Meritorious Unit Commendation
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The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions.
Each military service issues its own version of the Meritorious Unit Commendation. The United States Army version is typically referred to as the "Meritorious Unit Commendation" while the other military branches use the service name as a prefix (for example Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation). The Meritorious Unit Commendation is abbreviated (and often pronounced) as "MUC".
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Army
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The Army Meritorious Unit Commendation was originally established in 1944 as the "Meritorious Service Unit Plaque". On April 6, 1966, the award was changed to a personal decoration, for wear on a uniform, with the ribbon established as a patch of scarlet worn inside a gold frame. Additional awards are denoted by oak leaf clusters.
Navy and Marine Corps
The Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy on July 17, 1967. It is awarded in the name of the Secretary of the Navy to units of both the U.S. Navy and United States Marines. The Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ranks below the Navy Unit Commendation. Additional awards are denoted by bronze and silver service stars.
Coast Guard
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The Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation was established in November 1973 and is awarded in the name of the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. Additional awards of the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation are denoted by gold award stars. The Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation may also be awarded with the Operational Distinguishing Device.
Air Force
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The Air Force version of the Meritorious Unit Commendation is known as the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award. The award was first created in 2001 and replaced the Outstanding Unit Award as the United States Air Force's equivalent of the Meritorious Unit Commendation. The decoration is awarded in the name of the Secretary of the Air Force and is considered the unit equivalent to the Legion of Merit. The Gallant Unit Citation is considered senior to the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award. Additional awards of the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award are denoted by oak leaf clusters.