CHAPTER 12. AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

IC 10-16-12
     Chapter 12. Awards and Decorations

IC 10-16-12-1
Establishment of awards and decorations
    
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.
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.
As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.7.

IC 10-16-12-2
Character and design of medals and decorations
    
Sec. 2. The medals and decorations provided for in this chapter must be of a character and design that shall be decided upon and approved by a board of officers of the federally recognized Indiana national guard selected by the adjutant general by order of the governor. The board shall select proper and appropriate designs for medals and ribbons and symbols that reflect the history and traditions of Indiana.
As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.7.

IC 10-16-12-3
Recommendations and applications for awards; rules and procedures
    
Sec. 3. The governor, through the military department, shall publish general orders necessary to:
        (1) carry out this chapter; and
        (2) prepare the rules and procedure by which recommendations or applications shall be made for any of the awards and decorations established under this chapter and for the method and manner of approving the recommendations and applications and the making of awards.
As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.7.