§ 9272. Air Force cross: award
The President may award an Air Force cross of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force or the Space Force, distinguishes himself by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a medal of honor—
(1) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;
(2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
(3) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 540, §8742; Pub. L. 86–593, §1(1), July 6, 1960, 74 Stat. 331; Pub. L. 88–77, §3(2), July 25, 1963, 77 Stat. 94; renumbered §9272, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §806(b)(11), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1833; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, §923(c)(12)(A)(ii), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3811.)