Why are Airmen overlooked for the Medal of Honor?

I'm not sure I understand the intent of the question. As the article states, "Only the best are considered", but that "best" should be referring to a specific action and response by an individual during that specific action. As another poster states, this is not affirmative action, and it should not be awarded nor suggested to be awarded based on service branch. That devalues both the medal and those who have previously earned it. As far as the why? It's simple math. very few Airmen are involved in combat operations (as compared to the other services, and numbers in general), so statistically, the odds are not in an Airman's favor; That said, of course anyone who merits the medal should be recommended and reviewed.

It's not because they are being "overlooked" it's because current operations do not lend themselves for the majority of USAF personnel to be put into situations where a MOH worthy action is likely to take place (outside of maybe CSAR and PJs). Same reason why Navy folks have a low probability of earning a MOH outside of the SEAL community.

I'm curious when people got this idea that the MOH, or any other award or medal for that matter, should be, or was intended to be awarded with an affirmative action type merit system. Here is the simple answer. Because they haven't done anything their Air Force Commanders have thought merited the MOH.

I have a huge issue on how most medals in the military are issued anyway. Medals are a very inexpensive way to award service members, but military brass seems to think they are paying for them themselves. The regulation says the highest medal that can be awarded for an action should be awarded, so how come the ask how many other medals the member has received, etc. on the recommendation form? It should be immaterial!. Rank shouldn't be an issue either. To many times I have attended a redeployment ceremony where you could see the level of the medal being awarded lined up by rank. It's kind of disgusting if you ask me.

There are also asinine ways to look at the regulation. A perfect example is a medal I was put in for twice by two different people after responding to the Ft Hood Shooting. Everybody else got medals, but mine was denied based upon being flagged as I was being medically retired for an injury I received in Iraq, after 22 years of service. The real kicker for me was that a medical retirement is supposed to take 90 days and mine had already taken over a year as my command sent a letter asking for it to be delayed a year as they needed me. I wouldn't have even been there if they hadn't requested my medical retirement be delayed. Yes, I have some sour grapes over that. For the entire year it was delayed I was flagged.

Another problem with the recommendation process is how recommendations are routinely sent back for corrections. Young NCO's and officers trying to do the right thing for their soldiers are nit picked on the recommendation until they just give up on getting it approved. If the approving authority can read the recommendation and understand what its for they either need to approve it or deny it based upon the action and nothing else.

Spencer, please review history. Many 'airmen' (pilots and crew) have been recipients of the MOH (WWII - Korea, VietNam, etc). If there's an absence of this award - ie: % of Air Force recipients vs other services, it's more than likely due to the type of conflict and the position held rather than any other factor (one would not normally expect to be nominated for the MOH if seated in a support clerical position in the States while others are in full combat forward). BUT - be mindful - there is no race to award this or any other honor based on which service one is assigned to or percentages of haves vs havenots. All such accolades are nominated, not 'earned.' All awards are (or supposed to be) based on individual merit + action(s) taken (and for MOH or lesser similar awards - degree of personal danger encountered (usually in a severe life-threatening situation)) - regardless of conflict. The entire universe of military awards each have their own specific criteria. Also, be aware that awards such at the MOH require a significantly high level of approval all the way up to the President (so they're not handed out like lolipops) and the process itself can take as much as 18 months in both directions (up and down the full CoC).

Researching MOH should give you most of your answers. The Army and Navy have been around about 150 years longer than the Air Force. Ground combat lends itself to many opportunities to display the personal valor required to achieve such a medal. Air support by nature does not offer as many opportunities. It's not a medal that is handed out frequently, they're probably not being overlooked.

Good question. I've seen some gutsy A-10 drivers that I would give the MOH to.

I think the sad but true reality is the Air Force leadership as a whole has had their minds on other things like SAPR problems and draw downs. With all of that going on it's difficult to focus on putting airmen up for awards.

Hopefully Big Blue will start to realize just how many heroes they do have that should be put up for things like the MoH, then maybe those who deserve it will receive their proper recognition.

Sgt Spencer Sikder: if one has been in combat, much less read AARs about different battles, one can easily determine that hundreds of good men have been overlooked for any number of decorations, including the CMOH. These airmen are good examples. I have known my own from the Vietnam War. Oftentimes the only reason these acts of incredible bravery are overlooked is the bureaucracy that results in overflowing in-boxes, or the fact that everyone is, unfortunately, dead.

No MOH's but the pararescue guys have earned some crosses and silver stars.

Marines tend to be the most bereft of medals. And they accept that. They believe that getting in harms way and getting shot at, or shot up, while doing their missions is just part of the job.

Of course, being hit doesn't mean that they like getting dinged. Saving their squad mate is part of the job. To get the CMOH takes something that most probably will take their lives. Not always, but yeah.

Going up close and personal is what the A10s were made to do. The pilots that saved lives did that, because that was their job to do.

I admire the pilots, but were they supposed to say, "I don't get paid to do that," and fly away?

The armed forces is full of brave people. If they all work together, the missions go off better.