Sec. 1. The following awards and decorations are established to be bestowed upon the officers and enlisted persons of the armed forces of Indiana under the conditions and in the manner provided in this article:

(1) An Indiana Distinguished Service Cross shall be awarded to any commissioned officer or enlisted person of the militia, who:

(A) performs, at great personal danger and risk of life or limb in peace or war, any act of heroism designed to protect life or property; or

(B) in the face of a military or armed enemy of the United States government or of the state of Indiana, performs an act over and beyond the call of duty, which act, danger, or risk the officer or enlisted person could have failed to perform or incur without being subject to censure for neglect of duty.

(2) An Indiana Distinguished Service Medal shall be awarded to a commissioned officer or an enlisted person of the militia and other officers, enlisted persons, and civilians, who perform unusually distinguished or meritorious service, that:

(A) to a marked degree is reflected in the increased efficiency of the militia; or

(B) brings exceptional and great honor or credit to the Indiana armed forces and commands the attention and respect of the citizens of Indiana and of the military establishment throughout the United States.

(3) Long Service Medals shall be awarded to officers and enlisted persons for honest and faithful service in the federally recognized Indiana national guard for periods of:

(A) ten (10) years;

(B) fifteen (15) years;

(C) twenty (20) years;

(D) twenty-five (25) years; and

(E) for longer periods.

A symbol shall be worn on the ribbon of each medal, one (1) for each year in addition to the period for which the medal was issued, until the officer or enlisted person is entitled to a medal for the next period for which a different long service medal is issued.

(4) An Indiana national guard commendation medal shall be awarded to any commissioned officer or enlisted person of the militia and other officers, enlisted persons, and civilians, who have distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement or meritorious service. The required meritorious achievement or meritorious service while of lesser degree than that required for the award of the Indiana distinguished service medal must have been accomplished with distinction. The award may be made for acts of outstanding courage that do not meet the requirements for award of the Indiana distinguished service medal. It is particularly desirable that emphasis be placed on the award of this decoration to outstanding company grade officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel whose achievements and service meet the prescribed standards.

(5) An Indiana Emergency Service Ribbon shall be awarded to all currently assigned officers, warrant officers, and enlisted members of the Indiana national guard who have served on state active duty during a state emergency. For purposes of this subdivision, “state emergency” means any emergency for any period declared by the governor or the adjutant general. The Indiana emergency service ribbon shall be awarded to denote honorable state active military duty by members of the Indiana army and air national guard during state emergencies.

(6) Other medals for any war or campaign or mobilization for which a medal has not been awarded by the federal government may be:

(A) established by executive order of the governor; and

(B) awarded to members of any federally recognized military force of the state who participated in the military force.

(7) An Air National Guard First Sergeant Ribbon is authorized for a currently assigned member who serves or has previously served as a first sergeant in the Indiana Air National Guard, if the member meets the criteria set forth in clause (A). A request for an award, including a retroactive award, must be submitted in the manner set forth in clause (B), and meet any other criteria established by the adjutant general. The ribbon shall consist of a plain blue field with a silver diamond device in the center, and no medal shall accompany the award of the ribbon. The ribbon shall be awarded as follows:

(A) In recognition of meritorious service by a member of the Indiana Air National Guard who has served in the first sergeant career field, Special Duty Identifier 8F000, and who meets the following criteria:

(i) Has been assigned to a valid first sergeant position for at least three (3) years.

(ii) Graduated from either the United States Air Force Academy or the Army National Guard First Sergeant Academy.

(B) The individual unit commander of a member of the Indiana Air National Guard who meets the criteria set forth in clause (A) shall submit a letter to the wing commander, recommending the member for the award based upon the member’s contributions, conduct, and demonstrated leadership as a first sergeant. If the wing commander approves, the wing commander shall forward the letter of recommendation to the military personnel flight commanding officer for action. If the wing commander disapproves, the wing commander shall return the letter of recommendation to the unit commander.

(C) The adjutant general shall establish procedures for the award presentation ceremony following accepted practice and miliary tradition.

(8) An Indiana Funeral Honors Ribbon shall be awarded to all members of the Indiana Air National Guard, the Indiana Army National Guard, retired members of the Indiana Air National Guard and Indiana Army National Guard, and members of veterans’ organizations who have been trained and certified by the United States Department of Defense as Department of Defense Funeral Honors participants. The Indiana Funeral Honors Ribbon shall be awarded to denote honorable and distinguished service in the performance of military funerals and similar activities within Indiana.

For the purposes of this article, officers and enlisted persons of the regular army assigned to the armed forces of Indiana as instructors and assistant instructors shall be considered as officers and enlisted persons of the Indiana armed forces.

[Pre-2003 Recodification Citation: 10-2-9-1.]

As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.38-2011, SEC.12; P.L.169-2013, SEC.1.