas Legislature.

A member of the state or federal military forces of Texas may be considered for this award, including State and National Guardsmen and members of the Texas State Guard Maritime Regiment, as well as Texans who have served in active duty components of the United States armed forces. To be eligible, the service member must have been born or died in Texas, or have been a Texas resident at the time they entered military service.

The award is for service member who “voluntarily performs a deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice involving risk of life that is so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the service member for gallantry and intrepidity above the service member’s comrades. Awarding of the medal shall be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit. The medal may be awarded only on incontestable proof of performance of the deed.”

A recommendation for the award will be submitted to the Adjutant General of Texas, who will determine if the nomination meets the statutory requirements laid out in the Texas Government Code, which requires the recommendation to “give an account of the occurrence and statements of eyewitnesses, extracts from official records, sketches, maps, diagrams, or photographs to support and amplify the stated facts.”

After the legal review, the Adjutant General may submit the recommendation to the nomination committee, where it may be considered only during a Regular Session of the Texas Legislature.

The nomination committee consists of the following state officials:

• The Adjutant General (or designee)
• Lieutenant Governor (or designee)
• Speaker of the House (or designee)
• Chairs of the standing committees of the House and Senate with primary jurisdiction over military and veterans affairs

Additionally, the nomination committee may require a legislative sponsor for a recommendation to be considered. The chairs of the standing committees of the House and Senate with primary jurisdiction over military and veterans affairs will establish recommendation deadlines for each legislative session.

If the recommendation does not meet the standards for awarding the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor, the Adjutant General may determine it meets a lesser threshold for a different state award and may recommend the awarding of the Lone Star Medal of Valor or an award commensurate with the deed performed.

Do you know someone who should be considered for the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor? Please download the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor/Lone Star Medal of Valor Recommendation Datasheet and email the required and supporting documents.

You may also mail the recommendation to the following:

Lone Star Medal of Valor

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Lone Star Medal of Valor is the second highest state military award. It is awarded by the Governor of Texas upon the recommendation of the Adjutant General of Texas.

The award is for a service member of Texas, another state, or the United States “who performs specific acts of bravery or outstanding courage, or who performs within an exceptionally short period a closely related series of heroic acts, if the acts involve personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life and result in an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding as to clearly set the person apart from the person's comrades or from other persons in similar circumstances. Awarding of the medal requires a lesser degree of gallantry than awarding of the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor, but requires that the acts be performed with marked distinction.”

A recommendation for the award will be submitted to the Adjutant General of Texas, who will determine if the nomination meets the statutory requirements laid out in the Texas Government Code, which requires the recommendation to “give an account of the occurrence and statements of eyewitnesses, extracts from official records, sketches, maps, diagrams, or photographs to support and amplify the stated facts.”

After the legal review, the Adjutant General may determine a case has been made to recommend to the Governor to award of the Lone Star Medal of Valor.

If the recommendation does not meet the standards for awarding the Lone Star Medal of Valor, the Adjutant General may determine it meets a lesser threshold for a different state award commensurate with the deed performed.

Do you know someone who should be considered for the Lone Star Medal of Valor? Please download the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor/Lone Star Medal of Valor Recommendation Datasheet and email the required and supporting documents.

You may also mail the recommendation to the following:

Texas Purple Heart Medal

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Texas Purple Heart Medal is available for those who, after September 11, 2001, were inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard and meets the criteria for an award of the federal Purple Heart Medal, or were killed or wounded at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009.

Texas Superior Service Medal

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Texas Superior Service Medal is awarded to: a service member of the Texas military forces who has: completed 30 or more years of honorable state service or a combination of state and federal service; and continually demonstrated superior performance and service while assigned to key leadership positions demanding responsibility; or a civilian who has contributed significant service to the Texas military forces.

Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to a member of the military forces of this state, another state, or the United States for exceptionally outstanding achievement or service to this state in performance of a duty of great responsibility while serving with the Texas military forces for whom the department receives a letter of recommendation for award of the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal that: gives an account of the exceptional achievement or service; and includes facts and photographs, and extracts from official documents to support and amplify the facts.

Texas Outstanding Service Medal

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Texas Outstanding Service Medal is awarded to a service member of the military forces of this state, another state, or the United States who has performed service in a superior and clearly outstanding manner.

Texas Medal of Merit

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Texas Medal of Merit is awarded to a member of the military forces of this state, another state, or the United States who performs outstanding service or attains extraordinary achievement in behalf of the state or United States.

Adjutant General’s Individual Award

Governed by Joint Force Texas (JFTX) Regulation 1-07, State Military Awards (dated Aug. 1, 2009), the Adjutant General’s Individual Award is awarded to members of the Texas military forces who, while serving in any capacity with the Texas military forces, shall have distinguished himself/herself by meritorious achievement or outstanding service, when such action or duty is extremely noteworthy but of a lesser degree than that required for award of a higher State of Texas decoration.

Meritorious Service Ribbon

The Texas State Guard Meritorious Service Ribbon is awarded to any member of the Texas State Guard, who while serving in any capacity shall distinguish themselves by meritorious service or achievement but of a lesser degree than that required for the Adjutant General's Individual Award. However, the service or achievement shall be such that it clearly sets them above their peers and above what is to be normally expected. Successive awards are identified by an oak-leaf cluster device.

Commanding General's Individual Award

This Award may be given to any member of the Texas State Guard by the Commanding General at any Texas State Guard function or activity for exceptional performance. The ribbon may be awarded by the Commanding general as a "pocket award" or through recommendation by unit commanders. Subsequent awards are identified by the use of oak-leaf clusters.

Texas State Guard Recruiting Ribbon

Per JFTX Reg 1-07, page 60:

c. Texas State Guard Recruiting Ribbon. The Texas State Guard Recruiting Ribbon can be awarded to any member of the Texas State Guard who recruits at least five individuals who are active members for six or more months. Subsequent awards will be denoted by a bronze oak leaf cluster for each additional 10 recruits. A silver oak leaf cluster will be worn in lieu of five bronze oak leaf clusters and is worn to the wearer’s right of a bronze oak leaf cluster.

Federal Service Medal

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Federal Service Medal is awarded to a service member who was inducted into federal service from the Texas military forces between June 15, 1940, and January 1, 1946, or after June 1, 1950, if the service was for more than 90 days.

Texas Cold War Medal

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Texas Cold War Medal is available for Texans who entered military service between Sept. 2, 1945 and Dec. 26, 1991.

If you are eligible for, and are interested in purchasing, the Texas Cold War Medal please download the submission form and mail it with the required fee to the following:

If you have any additional questions, you may email the State Awards Boards Section.

Texas Desert Shield/Desert Storm Campaign Medal

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Texas Desert Shield/Desert Storm Campaign Medal is awarded to those who were inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard after August 1, 1990, in support of Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm, without regard to the place that the service member was deployed while serving on active federal military duty.

Texas Iraqi Campaign Medal

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Texas Iraqi Campaign Medal is awarded to those who were inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard, without regard to the place that the service member was deployed while serving on active federal military duty, after: March 19, 2003, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, or August 31, 2010, in support of Operation New Dawn.

Texas Afghanistan Campaign Medal

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Texas Outstanding Service Medal is available for those who were inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard after October 6, 2001, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, without regard to the place that the service member was deployed while serving on active federal military duty.

Texas Humanitarian Service Medal

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Texas Humanitarian Service Medal is awarded to a service member who: does not meet the criteria for an award of the federal Humanitarian Service Medal; is a member of the Texas military forces; and while serving on state active duty or active duty under state authority in accordance with Title 32, United States Code, participates satisfactorily in defense support to a mission under civilian authority to protect life or property during or soon after a natural disaster or civil unrest in the state.

Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal is awarded to a service member of the Texas military forces who served: on or after September 11, 2001; on state active duty or active duty under state authority in accordance with Title 32, United States Code; and satisfactorily in defense support to a mission in the state under civilian authority.

Texas Combat Service Ribbon

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Texas Combat Service Ribbon is awarded to a service member of the Texas National Guard who served, after September 11, 2001, in a hostile fire zone as designated by the United States Secretary of Defense.

Texas Cavalry Service Medal

Created by Senate Bill 955 of the 79th Texas Legislature (2005), the Texas Cavalry Service Medal was awarded to those who: served on or after September 11, 2001, in the 124th Cavalry, Texas Army National Guard; and served in a hostile fire zone as designated by the United States Secretary of Defense.

Texas Faithful Service Medal

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Texas Faithful Service Medal is awarded to a member of the Texas military forces who has completed five years of honorable service during which the service member has shown fidelity to duty, efficient service, and great loyalty to this state.

Texas State Guard Service Medal

Governed by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 437 (Texas Military), Subchapter H. (Awards), the Texas State Guard Service Medal is awarded to those who complete three consecutive years of honorable service in the Texas State Guard during which the service member has shown fidelity to duty, efficient service, and great loyalty to this state.

Officer Professional Development Ribbon

The Officer Professional Development Ribbon is awarded to members of the Texas State Guard Officer Corps upon successful completion of prescribed Officer Academy, approved university, college, ROTC, and other approved Courses of study which clearly contribute to the professional development of the officer. This ribbon will be awarded to officers who have completed Federal or State Command and staff Training. This ribbon may be awarded to officers engaged in the TSG education and training program for course and program development and/or instructing in the program for a prescribed number of courses/hours.

OPME Ribbon with 7 FEMA Courses

The OPME Ribbon with 5 FEMA Courses is awarded to members of the Texas State Guard Officer Corps upon successful completion of the Officer Professional Military Education Ribbon and an additional five (7) FEMA Courses.

NCO Professional Development Ribbon

The NCO Professional Development Ribbon is awarded to members of the Texas State Guard upon successful completion of prescribed NCO Basic Course, approved university, college, ROTC, and other approved Courses of study which clearly contribute to the professional development of the soldier. This ribbon may also be awarded for approved developmental courses provided by other military services or Federal or State government agencies.

NCO PD Ribbon with 7 FEMA Courses

The NCO PD Ribbon with 7 FEMA Courses is awarded to members of the Texas State Guard Officer Corps upon successful completion of the NCO Professional Development Ribbon and an additional five (5) FEMA Courses.

Enlisted Personnel Basic Training (BOT) Ribbon

This ribbon is awarded upon certification of completion of Basic Training.

Physical Fitness Ribbon

The Texas State guard Physical Fitness Ribbon will be awarded to any member of the Texas State Guard who demonstrates above average physical ability. The requirement for the award is as follows: (1) Successfully complete a two mile run or swim based upon an individual's age and gender group, and (2) Perform the required amount of push-ups and sit-ups as required by age and gender groups.

Texas Governor’s Unit Citation

Governed by Joint Force Texas (JFTX) Regulation 1-07, State Military Awards (dated Aug. 1, 2009), the Governor’s Unit Citation is authorized for units and/or organizational detachments of the Texas military forces for extraordinary valor or exceptionally meritorious conduct or achievement in the performance of outstanding combat operations, combat support or service support operations or activities, for at least 90 continuous days in support of military operations while in active military status, Title 10 or Title 32, within the Continental United States (CONUS) or Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS).

Meritorious Unit Award

Unit Award - worn on right pocket only

Organizational Excellence Award

Unit Award - worn on right pocket only

Texas State Guard Association

State Guard Association of the United States

Guard Association or the State Guard Association of the United States. Wear of these ribbons are authorized, but are junior in precedence to all State or Federal Awards.

State Guard Association of the United States

Unit Awards - worn on right pocket only

SGAUS Superior Unit Citation

State Guard Association of the United States Ribbons - Personal Decorations for Valor and Service

Distinguished Service Ribbons

Meritorious Service Ribbon

Commendation Ribbon

Achievement Ribbon

Service Ribbon