General Overview
The Order of Saint Michael – Airborne is awarded by the National Infantry Association and the Chief of Infantry. This is to recognize the significant contributions made on Airborne, Air Assault, and Special Ops Status.
The Order of Saint Michael – Airborne has five levels. Archangel; Guardian; Angelic; Cherubim and Seraphim.
Please complete the following worksheet (below) to assist with the creating the narrative of your nominee. Also, the info should be used for identifying the appropriate level of Order of Saint Michael Award for which to submit your nominee. Your narrative must include the airborne experience, duration in airborne unit, leadership positions, awards and decorations. The details in the narrative must correspond to the requirements for the level of award you select (5 levels to choose from). Nomination narratives MUST also include the total number of years on Airborne, Air Assault or Special Operations status. If not included, your nomination could be downgraded or rejected.
Please compete the worksheet and narrative before completing the actual nomination form. Your narrative must have the all airborne experience, duration in airborne unit, education, awards and decorations detail included. The narrative will determine the level of award.
5 Levels of the Order of Saint Michael – Airborne / Air Assault
- Archangel
- Guardian
- Angelic
- Cherubim
- Seraphim
Requirements for Order of Saint Michael – Archangel Award
Archangel
- At least one of the top three requirements MUST be met in addition to one other requirement.
- One Combat Jump or Glider Landing
- One Combat Jump or Glider Landing with Arrowhead Device awarded for the landing.
- Medal of Honor Recipient or Distinguished Service Cross Recipient while assigned to an Airborne or Air Assault Unit
- Airborne Brigade leaders (Officer/Non-Commissioned Officer) who planned and executed a Brigade level combat Operation against a foreign adversary
- Leadership of the United States Army proponent for Airborne Envelopment and Training
- Currently serving or honorably discharged from the Armed forces of the United States.
***You MUST include the total number of years (across all assignments) on Airborne, Air Assault or Special Operations Status in your narrative. Nominations that do not include the total number of years may be downgraded or denied. The Awards Board will not calculate the total number of years. It must be spelled out clearly.
Requirement for OSM-A Guardian Award
Guardian
- Must have been assigned to an Airborne, Air Assault, or Special Operations Unit for 8 years or longer.
- Must have graduated from an Infantry School-proponent approved Basic Airborne Course, Glider, Pathfinder or Air Assault Course. Or have graduated from the USASOC Military Freefall Parachutist Course. This includes but not limited to school courses conducted external to Fort Benning / Moore, Fort Bragg / Liberty or OCONUS based courses
- Deployed for 12 months or longer in support of combat or peace keeping operations while assigned to an Airborne or Air Assault unit.
- Must have graduated from a proponent approved Jump Master, Military Freefall Jumpmaster or Rappel Master Course.
- Current or retired Instructor (in good standing for 2 years) for the Basic Airborne Course, Jumpmaster, Glider, Pathfinder, Air Assault, or Military Freefall Parachutist Courses.
- Held Leadership or staff position at the Company / Battalion or higher level for an Airborne or Air Assault Unit for 1 year or more.
- Currently serving or honorably discharged from the Armed forces of the United States.
**Must meet the first listed requirement and two of the other six to qualify for this level.
***You MUST include the total number of years (across all assignments) on Airborne, Air Assault or Special Operations Status in your narrative. Nominations that do not include the total number of years may be downgraded or denied. The Awards Board will not calculate the total number of years. It must be spelled out clearly.
Requirement for OSM-A Angelic Award
Angelic
- Must have been assigned to an Airborne, Air Assault, or Special Operations Unit for 5 years or longer
- Must have graduated from an Infantry School-proponent approved Basic Airborne Course, Glider, Pathfinder, Air Assault, or Military Freefall Parachutist Course. This includes but not limited to school courses conducted external to Fort Benning / Moore, Fort Bragg / Liberty or OCONUS based courses.
- Deployed for 6 months or longer in support of combat or peace keeping operations while assigned to an Airborne, Air Assault, or Special Operations unit.
- Must have graduated from a proponent approved Jump Master, Rappel Master or Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course.
- Active Duty or retired Instructor (in good standing for 2 years) for the Basic Airborne Course, Jumpmaster, Glider, Pathfinder, Air Assault, or Military Freefall Parachutist Course.
- Held Leadership or staff position(for 1 year) at the Company / Battalion or higher level for an Airborne or Air Assault Unit.
- Currently on Active Duty or honorably discharged from the Armed forces of the United States.
** MUST meet the first listed requirement and two of the other six to qualify.
***You MUST include the total number of years (across all assignments) on Airborne, Air Assault or Special Operations Status in your narrative. Nominations that do not include the total number of years may be downgraded or denied. The Awards Board will not calculate the total number of years. It must be spelled out clearly.
Requirements for OSM-A Cherubim Award
Cherubim
- Must have been assigned to an Airborne or Air Assault Unit for 2 years or longer.
- Must have graduated from an Infantry School-proponent approved Basic Airborne Course, Glider, Pathfinder, Air Assault, or Military Freefall Parachutist Course. This includes but not limited to school courses conducted external to Fort Benning / Moore, Fort Bragg / Liberty or an OCONUS based course.
- Must been a member at the Squad / Platoon or higher level for an Airborne, Air Assault, or Special Operations Unit for 2 years.
- Currently serving or honorably discharged from the Armed forces of the United States.
- **MUST meet the first listed requirement and two of the other four to qualify for this level.
***You MUST include the total number of years (across all assignments) on Airborne, Air Assault or Special Operations Status in your narrative. Nominations that do not include the total number of years may be downgraded or denied. The Awards Board will not calculate the total number of years. It must be spelled out clearly.
OSM-A Requirements for Seraphim Award
Seraphim – (Foreign)
- Must have been assigned to a foreign (non-US) Airborne, Air Assault, Pathfinder or Special Operations Unit for 1 year or longer or completed a tour of duty.
- Must have graduated from an Infantry School-proponent approved Basic Airborne Course, Glider, Pathfinder, Air Assault or Military Freefall Parachutist Course
- This includes but not limited to school courses conducted external to Fort Benning / Moore, Fort Bragg / Liberty or an OCONUS course
- Assigned to an allied Airborne, Air Assault, Pathfinder, or Special Operations Unit for one year.
- Was hurt while conducting an Airborne, Air Assault, Pathfinder or Special Operations mission either in combat or training for combat.
- Held Leadership position at the Squad / Platoon or higher level for an Airborne, Air Assault, Pathfinder, or Special Operations Unit.
- Currently serving or honorably discharged from the Armed forces of the United States or an American Allied Country.
- **Must meet the first listed requirement and two of the other six to qualify for this level.
***You MUST include the total number of years (across all assignments) on Airborne, Air Assault or Special Operations Status in your narrative. Nominations that do not include the total number of years may be downgraded or denied. The Awards Board will not calculate the total number of years. It must be spelled out clearly.
| Awards Board | Nominations due by 10am EST | Earliest Rush Date | Standard Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 December | 9 December | *NO RUSH* | 8 January |
| 22 January | 20 January | 5 February | 19 February |
| 19 February | 17 February | 5 March | 19 March |
| 19 March | 17 March | 2 April | 16 April |
| 16 April | 14 April | 30 April | 14 May |
| 14 May | 12 May | 28 May | 11 June |
| 11 June | 9 June | 25 June | 9 July |
| 9 July | 7 July | 23 July | 6 August |
| 6 August | 4 August | 20 August | 3 September |
| 17 September | 15 September | 1 October | 15 October |
| 29 October | 27 October | 12 November | 26 November |
| 12 November | 10 November | 26 November | 10 December |
| 10 December | 8 December | *NO RUSH* | 7 January |