"A" Device
The "A" Device is a miniature bronze 1⁄4 inch letter "A" which comes with and without serifs, that is authorized for wear by the United States Armed Forces as a medal and ribbon device for two military awards. It is added to overseas service ribbons to indicate the theatre of action.
The Arctic "A" Device (with
The Atlantic "A" Device (without serifs), if authorized, may be attached to the center of the suspension and
History
The "A" Device is only authorized for the currently in use Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Short Tour, and the American Defense Service Medal which is no longer in use. The two representations of the "A" device are different. The Arctic Device has serifs while the Atlantic Device ("Axis Device") does not have "feet" (sans-serif).
Atlantic Device (World War II)
The American Defense Service Medal was the first military award to use the "A" device which was named the "Atlantic Device" (sometimes was referred to as the "Axis Device"). The "A" device was authorized for wear (in lieu of a 3⁄16 inch
Arctic Device (USAF)
The "A" device became obsolete after the Second World War and did not appear again until the year 2002 (authorized on February 10, 2002). At that time, the United States Air Force declared that the "A" device, now known as the "Arctic Device", would be authorized for wear for those who had received the Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Short Tour, for tours of duty north of the Arctic Circle.[3]
As of February 8, 2007, only those airmen and guardians who were assigned to Pituffik Space Base (north-west Greenland) qualify for the "A" (Arctic) device. Although portions of Alaska are within the Arctic Circle, there are no American military bases within that region. The "A" is worn on the center of the ribbon except when worn with oak leaf clusters. Whenever oak leaf clusters are authorized for wear on the ribbon, the "A" is placed to the wearer's right of the oak leaf clusters on the ribbon.[4] Only one "A" device may be worn on the ribbon.
See also
References
- ^ Atlantic "A" Device for American Defense Service Medal - Eligibility Archived August 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Naval Historical Center. Accessed 4 January 2013.
- ^ Air Force Recognition Programs > About Devices, Air Force Personnel Public Web Services. Accessed 4 January 2013.
- ^ "Factsheets : Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Short Tour". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03.