{{Short description|United States military award device}} {{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox award | name = "C" Device | caption = Bronze "C" device | type = Ribbon device | awarded_for = Meritorious service or achievement in a combat environment. | presenter = [[United States Armed Forces]] | status = Currently awarded | established = {{start date|2017|3|15}} | lower = [["R" device]] | image = [[File:'C' Device.png|100px]] | higher = [["V" device]] }}
The '''"C" Device''', or '''"Combat Device"''', is a miniature bronze C that may be placed on certain individual awards of the [[United States Armed Forces]] to denote meritorious service or achievement while in combat. Being established on March 15, 2017, the "C" device is one of the newer [[United States military award devices|military devices]].<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |title=C and R Devices |url=https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/C%20and%20R%20devices |access-date=2023-07-07 |publisher=U.S. Army Human Resources Command |date=8 November 2023}}</ref>
== Criteria == In order to receive the "C" device, a soldier must have done at least one of the following:
# Engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; # Engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or # Served with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.<ref name="auto">[https://snagfilms-a.akamaihd.net/a7/d3/aadc667d406180218895d103e505/milper-message-17-095.pdf "Implementation of Department of Defense Guidance for the Newly Established 'C' and 'R' Devices"]. akamaihd.net.</ref>
The awarding of this device is retroactive to 7 January 2016.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto1"/>
== Appearance == The appearance of the "C" device varies when an individual receives it multiple times (per award): {| class="wikitable" |+ ! colspan="6" |"C" Combat Devices<ref>{{Cite news |title=AF releases criteria for new valor “V”, combat “C” and remote “R” devices |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1226132/af-releases-criteria-for-new-valor-v-combat-c-and-remote-r-devices/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250804184450/https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1226132/af-releases-criteria-for-new-valor-v-combat-c-and-remote-r-devices/ |archive-date=2025-08-04 |access-date=2025-12-18 |work=Air Force |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |[[File:Ribbon Device C Bronze.png|center|127x127px]] |[[File:Ribbon Device C Silver.png|center|128x128px]] |[[File:Ribbon Device C Gold.png|center|113x113px]] |[[File:Ribbon Device C Bronze w Wreath.png|center|120x120px]] |[[File:Ribbon Device C Silver w Wreath.png|center|123x123px]] |[[File:Ribbon Device C Gold w Wreath.png|center|122x122px]] |- |{{Center|Bronze C}} |{{Center|Silver C}} |{{Center|Gold C}} |{{Center|Bronze C with Wreath}} |{{Center|Silver C with Wreath}} |{{Center|Gold C with Wreath}} |- |{{Center|1st Award}} |{{Center|2nd Award}} |{{Center|3rd Award}} |{{Center|4th Award}} |{{Center|5th Award}} |{{Center|6th Award}} |}
== Authorized awards == [[File:Funk II TRADOC.jpg|thumb|right|upright=.8|General [[Paul E. Funk II]] in 2019 wearing a [[Distinguished Service Medal|Distinguished Service]] ribbon (top row) with "C" device.]]
The awards authorized to receive the device are, in order of precedence, as follows:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Panzino |first=Charlsy |date=9 April 2017 |title=Soldiers may be eligible for the new 'C' or 'R' devices on 12 awards. Here's how to apply. |url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2017/04/09/soldiers-may-be-eligible-for-the-new-c-or-r-devices-on-12-awards-here-s-how-to-apply/ |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=Army Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Defense Superior Service Medal |url=https://www.afpc.af.mil/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/421881/defense-superior-service-medal/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251111143524/https://www.afpc.af.mil/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/421881/defense-superior-service-medal/ |archive-date=2025-11-11 |access-date=2026-01-02 |work=Air Force's Personnel Center |language=en-US}}</ref>
# [[Distinguished Service Medal]] (Defense, Air & Space, Army and Navy & Marine Corps) # [[Defense Superior Service Medal]] # [[Legion of Merit]] # [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] # [[Air Medal]] # [[Commendation Medal]] (Joint, Army, Navy & Marine Corps, Air & Space and Coast Guard) # [[Achievement Medal]] (Joint, Army, Navy & Marine Corps, Air & Space and Coast Guard) {{clear}} ===Gallery=== [[File:Medals with C Device 1.png|thumb|upright=3|left]] [[File:Medals with C Device 2.png|thumb|upright=2|left]] [[File:Medals with C Device 3.png|thumb|upright=2|left]] {{clear}} == See also ==
* [[United States military award devices]]
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:C device}} [[Category:United States military award devices]] [[Category:Awards established in 2017]] [[Category:2017 establishments in the United States]] [[Category:Articles with quotation marks in the title]]