How to Complete AF Form 2224: Air and Space Commendation Medal Nomination

To complete AF Form 2224 for an Air and Space Commendation Medal nomination, you’ll build the package in myDecs Reimagined on the myFSS platform (the paper AF Form 2224 remains available on the Department of the Air Force e-Publishing site for units that still use it), enter the nominee’s data pulled from MilPDS, select the award type and inclusive dates, write a one-page narrative justification, draft a citation in Courier New 11-point under 1,350 characters, and route the completed package through your reviewer to the approval authority.

Before You Start

Confirm three things before opening the form. First, that the member is eligible. Any member of the armed forces serving in any capacity with the Air Force or Space Force may be considered, including members of other services assigned to Air Force units. The typical basis is sustained superior performance over a defined period such as a PCS or deployment, though a single significant achievement or an act of courage that falls short of the voluntary risk of life required for the Airman’s Medal can also qualify.¹ An active Unfavorable Information File or Control Roster action isn’t a categorical bar under DAFI 36-2803, but most commanders treat it as one during the observation period.

Second, that you’re inside the timing window. Recommendations must enter official channels within three years of the end date of the service being recognized, and the award must be approved within five years of that date. Combat-related recommendations should be submitted within 90 days of the act or within 90 days after hostilities end.² For PCS and retirement packages, start several months out so the package has time to clear the chain before the member leaves.

Third, that you know who the approval authority will be. The system asks you to search for and select that person by name early in the workflow, so identify them before you open the form.

Opening the Nomination in myDecs Reimagined

Log into myFSS and select the myDecs Reimagined tile from the dashboard. Click Nominate, then choose Nominate Member. Select the nominee’s branch of service, search by rank and name, and confirm the correct person. The system pulls the nominee’s name, grade, and unit from the Military Personnel Data System, so verify the pre-populated data is accurate and formatted correctly before continuing.³

Selecting the Award, Dates, and Device

From the drop-down menus, select the decoration (Air and Space Commendation Medal), the condition (meritorious service, outstanding achievement, or combat merit), and the inclusive start and end dates for the period being recognized. If the award includes a device, choose it from the devices menu at this stage.³

Two devices matter here. The V device denotes valor: an act of heroism during direct combat with an enemy force, involving personal exposure to hostilities and risk.⁴ The C device recognizes meritorious service or achievement under combat conditions on or after January 7, 2016, where the member was personally exposed to hostile action or under significant risk of it.¹ Presence in a combat zone or an imminent danger pay area alone does not qualify for the C device.

Writing the Narrative Justification

The narrative is the evidence that convinces the approval authority. DAFMAN 36-2806 requires it to fit on a single page of bond paper in narrative, blocked paragraph, or bullet (talking paper) format, with a clear instruction to avoid generalities and excessive superlatives and to present specific examples of what the member did and what resulted.⁵

For each accomplishment, cover three things: what the member did, the scope or difficulty of the task, and the measurable impact. Numbers matter. Sorties generated, dollars saved, people trained, hours of downtime eliminated. “Reduced equipment downtime from 14 percent to 3 percent across a 90-day deployment” outperforms “significantly improved unit readiness” every time.

For combat-related narratives, DAFMAN 36-2806 also requires you to address terrain and weather, enemy conditions, the effect of the member’s actions on the enemy, what others in the area were doing, and whether the act was voluntary.⁵

Formatting the Citation

The citation is a condensed version of the narrative. DAFMAN 36-2806 sets hard formatting requirements, and missing any of them will get the package returned:

Font: Courier New, 11-point only.⁵
Character limit: no more than 1,350 characters.⁵
Margins: top 1 to 1.5 inches, sides 1 to 2 inches, bottom at least 3 inches.⁵
Paper: 8.5 x 11-inch plain bond in portrait orientation, no corrections, no white-outs, no abbreviations.⁵

The opening sentence identifies the member’s grade, name, duty assignment, location, and inclusive dates of the service being recognized. Spell out compound grades like Master Sergeant or Lieutenant Colonel in full the first time, then use the short title in the rest of the citation. The closing sentence personalizes the summation using the member’s name and attributes. For Air National Guard members not on Title 10 tours, the closing must specifically credit both the Air National Guard and the United States Air Force.⁵ Retirement citations may include “long and” before “distinguished service” only when the member served 30 years or more.

In myDecs Reimagined, expand the Certificate Citation section and click the pencil icon to edit. The system enforces the 1,350-character limit and locks the font and margins, which eliminates most of the errors that plague paper submissions.³

Selecting the Approval Authority

The ASCOM approval authority sits lower than many nominators expect. DAFI 36-2803 authorizes these levels to approve the medal, among others:

Squadron commander (military officers only)
Group commander or deputy commander
Wing, Delta, or Garrison commander or deputy commander
NAF, DRU, FOA, or Center commander at O-6 or higher
MAJCOM or FLDCOM commander and their deputies
State Adjutants General for Guard members

MAJCOM and FLDCOM commanders may further delegate ASCOM approval authority in writing to directors and deputy chiefs of staff at the O-6 level or above.² Most packages are approved at the group or wing commander level in practice, but check your unit’s local policy or ask your CSS, because wings differ on how far down they’ve pushed the authority.

Routing, Reviewing, and Tracking

With the citation and narrative complete, you can either route the package for review first or submit it directly to the approval authority. Most nominators route it for review, sending it to a supervisor, section chief, or first sergeant who checks for errors before the commander sees it.³ Upload supporting documents such as performance reports, letters of appreciation, or deployment orders in the Supporting Documents tab before you route.

The myFSS dashboard lets both nominators and reviewers track where the package sits in the approval chain. A straightforward PCS decoration at a stateside wing might clear in two to four weeks; a package that requires MAJCOM-level review or involves a combat device can take considerably longer. Once the approval authority signs, the decoration is entered directly into the member’s official record. No separate personnel action is needed.⁶

Common Mistakes That Get Packages Returned

Mismatched dates are the most frequent reason for a returned package. The inclusive dates on the form must match the citation’s opening sentence and the narrative justification exactly. A one-day discrepancy is enough to send it back.

Wrong grade is the next classic. If the member was promoted during the period of service, the citation should reflect the grade held during the majority of the period, not the current grade.

Formatting errors come next. Times New Roman instead of Courier New, more than 1,350 characters, or any abbreviation in the citation will all trigger a return. The myDecs system catches the character count but won’t stop you from pasting in abbreviated text. Read the citation out loud. If you wrote “MSgt” instead of “Master Sergeant” or “Ops” instead of “Operations,” fix it before you route.

Weak justification is harder to diagnose but just as fatal. A narrative full of broad praise and no specifics gives the approval authority nothing to evaluate. Back every claim with a number, a date, or a named outcome. If you could swap in another airman’s name and the narrative still read correctly for anyone in the same shop, it isn’t specific enough.

If a Decoration Is Denied or Downgraded

When a package is denied or downgraded and you believe the decision was wrong, the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records reviews these cases. The AFBCMR considers applications from current members, former members, and anyone with a proper interest in correcting a military record.⁷ Submit a DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) with evidence supporting your claim that an error or injustice occurred.⁸ The Review Boards Office at Joint Base San Antonio–Randolph is the initial and final point of contact for processing these applications. If the board denies your request and you later obtain new relevant evidence that was not part of the original application, you may submit another DD Form 149 for reconsideration.

1
Air Force’s Personnel Center. Air and Space Commendation Medal
2
Department of the Air Force. DAFI 36-2803 – Military Decorations and Awards Program
3
Air Reserve Personnel Center. myDecs Reimagined PSDG
4
Air Reserve Personnel Center. Award Devices – Valor “V,” Combat “C” and Remote “R”
5
Department of the Air Force. DAFMAN 36-2806 – Military Awards Criteria and Procedures
6
United States Space Force. DAF Streamlines Awards Process
7
Air Force. Air Force Review Boards Agency
8
U.S. Department of War. Request Correction of Military Records