Who is eligible to receive the Medal of Honor?

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government, and it recognizes extraordinary acts of valor and heroism in combat. All branches of the military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, have the opportunity to nominate and award individuals for their acts of courage that meet the stringent criteria set forth in legislation. This encompasses both active duty personnel and, in certain circumstances, members of the reserve components or National Guard.

The other options are limited in scope: some refer only to a single branch or mistakenly include civilians outside the specific context of military service. Therefore, the fact that the Medal of Honor is accessible to all military branches underlines its significance as a unified symbol of valor across the entire U.S. Armed Forces.