2021 Texas Statutes
Government Code
Title 4 - Executive Branch
Subtitle C - State Military Forces and Veterans
Chapter 437 - Texas Military
Subchapter H. Awards
Section 437.355. Other Awards
Sec. 437.355. OTHER AWARDS. (a) The governor or adjutant general, if delegated the authority, may adopt policies and regulations relating to awarding:
(1) the Texas Purple Heart Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member who:
(A) after September 11, 2001:
(i) was inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard; and
(ii) meets the criteria for an award of the federal Purple Heart Medal; or
(B) was wounded or killed at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009;
(2) the Texas Superior Service Medal, which shall be awarded to:
(A) a service member of the Texas military forces who has:
(i) completed 30 or more years of honorable state service or a combination of state and federal service; and
(ii) continually demonstrated superior performance and service while assigned to key leadership positions demanding responsibility; or
(B) a civilian who has contributed significant service to the Texas military forces;
(3) the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a member of the military forces of this state, another state, or the United States for exceptionally outstanding achievement or service to this state in performance of a duty of great responsibility while serving with the Texas military forces for whom the department receives a letter of recommendation for award of the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal that:
(A) gives an account of the exceptional achievement or service; and
(B) includes facts and photographs, and extracts from official documents to support and amplify the facts;
(4) the Texas Outstanding Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member of the military forces of this state, another state, or the United States who has performed service, either individually or as a member of a crew, in a superior and clearly outstanding manner;
(5) the Texas Humanitarian Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member who:
(A) does not meet the criteria for an award of the federal Humanitarian Service Medal;
(B) is a member of the Texas military forces; and
(C) while serving on state active duty or active duty under state authority in accordance with Title 32, United States Code, participates satisfactorily in defense support to a mission under civilian authority to protect life or property during or soon after a natural disaster or civil unrest in the state;
(6) the Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member of the Texas military forces who served:
(A) on or after September 11, 2001;
(B) on state active duty or active duty under state authority in accordance with Title 32, United States Code; and
(C) satisfactorily in defense support to a mission in the state under civilian authority;
(7) the Federal Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member who was inducted into federal service from the Texas military forces between June 15, 1940, and January 1, 1946, or after June 1, 1950, if the service was for more than 90 days;
(8) the Texas Combat Service Ribbon, which shall be awarded to a service member of the Texas National Guard who served, after September 11, 2001, in a hostile fire zone as designated by the United States secretary of defense;
(9) the Texas Faithful Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a member of the Texas military forces who has completed five years of honorable service during which the service member has shown fidelity to duty, efficient service, and great loyalty to this state;
(10) the Texas Medal of Merit, which shall be awarded to a member of the military forces of this state, another state, or the United States who performs outstanding service or attains extraordinary achievement, either individually or as a member of a crew, in behalf of the state or United States;
(11) the Texas State Guard Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member who completes three consecutive years of honorable service in the Texas State Guard during which the service member has shown fidelity to duty, efficient service, and great loyalty to this state;
(12) the Texas Desert Shield/Desert Storm Campaign Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member who was inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard after August 1, 1990, in support of Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm, without regard to the place that the service member was deployed while serving on active federal military duty;
(13) the Texas Iraqi Campaign Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member who was inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard, without regard to the place that the service member was deployed while serving on active federal military duty, after:
(A) March 19, 2003, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or
(B) August 31, 2010, in support of Operation New Dawn;
(14) the Texas Afghanistan Campaign Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member who was inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard after October 6, 2001, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, without regard to the place that the service member was deployed while serving on active federal military duty;
(15) the Cold War Medal, which, subject to Subsection (c), shall be awarded to a member of the military forces of this state or the United States who:
(A) served between September 2, 1945, and December 26, 1991; and
(B) was a resident of this state at the time the service member entered military service; and
(16) the Texas Border Security and Support Service Ribbon, which shall be awarded to a service member of the military forces of this state, another state, or the United States who served:
(A) on or after July 28, 2014;
(B) on state active duty or active duty under state authority in accordance with Title 32, United States Code, for at least 90 consecutive days, or in response to an emergency activation; and
(C) honorably in support of operations under civilian authority to secure this state's international border.
(b) A person may be awarded only one Texas Superior Service Medal.
(c) A person described by Subsection (a)(15) may be awarded a Cold War Medal only if:
(1) a federal Cold War Medal or an equivalent federal medal is not available to be awarded; and
(2) a fee in the amount necessary to cover the costs of awarding the medal is paid to the adjutant general's department.
Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1217 (S.B. 1536), Sec. 1.02, eff. September 1, 2013.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 144 (H.B. 115), Sec. 1, eff. May 28, 2015.
Reenacted and amended by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 760 (H.B. 2108), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.
Reenacted by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 8.007, eff. September 1, 2017.
Amended by:
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 85 (S.B. 1597), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2019.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 852 (S.B. 793), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021.
