"R" device

{{Short description|United States military award device}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{use dmy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox award | name = "R" Device | image = 'R' Device.png | awarded_for = Achievement in remote combat operations | sponsor = [[United States Armed Forces]] | image_size = 100px | type = Ribbon device | status = Currently awarded | established = {{start date|2017|3|15}} | higher = [["C" device]] }}

The '''"R" Device''', or '''"Remote Impact Device"''', is a miniature bronze R that may be placed on certain individual awards of the [[United States Armed Forces]] to denote remote employment of a weapons systems that has a direct impact on a combat operation. Being established on March 15, 2017, the "R" device is one of the newer [[United States military award devices|military devices]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=C and R devices |url=https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/C%20and%20R%20devices |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251019211315/https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/C%20and%20R%20devices |archive-date=2025-10-19 |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=www.hrc.army.mil |language=en}}</ref> The "R" Device replaced the earlier effort by [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[Leon Panetta|Leon E. Panetta]] to create the [[Distinguished Warfare Medal]] in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garamone |first=Jim |date=February 14, 2013 |title=Panetta announces Distinguished Warfare Medal |url=https://www.jble.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/257962/panetta-announces-distinguished-warfare-medal/ |website=Joint Base Langley-Eustis}}</ref>

The Navy awarded its first "R" devices to two unmanned aerial system (UAS) operators in 2017 from the [[Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3]] (VMU-3) based at [[Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay]], Hawaii.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eckstein |first=Megan |date=2017-12-18 |title=2 Marine UAV Operators Earn First Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with New 'Remote Impact' Device |url=https://news.usni.org/2017/12/18/marines-earn-first-remote-impact-device |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=USNI News |language=en-US}}</ref> The Air Force awarded that service's first "R" devices in 2018 to five airmen from the [[432nd Air Expeditionary Wing]] at [[Creech Air Force Base]], Nevada.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rempfer |first=Kyle |date=2018-07-23 |title=Air Force awards first-ever 'R' devices for remote combat ops |url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/07/12/air-force-awards-first-ever-r-devices-for-remote-combat-ops/ |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=Air Force Times |language=en}}</ref>

The device may be awarded to Airmen who served in the following career fields: remotely piloted aircraft; cyber; space; or intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Award Devices - Valor "V," Combat "C" and Remote "R" |url=https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1316685/award-devices-valor-v-combat-c-and-remote-r/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250331081940/https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1316685/award-devices-valor-v-combat-c-and-remote-r/ |archive-date=2025-03-31 |access-date=2025-12-17 |work=Air Reserve Personnel Center |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pawlyk |first=Oriana |date=2017-10-31 |title=Air Force Announces Who's Eligible for New 'R' Device |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/06/24/air-force-announces-whos-eligible-for-new-r-device.html |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=Military.com |language=en}}</ref>

* The "R" device is only authorized for a specific achievement * Recognition for direct and immediate impact shall be based on the merit of the individual's actions, the basic criteria of the decoration, and the "R" device criteria * The act must have been: performed in a manner significantly above that normally expected and sufficient to distinguish the individual above members performing similar acts * A decoration should only be recommended in cases where the event clearly merits special recognition of the action

The "R" device may only be placed on the [[Legion of Merit]], [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]], [[Air Force Commendation Medal|Air and Space Force Commendation Medal]] and [[Air Force Achievement Medal|Air and Space Force Achievement Medal]].

=== Army === The device may be awarded to a soldier when they remotely, but directly, contributed to a combat operation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-28 |title=New combat-related devices authorized for decorations |url=https://www.army.mil/article/184881/new_combat_related_devices_authorized_for_decorations |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=www.army.mil |language=en}}</ref> The "R" device is part of the "commander's program" to give the command discretion to interpret the appropriateness of an award.

A qualifying action for the device; the soldier must be:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Wayback Machine |url=https://www.hrc.army.mil/wcmt-api/sites/default/wcmtfiles/files/15928_0.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250303201716/https://www.hrc.army.mil/wcmt-api/sites/default/wcmtfiles/files/15928_0.pdf |archive-date=2025-03-03 |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=www.hrc.army.mil}}</ref>

* Engaged in military operations against an enemy of the United States; * Engaged in military operations involving conflict against an opposing foreign force; or * Serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in military operations with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Examples of remote weapons systems include:<ref name=":0" />

* Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) weapon-systems * Activities that mitigate or disrupt adversary anti-access/area denial ([[A2/AD]]) capabilities including cyber * Terminal High Altitude Area Defense ([[THAAD]]) operations.

The "R" device may only be placed on the [[Legion of Merit]], [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]], [[Commendation Medal|Army Commendation Medal]] and [[Achievement Medal|Army Achievement Medal]].

=== Joint Service === The device may be awarded to a military service member to recognize hands-on employment of a weapon system or other remote war-fighting system with direct and immediate impact on an operation. A qualifying action for the device; the service member must be:<ref>{{Cite web |last=deGrandpre |first=Andrew |last2=Panzino |first2=Charlsy |date=2017-03-30 |title=12 military awards now eligible for new 'C' and 'R' devices, and 2 no longer rate a 'V' |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2017/03/30/12-military-awards-now-eligible-for-new-c-and-r-devices-and-2-no-longer-rate-a-v/ |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=Military Times |language=en}}</ref>

The "R" device can be placed on the [[Defense Superior Service Medal]], [[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]], [[Commendation Medal|Joint Service Commendation Medal]] and [[Achievement Medal|Joint Service Achievement Medal]].

=== Navy and Marine Corps === The device may be awarded to a sailor or marine to provide distinctive recognition of personnel whose actions deliver significant effects on the enemy, or have direct impact on friendly forces - when the physical location is outside of enemy threats and keeps them from receiving other awards or devices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 21, 2016 |title=New Devices Authorized for Wear on Certain Military Medals and Ribbons |url=https://www.navy.mil/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Print.aspx?PortalId=1&ModuleId=793&Article=2235039 |website=www.navy.mil}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 21, 2017 |title=Navy Implements Changes to Devices on Awards |url=https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/2252691/navy-implements-changes-to-devices-on-awards/ |website=www.navy.mil}}</ref>

Examples of remote weapons systems include:

* Unmanned aerial vehicle weapon system strikes. * Ship-to-shore or surface-to-surface weapon system strikes. * Remote piloting of an aircraft providing direct and immediate real-time support vital to the success of forces engaged in combat or other operations. * Active cyberwarfare that disrupts the adversary's capabilities or actions. * Surface-to-air engagement that disrupts or denies enemy attack on or surveillance of friendly forces. * Personally exercising real-time tactical control of a raid or other combat mission from a location not exposed to hostile action.

The "R" device may only be placed on the [[Legion of Merit]], [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]], [[Commendation Medal|Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal]] and [[Achievement Medal|Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal]].

== Appearance == The appearance of the "R" device varies when an individual receives it multiple times (per award):

{| class="wikitable" |+ ! colspan="6" |"R" Remote Impact 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 R Bronze.png|center|frameless|107x107px]] |[[File:Ribbon Device R Silver.png|center|frameless|114x114px]] |[[File:Ribbon Device R Gold.png|center|frameless|114x114px]] |[[File:Ribbon Device R Bronze w Wreath.png|center|frameless|126x126px]] |[[File:Ribbon Device R Silver w Wreath.png|center|frameless|120x120px]] |[[File:Ribbon Device R Gold w Wreath.png|center|frameless|120x120px]] |- |{{Center|Bronze R}} |{{Center|Silver R}} |{{Center|Gold R}} |{{Center|Bronze R with Wreath}} |{{Center|Silver R with Wreath}} |{{Center|Gold R with Wreath}} |- |{{Center|1st Award}} |{{Center|2nd Award}} |{{Center|3rd Award}} |{{Center|4th Award}} |{{Center|5th Award}} |{{Center|6th Award}} |}

==Authorized awards== The awards authorized to receive the device vary by service branch and are noted in each of the above sections. ===Gallery=== [[File:Medals with R Device 1.png|thumb|upright=1.6|left]] [[File:Medals with R Device 2.png|thumb|upright=2|left]] [[File:Medals with R Device 3.png|thumb|upright=2|left]] {{clear}}

== See also ==

* [[United States military award devices]]

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:R 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]]