The Air Force Meritorious Unit Award or (MUA) is a mid level unit award of the United States Air Force. Established in 2004, the award recognizes those unit who demonstrate exceptionally meritorious conduct in direct support of combat operations. Eligible service is retroactive to 11 September 2001.
Approved in March 2004 by the Secretary of the Air Force, the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award is awarded in the name of the Secretary to recognize squadrons, groups, or wings for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding achievement or service in direct support of combat operations for at least 90 continuous days during the period of military operations against an armed enemy of the United States on or after 11 September 2001. The recommended unit must display such outstanding devotion and superior performance of exceptionally difficult tasks as to set it apart and above other units with similar missions. The degree of achievement required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Legion of Merit to an individual. Superior performance of the normal mission alone does not justify award of the MUC. Service in a combat zone is not required, but service must be directly related to the combat effort.
The Air Force MUA is worn immediately after the Gallant Unit Citation (GUC) and before the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA). Additional awards of the MUA are denoted by bronze oak leaf clusters.
The Air Force MUA is not awarded to any unit or unit component that was previously awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (AFOEA), or unit awards from other service components for the same act, achievement, or service. The component commander will automatically consider all disapproved Meritorious Unit Awards for the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
