Award Description

The Gallant Unit Citation (GUC) was approved in March 2004 and is awarded to any Air Force unit which distinguishes itself by extraordinary heroism while engaged in armed combat with an enemy force on or after 11 September 2001. The GUC requires a lesser degree of gallantry, determination and esprit de corps than that required for the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). The unit must have performed with marked distinction under difficult and hazardous conditions in accomplishing its mission so as to set it apart from and above other units participating in the same conflict. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Silver Star

Silver Star

The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....

 to an individual. The GUC will normally be earned by units that have participated in single or successive actions covering relatively brief time spans. Only on rare occasions will a unit larger than a group qualify for the GUC. Extended periods of combat duty or participation in a large number of operational missions, either air or ground, is not sufficient. Additional awards of the Gallant Unit Citation are denoted by oak leaf clusters.

Cited units

The only units to date that have received this award are the 352d Special Operations Group

352d Special Operations Group

The 352d Special Operations Group is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command. It is stationed at RAF Mildenhall, England. Its heritage dates back to 1944 as an air command unit....

, the 332d Air Expeditionary Group, the 16th Operations Group, and the 720th Special Tactics Group and units subordinate to each during the cited timeframe.

Subordinate units to the 16th Operations Group receiving the award

• 4th Special Operations Squadron
  4th Special Operations Squadron
  The 4th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It operates AC-130U Spooky aircraft providing special operations capability.-Mission:...
  
  
• 6th Special Operations Squadron
  6th Special Operations Squadron
  The 6th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It is a combat aviation advisory unit....
  
  
• 8th Special Operations Squadron
  8th Special Operations Squadron
  The 8th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It operates CV-22 Osprey in support of special operations.-Mission:...
  
  
• 9th Special Operations Squadron
  9th Special Operations Squadron
  The 9th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The squadron operates MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft in support of special operations. The 9th SOS specializes in the use of night vision goggles and close interval formation tactics...
  
  
• 15th Special Operations Squadron
  15th Special Operations Squadron
  The 15th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It operates MC-130H Combat Talon II aircraft in support of special operations.-Mission:...
  
  
• 16th Special Operations Squadron
  16th Special Operations Squadron
  The 16th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon AFB , New Mexico. It operates AC-130H Spectre aircraft in support of special operations.- Mission :...
  
  
• 19th Special Operations Squadron
  19th Special Operations Squadron
  The 19th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It conducts crew training for AC-130 and MC-130 aircraft.-World War II:...
  
  
• 20th Special Operations Squadron
  20th Special Operations Squadron
  The 20th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. It operates CV-22 Osprey aircraft in support of special operations.-Mission:...
  
  
• 16th Operations Support Squadron
• 16th Operations Group, Operating Location D
• 919th Special Operations Group
• 711th Special Operations Squadron
  711th Special Operations Squadron
  The 711th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 919th Special Operations Wing at Duke Field, Florida. It is an Air Force Reserve Command unit that is operationally-gained by Air Force Special Operations Command .-Mission:...
  
  
• 919th Operations Support Squadron
• 5th Special Operations Squadron
  5th Special Operations Squadron
  The 5th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 919th Special Operations Wing. The 5th is based at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It operates U-28 aircraft providing special operations capability.-History:...
  
  
• AFSOC Air Operations
• Operating Location JM1 Air Force Element Medical
• Air Force Element Medical DoD, Operating Location Special Operations Squadron