Cold War Recognition Certificate
Encyclopedia
The Cold War Recognition Certificate was a recognition certificate awarded by the Secretary of Defense to all U.S. Armed Forces personnel and qualified federal government civilian personnel who faithfully and honorably served the United States anytime during the Cold War
era, which is defined as September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991. Congress established the Cold War certificate in Section 1084 of the fiscal 1998 National Defense Authorization Act
.
Every war fought by the United States, was honored by a medal issued to those members authorized and who displayed honorable service. It is also noteworthy that anyone who had served in the military or the Federal Government during the Cold War would be authorized to receive this certificate. One who worked as a seasonal employee for the US Postal Service would be authorized.
Some of the States, via the National Guard, authorize an award of the Cold War Victory Medal
or a ribbon. The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States
has officially adopted the medal in recognition of those who served during the Cold War. Thus U.S. Armed Forces retirees, veterans and civilian governmental employees who served honorably during the Cold War may augment their certificate by privately purchasing and wearing the medal solely on civilian attire. The recent trend has been that retirees, veterans and civilian governmental employees have purchased the medal and wear it for public holidays, in parades and functions.) In this regard, the precedence of the medal is immediately following the lowest authorized medal. But the medal is not authorized for wear on any U.S. Armed Forces active duty uniform. If a member of the National Guard has been awarded the medal it must be removed from uniform if called to active service, under Title 10 of the United States Code, with other regular components of the U.S. Armed Forces. Once the National Guard member is no longer on active service under Title 10 the medal may be worn on the Guard uniform in their State.
The Department of Defense designated the Department of the Army as the executive agent for the Cold War Recognition Certificate program. The Army has established a home page at https://coldwar.army.mil that explains the correct procedures to request a Cold War Certificate.
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
era, which is defined as September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991. Congress established the Cold War certificate in Section 1084 of the fiscal 1998 National Defense Authorization Act
National Defense Authorization Act
The National Defense Authorization Act is the name of a United States federal law that has been enacted for each of the past 48 fiscal years to specify the budget and expenditures of the United States Department of Defense.-See also:...
.
Every war fought by the United States, was honored by a medal issued to those members authorized and who displayed honorable service. It is also noteworthy that anyone who had served in the military or the Federal Government during the Cold War would be authorized to receive this certificate. One who worked as a seasonal employee for the US Postal Service would be authorized.
Cold War Victory Medal
The Cold War Victory Medal is both an official medal of the National Guard and an unofficial military medal of the United States. It is awarded by the State of Louisiana and in ribbon form only by the State of Alaska...
or a ribbon. The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States
Military Order of Foreign Wars
The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States is one of the oldest veterans' and hereditary associations in the nation with a membership that includes officers and their hereditary descendants from all of the Armed Services...
has officially adopted the medal in recognition of those who served during the Cold War. Thus U.S. Armed Forces retirees, veterans and civilian governmental employees who served honorably during the Cold War may augment their certificate by privately purchasing and wearing the medal solely on civilian attire. The recent trend has been that retirees, veterans and civilian governmental employees have purchased the medal and wear it for public holidays, in parades and functions.) In this regard, the precedence of the medal is immediately following the lowest authorized medal. But the medal is not authorized for wear on any U.S. Armed Forces active duty uniform. If a member of the National Guard has been awarded the medal it must be removed from uniform if called to active service, under Title 10 of the United States Code, with other regular components of the U.S. Armed Forces. Once the National Guard member is no longer on active service under Title 10 the medal may be worn on the Guard uniform in their State.
The Department of Defense designated the Department of the Army as the executive agent for the Cold War Recognition Certificate program. The Army has established a home page at https://coldwar.army.mil that explains the correct procedures to request a Cold War Certificate.