Bronze A Device

Bronze A Device

Criteria: The Bronze "A" Device is a decoration of the U.S. military that has two different versions worn as an attachment on either the center of the American Defense Service Medal or the Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon.

Originally known as the "Atlantic Device" or the "Axis Device", this award was given to members of the U.S. Navy who participated in potential armed combat with German naval forces while deployed to the Atlantic Ocean during the undeclared war between June 22 and December 7, 1941. This version was awarded along with the Defense Service Medal and is differentiated from the current version by the lack of serifs or "feet" on the "A".

Currently, the decoration has been reintroduced as the "Arctic Device", awarded by the U.S. Air Force for those who have participated in tours of duty in Arctic locations and received the Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon. This version does have serifs or "feet" on the "A".