Purple Heart

Start Here If You Are New to the Purple Heart

The Purple Heart is one of the oldest and most recognized awards in U.S. military history. It is also one of the most misunderstood. Marines hear stories about it but rarely get a full walkthrough of how it works.

This page covers the Purple Heart from your seat as a General Marine. By the end you will know.

• What the Purple Heart is and where the authority to give it comes from
• The exact circumstances under which a wound qualifies
• The two thresholds every Purple Heart nomination has to clear
• Specific rules for mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI), friendly fire, prisoners of war, and multiple wounds
• How the award gets from the battlefield to your permanent record
• The current authority structure and exactly who to email for retroactive cases
• The reclama process if your prior nomination was disapproved
• What you do (and what you do not do) in the process
• How to verify your Purple Heart appears in your record correctly

Every fact on this page comes from SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B, MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 (the foundational mTBI policy still in effect for retroactive reclamas), MARADMIN 077/25MARADMIN 077/25 (current CMC delegation), MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J, MCO 3040.4MCO 3040.4, and the current HQMC Manpower Performance Branch (MMPB-3) Military Awards Section guidance.

What the Purple Heart Is

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.1.a, the Purple Heart is authorized by Executive Order 11016 (as amended), subject to the provisions of 10 U.S.C. §§1129, 1129a, and 1131, and Public Law 104-106.

It traces back to General George Washington's Badge of Military Merit in 1782. It was reestablished in 1932. The Purple Heart is the only U.S. military award recognizing a Service Member's wound or death from enemy action. It is not given for bravery, achievement, or service. It is given for the cost of the fight.

The award has shifted over time. Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.1.b, the effective dates the manual lists are.

• On or after 6 April 1917, basic criteria apply.
• On or after 7 December 1941, certain wounds from friendly fire qualify (under specific conditions).
• On or after 28 March 1973, certain wounds from terrorist attacks and peacekeeping operations qualify.
• On or after 17 May 1998, civilians are no longer eligible.
• On or after 11 September 2001, certain mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (mTBI) without loss of consciousness qualify under the revised criteria first established in MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11.

Why the Purple Heart Matters to You

A Purple Heart on your DD-214 is more than a ribbon. It changes how the federal government and many states treat you for the rest of your life.

• Permanent OMPF documentation of combat injury
• Recognition on your DD-214 with specific date of action
• VA disability and benefits processing
• State-level benefits in many states (license plates, tax exemptions, hunting and fishing licenses, college tuition for dependents)
• Federal hiring preferences
• Commissary and exchange access for retirees
• Reunion and recognition at unit gatherings, parades, and Memorial Day events for life

A missed Purple Heart is also more than a missed ribbon. It is a missed line on your DD-214 the VA looks for when adjudicating combat-related claims. The verification steps later on this page exist for this reason.

The Ten Qualifying Circumstances

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.1.c.(1), the Purple Heart is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority, were wounded, killed, or died of wounds received under any of the following circumstances.

1. In action against an enemy of the United States.
2. In any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged.
3. While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force, in which the U.S. is not a belligerent party.
4. As the result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed force.
5. As the result of an act of any hostile foreign force.
6. While being taken captive or while being held as a Prisoner of War (POW).
7. On or after 28 March 1973, as a result of international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the U.S., recognized as such an attack for purposes of award of the PH by SECNAV.
8. On or after 11 September 2001, in an attack motivated or inspired by a foreign terrorist organization, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §1129a. SECNAV is the sole authority for award under these circumstances.
9. On or after 28 March 1973, as a result of military operations while serving outside the territory of the United States, as part of a peacekeeping force.
10. On or after 7 December 1941, by friendly weapon fire while directly engaged in armed conflict other than as the result of an act of an enemy of the United States, an opposing armed force, or a hostile foreign force.

If your wound or death does not fit one of these ten circumstances, the Purple Heart does not apply.

The Two Thresholds Every Nomination Must Clear

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.1.c.(2) and MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 2, every Purple Heart nomination has to pass two independent tests.

Threshold 1. The Wound Resulted From Enemy Action (Direct or Indirect)

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 2.A, the manual draws a sharp line between direct and indirect enemy action.

• Direct result. The physical effects of the enemy weapon on the Marine are the immediate cause. A Marine struck by projectiles, fragmentation, or blast from an enemy weapon or IED. Direct.
• Indirect result. The Marine is injured by a subsequent action solely caused by the enemy weapon's effects. Enemy automatic weapons fire blows out the tires on a vehicle causing it to overturn. A Marine is blown off a roof by a near-miss RPG. Indirect, still qualifying.
• Battlefield accident NOT caused by enemy weapon effects. Does not qualify, even during an engagement. A vehicle moves to a new firing position and overturns in a ditch. A Marine falls while running for cover from a sniper. Not eligible per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11.

In the combat theater, the commander determines whether weapons fired by unknown individuals were likely fired by enemy combatants. Outside the combat theater, wounds from criminals or civilians not determined to be terrorists do not qualify.

Threshold 2. The Wound Necessitated Treatment by a Medical Officer

A medical officer is a physician with officer rank. Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 2.B, this is distinct from physician extenders (PA, NP, Independent Duty Corpsman, Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman) and from basic corpsmen and medics.

The wound has to require treatment from a physician, not merely an examination. A scratch the corpsman cleaned and bandaged does not qualify. A wound severe enough to need a physician does qualify.

If you were wounded forward and a corpsman treated you because no physician was available, the approval authority is allowed to award the PH if a medical officer would normally have had to treat the wound. This requires a written statement from a medical officer substantiating the determination.

The manual is also clear on what does not meet the threshold. Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 2.B.(2), evaluation by a medical officer solely to determine the extent of an injury does not qualify if the injury could have been adequately treated by a corpsman. A medical officer choosing to treat a minor wound a corpsman could have handled does not qualify either.

Qualifying and Non-Qualifying Injuries

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 2.C and 2.D, and SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.3.

Qualifying Injuries

1. Fragmentation wounds
2. Lacerations
3. Fractures
4. Gunshot wounds
5. Perforated eardrum
6. Mild TBI / concussion severe enough to cause loss of consciousness OR a medical officer disposition of "NOT FIT FOR FULL DUTY" greater than 48 hours due to persistent signs, symptoms, or findings of functional impairment (covered in detail below)
7. Moderate or severe / penetrating Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
8. Smoke inhalation severe enough to cause 1st to 3rd degree burns to the respiratory tract
9. Corneal abrasions
10. Effects of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons (including chlorine gas used by the enemy in conjunction with an IED)
11. 2nd and 3rd degree burns

Non-Qualifying Injuries

1. Cold and heat related injuries (frostbite, heatstroke)
2. Hearing loss and tinnitus
3. Mild TBI / concussion not causing loss of consciousness AND not causing "NOT FIT FOR FULL DUTY" disposition greater than 48 hours
4. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or combat stress injuries (covered in detail below)
5. Disease, unless caused by enemy biological agents
6. Abrasions, unless severe enough to be incapacitating
7. Bruises, unless from direct impact of enemy weapon and severe enough to require medical officer treatment
8. First degree burns
9. Soft tissue injuries (ligament, tendon, muscle strains or sprains)
10. Friendly fire injuries when not in the midst of a combat engagement at the time

The Mild TBI Rules

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 3 and SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.4, mild TBI is the most heavily-regulated qualifying injury. Read this section carefully if blast exposure is part of your service.

TBI breaks into three categories. Severe or penetrating TBI and moderate TBI inherently require medical officer treatment, so they qualify if caused by enemy action. Mild TBI sits in a gray zone the manual handles separately.

For mTBI on or after 11 September 2001, the wound qualifies for the Purple Heart if either of the following applies.

• The Marine suffered a loss of consciousness of any duration as a result of a diagnosed mTBI / concussion.
• The persistent signs, symptoms, or findings of functional impairment from a diagnosed mTBI / concussion result in a medical officer disposition of "NOT FIT FOR FULL DUTY" for greater than 48 hours.

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 3.C.(1), the 48-hour restriction does NOT include assignment to administrative light duty by a medical provider in the absence of persistent signs, symptoms, or findings, where the restriction exists solely to comply with mandatory observation protocols. A blanket 48-hour rest period after every IED exposure does not qualify on its own. The disposition has to come from a medical officer based on persistent symptoms.

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 3.C.(2), the medical officer disposition of mTBI / concussion with either LOC or 48-hour restriction must be made within seven days of the concussive event. A medical officer or civilian physician diagnosis weeks or months after a concussive incident, citing additional or more severe symptoms than were diagnosed during the initial seven-day period, will not warrant the Purple Heart. This rule exists to keep the PH separate from PTSD symptoms (which mimic mTBI) and from later concussive injuries unrelated to enemy action.

If you were exposed to an enemy blast and developed concussion symptoms within seven days, document them and seek medical officer evaluation immediately. The clock matters.

PTSD and the Purple Heart

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 4 and SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.3.b.(1), PTSD does not qualify for the Purple Heart. The Marine Corps Combat Operational Stress Continuum recognizes PTSD as the result of prolonged severe combat stress injury. The CMC strongly encourages all Marines suffering from PTSD or combat stress to request help, including medical treatment.

The Purple Heart standard requires the injury to be the direct or indirect result of enemy action where the intended effect of the enemy's weapon was to kill or physically injure. PTSD and combat stress injuries are not directly caused by an enemy's intentional use of an outside force or agent. The Secretary of Defense reaffirmed this position in November 2008.

The VA recognizes PTSD as a service-connected disability under separate procedures. The PH and the VA disability are different determinations under different criteria.

Special Rules for Friendly Fire

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.2.c and MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 2.D.(10), friendly fire wounds are eligible only if the Marine was actively engaging the enemy at the time of injury. A wound from friendly fire on patrol while not engaged does not qualify.

This rule traces back to 7 December 1941 per the effective dates table. Friendly fire eligibility was created to recognize Marines and Sailors hit during chaotic engagements where return fire from a friendly unit was as likely as enemy fire.

Special Rules for Prisoners of War

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.1.c.(1)(f), POW eligibility has its own structure.

• A person is considered a POW if eligible for the POW Medal pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §1128.
• A POW is limited to one Purple Heart for wounds inflicted by the enemy during the entire period of captivity.
• If the POW dies in captivity, the death is presumed to have resulted from enemy action and the Purple Heart goes to the next of kin (unless clear and convincing evidence indicates otherwise).
• A second Purple Heart is allowed for a POW if the person was wounded by enemy action while being taken into captivity. A pilot wounded while being shot down and later tortured as a POW is entitled to two Purple Hearts.

Multiple Wounds in One Action

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.2.d and MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 2.C note, the rule on multiple wounds is specific.

• One Purple Heart is awarded for wounds received at the same instant or from the same missile, force, explosion, or agent. Fragmentation wounds across multiple body parts from one enemy mortar round equal one Purple Heart.
• Multiple wounds from separate engagements equal separate Purple Hearts. A gunshot wound at the start of an engagement followed by fragmentation wounds later in the same engagement (from a different source) equals two Purple Hearts.

This distinction matters. The dividing line is whether the cause was the same instant or the same weapon source.

How the Purple Heart Process Works

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.5, MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 5, and MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J. Different from most PMDs, the Purple Heart starts with a casualty report, not a Summary of Action.

Step 1. Personnel Casualty Report (PCR) Filed

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 5, MARADMIN 245-11 itself, MCO 3040.4MCO 3040.4, and MILPERSMAN 1770. When a Marine is wounded, the unit files a PCR. Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11, the PCR has to contain.

• A command recommendation in the "Remarks" section as to whether the Marine's wound met the PH criteria for direct or indirect enemy action. Note from MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11: PCR entries marking a casualty as "HOSTILE" or "WIA" do not by themselves meet the PH criteria, since "hostile casualty" is defined more broadly than the PH standard.
• Verification from the medical officer who evaluated or treated the wound as to whether the wound required medical officer treatment.
• A sufficiently detailed description of the wound and treatment required to support the medical officer's opinion.
• For mTBI cases, documentation of the medical officer disposition of "NOT FIT FOR FULL DUTY" greater than 48 hours within seven days of the concussive event.

The manual states clearly. Boilerplate phrases like "treated by competent medical authority" are not enough. The PCR has to describe the wound and the treatment in detail.

Step 2. Nomination Routes Through Operational Chain

Per the MMPB-3 Military Awards Section guidance, the Purple Heart is processed and approved by the Marine's operational chain of command in place at the time of the action. This is foundational. The chain owning the action owns the nomination.

Step 3. Approving Authority Reviews

The approving authority reviews against the two thresholds and the qualifying circumstances. Approval, downgrade to no-award, or referral up the chain follows.

Step 4. Communication of Decision

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 7, the determination is communicated to both the parent command and the individual Marine as soon as possible after the decision, for both approval and disapproval. Marines evacuated from the combat theater are notified through the Wounded Warrior Regiment / Battalion or Marine Liaison Detachment at the medical treatment facility.

Step 5. Presentation

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.5.c, the Purple Heart is presented by a commissioned officer or other appropriate DoD official in a suitable and dignified ceremony. Living recipients receive the medal set on the first award only. Subsequent awards are denoted by stars on the existing ribbon.

Step 6. Records Update

The certificate (note: the Purple Heart has no citation) and medal set documentation reach your OMPF through UD/MIPS. MCTFS reflects the award. Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 7.A, CMC (MMMA) (the historical Military Awards Branch designation, now organized under MMPB-3) reports approved PH awards on the Unit Diary, where they become visible to the Marine via Marine On Line and to the parent and current command in MCTFS. Your DD-214 picks it up at separation.

Your Role as a Marine

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.b.(6), you have no official role in nominating yourself for an award. The Purple Heart adds an extra wrinkle. The trigger is the PCR, which the unit files automatically when a Marine is wounded. Your job from your seat as a General Marine is narrower.

What you actively do.

1. Get medical treatment immediately for any combat wound, including blast exposure with concussive symptoms. The medical record drives the PCR, which drives the Purple Heart.
2. For any concussive event, get evaluated by a medical officer within the first seven days. Symptoms documented later do not qualify.
3. Make sure the medical record clearly ties the wound to enemy action. If the medic or physician writes "fell" or "training accident" instead of "IED blast," the PCR will not support a PH nomination.
4. Show up to the ceremony in the proper uniform if your award is approved.
5. Verify the award reaches your OMPF and MCTFS within 30 days of presentation.
6. Keep your own copy of the certificate and the PCR.

What you do not do.

• Self-nominate for the Purple Heart.
• Skip medical evaluation after a concussive event because you "feel fine."
• Delay reporting persistent symptoms beyond seven days. The retroactive criteria for mTBI hinge on documentation within this window.

There are real cases where Marines deserve the Purple Heart and the system misses them. Common reasons.

• Medical record vague on cause of injury (no clear enemy-action language).
• Concussive symptoms not reported within seven days.
• PCR not submitted or submitted with insufficient detail.
• Marine refused medical evaluation at the time and the symptoms were never documented.
• mTBI symptoms appeared late and the Marine self-treated.

If any of these describe your situation, the reclama process below is your path.

Current Authority Structure (Who Approves Your Purple Heart)

Per HQMC Manpower Performance Branch (MMPB-3) Military Awards Section guidance and MARADMIN 077/25MARADMIN 077/25, the Purple Heart approval authority depends entirely on when and where the wound occurred. Use this section like a decision tree.

For Recent Actions (Present Day Back Three Years)

Authority lives with the operational chain of command at the time of the action.

• General actions in the last three years. MARCENT (U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command). Email COMUSMARCENTAWARDS@usmc.mil.
• MARSOC actions in the last three years. MARFORSOC (U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command). Email MARSOC.G1.RETRO.Active.Awards.SHDMBX@socom.mil.

For Actions Between 30 August 2021 and Three Years Ago

HQMC holds authority for actions falling in this rolling window.

• Email HQMC at hqmc_ph_mtbi_reclama@usmc.mil.
• Example. If today is 26 February 2025, HQMC has authority from 31 August 2021 to 25 February 2022.
• Example. If today is 13 July 2026, HQMC has authority from 31 August 2021 to 12 July 2023.

For GWOT-Era Actions (11 September 2001 to 30 August 2021)

Authority depends on the type of injury and the unit assignment.

• mTBI from 11 September 2001 to 15 April 2011. HQMC. Email hqmc_ph_mtbi_reclama@usmc.mil.
• All non-mTBI injuries from 11 September 2001 to 30 August 2021. MARCENT. Email COMUSMARCENTAWARDS@usmc.mil.
• MARSOC injuries (other than mTBI) from 19 April 2007 to 30 August 2021. MARFORSOC. Email MARSOC.G1.RETRO.Active.Awards.SHDMBX@socom.mil.

For Actions Before 11 September 2001

HQMC holds authority for all injuries predating the start of GWOT.

• Email HQMC at hqmc_ph_mtbi_reclama@usmc.mil.

The Reclama Process

If you previously applied for a Purple Heart and were disapproved, or if you believe you qualify but no nomination was ever made, the reclama process from MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 8 is the path. The process splits by injury type.

Reclamas for Wounds Other Than mTBI

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 8.A. The Marine or command submits a letter to the appropriate PH approval authority via the Marine's operational chain of command at the time the wound occurred.

Required contents.

• All relevant documentation originally considered by the approval authority. Normally the PCR and certified true copies of pertinent medical record pages describing the wound and treatment provided.
• Copies of any new and relevant information supporting the PH.
• If there is no new and relevant medical record documentation, at least two notarized statements from eyewitnesses present at the time of the wound, with personal knowledge of the circumstances.
• Endorsement by each commander in the original operational chain of command up to the battalion or squadron commander.

Submission destinations are listed in the authority section above based on the time period of the wound.

Reclamas for mTBI Based on Revised Criteria

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 8.B. ALL PH reclamas based on documentation showing the Marine met the revised mTBI criteria in MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 3.C must go to CMC (MMMA) for adjudication. In current organization, MMMA's adjudication function lives under MMPB-3, but the MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 mailing address remains valid, even if the action falls within MARCENT or MARFORSOC's normal time window.

Required contents per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 8.B.

• Certified true copy from the Marine's medical record showing the medical officer disposition of "NOT FIT FOR FULL DUTY" greater than 48 hours, documented within the first seven days of the concussive incident.
• Note. Assignment to administrative limited duty solely for mandatory observation protocols, in the absence of persistent symptoms, does not meet the criteria.
• An email address for CMC (MMMA) to reach the Marine to acknowledge receipt and request additional information if needed.
• Subject line on email submissions. "RECLAMA BASED ON REVISED PURPLE HEART CRITERIA FOR MTBI/CONCUSSION."
• Endorsement by each level of the original chain of command at the time the wound occurred up to the battalion or squadron commander.

Submission options for mTBI reclamas.

• Mail. Commandant of the Marine Corps (MMMA), Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps, 3280 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134-5103. (Address per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 8.B.(4). The MMMA designation is the historical Military Awards Branch name. Current organization places this function under MMPB-3.)
• Email. hqmc_ph_mtbi_reclama@usmc.mil.

Getting Your Records If You Are a Veteran

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 8.C. Veteran Marines obtain copies of their medical records from the Veterans Administration.

• Department of Veteran Affairs, Records Management Center, P.O. Box 5020, St. Louis, MO 63115-8950.

Locating Other Marines for Endorsements

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 8.D. To locate active duty, reserve, or retired Marines for command endorsements, contact the CMC (MMSB) World Wide Locator.

• Email. SMB.MANPOWER.MMSB@USMC.MIL
• Phone. 1-800-268-3710
• Mail. Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps (MMSB-17), 2008 Elliott Rd (Suite 201), Quantico, VA 22134-5030.

What You Get When You Receive the Purple Heart

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.5.d.

• Purple Heart Medal Set (ribbon and medal). Living recipients receive the medal set on the first award only.
• Purple Heart Certificate (per Exhibit 1 in the appendix).
• No citation. The Purple Heart is the only major award without a written citation. The certificate stands on its own.

Wearing the Purple Heart

Per Marine Corps Uniform Regulations and SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.5.e and 2B.5.f.

Position on the Awards Rack

The Purple Heart sits in a high-precedence position per the SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 1 ordering. The page on Wearing Your Awards walks through exact placement.

Subsequent Awards

• 5/16-inch gold star indicates the second through fifth award.
• 5/16-inch silver star replaces five gold stars (so the sixth award is one silver star).

Star orientation and placement follow current Marine Corps Uniform Regulations.

Posthumous Purple Hearts

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.5.c and MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 6.

• A Purple Heart medal set is provided to the next of kin of any person entitled to a posthumous award, regardless of whether a previous Purple Heart was made to the Service Member.
• For all deaths in the combat theater, the PH approval authority informs CMC (MMMA) of the decision to approve the PH within 48 hours of the Marine's death.
• The PH approval authority provides the approved PH certificate and medal to the Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO) for presentation to the family, normally at graveside.
• The Casualty Assistance Calls Officer coordinates posthumous Purple Heart presentations under MCO 3040.4MCO 3040.4. The presentation honors the Marine and recognizes the family's loss. Procedures emphasize dignity, family preference on ceremony format, and coordination with the family's chosen pace.

Verifying Your Purple Heart in Your Records

If you received a Purple Heart, work through these steps within 30 days of presentation.

Step 1. Pull Your OMPF

Use O-RMA. Look for.

• Purple Heart certificate
• Award Recommendation Form
• Personnel Casualty Report
• Medical records connecting wound to enemy action
• Page 11 entry documenting the award

Step 2. Pull Your Master Brief Sheet (MBS)

Use MOL. Verify.

• Purple Heart award entry
• Specific date of action
• Star indicator if subsequent award

Step 3. If Anything Is Missing or Wrong

Coordinate with your S-1. Standard administrative correction procedures apply per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J. For older issues, the procedures in SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 8 cover beyond-time-limit corrections.

Step 4. If You Believe You Qualify but Were Never Awarded

Work through the reclama process above. Start by identifying the time period and injury type, route through the appropriate authority per the section above, and prepare the documentation MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 8 requires.

VA and Federal Benefits for Purple Heart Recipients

A Purple Heart triggers a set of federal benefits designed to recognize what your wound cost you. None of these are automatic. You apply for each one and provide documentation. Most require your DD-214 reflecting the Purple Heart, the Purple Heart certificate, and supporting medical documentation.

The benefits below are sourced from VA News (news.va.gov), Military.com, Veteran.com, and underlying federal statutes and regulations. Verify current details with the VA, DFAS, or your benefits counselor before applying.

VA Health Care Priority

Per VA News, Purple Heart recipients receive a higher priority group for VA health care services and do not have to make co-payments for inpatient or outpatient VA medical services.

• The VA priority enrollment system has eight groups, with Group 1 highest.
• Effective 1 April 2019, Purple Heart recipients receive Priority Group 1 consideration for claims before the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Where the recipient is already entitled to a higher priority through other criteria, the higher priority applies.
• Co-payments are waived for medical care.

VA Disability Compensation

Per VA News, VA statutes and regulations require special consideration of lay statements from combat Veterans when considering whether a claimed condition is related to service. Since the Purple Heart is a combat medal, this means it is easier for Purple Heart recipients to substantiate claims for compensation benefits.

If you have not already filed a VA disability claim, the Purple Heart strengthens the evidence around any combat-related condition you claim.

Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)

Per Veteran.com and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). CRSC is a tax-free entitlement paid in addition to military retired pay for Purple Heart recipients with combat-related disabilities.

To qualify, you must.

1. Be entitled to and receiving military retired pay.
2. Have a minimum 10 percent disability rating issued by the VA.
3. Waive your VA disability pay from your retired pay.

Apply through your branch of service. DFAS handles eligibility questions at 1-800-321-1080.

VA Home Loan Funding Fee Exemption

Per VA News and Veteran.com. As of 1 January 2020, Purple Heart recipients still serving on active duty are exempt from the VA loan funding fee. Any Purple Heart recipient receiving VA disability compensation is also exempt.

You provide evidence of the Purple Heart award to your lender or VA on or before loan closing.

Education - Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon

Per VA News and Veteran.com.

• All Purple Heart recipients are eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33 benefits) to help pay for school or job training.
• Forever GI Bill provision (effective 1 August 2018). Purple Heart recipients who received the award on or after 11 September 2001 are eligible for 36 months of 100 percent-level GI Bill benefits regardless of other eligibility issues.
• Yellow Ribbon Program. Recipients of a Purple Heart on or after 11 September 2001 who were honorably discharged after any amount of service are eligible. The Yellow Ribbon Program helps pay for higher out-of-state, private school, foreign school, or graduate school tuition and fees the Post-9/11 GI Bill does not cover.

State College Tuition Waivers

Per Veteran.com. Many states offer tuition waivers at state colleges and universities for Purple Heart recipients. Application requirements vary by state and by college. Common requirements involve.

• State residency established during military service
• Honorable discharge
• A specified VA disability rating threshold (often 50 percent or higher)
• Documentation of the Purple Heart award

Examples include Arizona, where Post 11 September 2001 veterans with a 50 percent or higher VA rating, a Purple Heart, and Arizona residency established during military service qualify.

Federal Hiring Preference

Per the U.S. Department of Labor and Veteran.com. Purple Heart recipients with discharges characterized as Honorable or General (or upgraded by a discharge review board) are eligible for a permanent 10-point hiring preference for federal jobs.

The preference is not automatic. You submit Standard Form 15 (SF-15), Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, with supporting documentation including your DD-214 and Purple Heart documentation.

Commissary, Exchange, and MWR Access

• Per VA News, Purple Heart recipients are eligible for commissary and exchange privileges. Details are at va.gov.
• Per Veteran.com, beginning in 2020, MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) retail and lodging facilities became available to Purple Heart recipients.

State-Level Benefits

Per VA News, Veteran.com, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Many states extend benefits to Purple Heart recipients, family members, caregivers, and survivors. Common categories include.

• Special Purple Heart license plates and identification cards (some states waive fees, others charge minimal fees)
• Property tax exemptions or reductions for Purple Heart veterans
• Hunting and fishing license fee waivers
• State park access at reduced or no cost
• College tuition for the recipient and dependents (varies by state)
• Free or reduced toll road access
• Vehicle registration fee waivers

The Military Order of the Purple Heart maintains a comprehensive state-by-state benefits guide at purpleheart.org.

Scholarships from Private Organizations

The Military Order of the Purple Heart, a private veterans service organization, offers scholarships annually to Purple Heart recipients and family members. Scholarships pay for expenses tied to higher education. Eligibility runs through membership in the order.

Other private organizations offer additional Purple Heart scholarships and support programs. Search by your specific situation (state of residence, college, military period of service) for full coverage.

Purple Heart Day

Per VA News. Purple Heart Day is observed on 7 August each year. The day was first formally observed in 2014. The date honors Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen wounded or killed while serving the United States.

Local Purple Heart chapters, veterans service organizations, and many state and local governments hold ceremonies, parades, and recognition events on Purple Heart Day.

Common Questions Marines Ask

What if I refused medical evaluation at the time of the blast?

If you have no documented evaluation, the seven-day window for mTBI symptoms has likely closed. Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 3.C.(2), a diagnosis weeks or months after the incident does not warrant the PH. Your options are limited to other qualifying injuries from the same event, or seeking VA evaluation for related conditions.

What if my unit never filed a PCR?

This is a known historical gap, especially in the early Iraq and Afghanistan era. Work with your chain to reconstruct documentation. Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 8.A, if there is no new and relevant medical record documentation, the reclama requires at least two notarized statements from eyewitnesses with personal knowledge of the circumstances.

Is the Purple Heart given for PTSD?

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 4 and SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.3.b.(1), no. PTSD does not meet the requirement of being the direct or indirect result of enemy action. The CMC encourages Marines suffering from PTSD or combat stress to seek treatment, but the PH criteria are separate.

Does receiving the Purple Heart automatically give me the Combat Action Ribbon?

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2C paragraph 2C.1.c.(3)(c), no. Being awarded the Purple Heart does not automatically qualify you for the Combat Action Ribbon. The CAR has separate criteria centered on active engagement against the enemy. The page on Combat Action Ribbon covers CAR criteria in detail.

Does receiving a valor PMD automatically give me the Purple Heart?

No. The valor PMD recognizes your action. The Purple Heart recognizes your wound. They are separate determinations. The reverse is also true per Appendix 2C paragraph 2C.1.c.(3)(b). Being awarded a PMD for valor does qualify you for the CAR.

If I am wounded in friendly fire while not engaged, am I eligible?

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 2.D.(10) and Appendix 2B paragraph 2B.3.b.(11), no. Friendly fire wounds qualify only if the Marine was in the midst of a combat engagement at the time.

I had an mTBI in 2010 in Afghanistan and was never awarded the PH. Is the reclama process still open?

Yes, through the mTBI reclama process. Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 8.B, the revised mTBI criteria are retroactive to 11 September 2001. The reclama goes to CMC (MMMA) regardless of where you were wounded. You need certified medical records showing a medical officer disposition of "NOT FIT FOR FULL DUTY" greater than 48 hours, documented within seven days of the concussive event. Email hqmc_ph_mtbi_reclama@usmc.mil with the subject line MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 8.B.(3) prescribes.

How do I find out the status of an existing Purple Heart submission?

Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11 paragraph 7.A, CMC (MMMA) maintains a Purple Heart database. Approved awards also appear on Marine On Line through Unit Diary entries. Your S-1 is the right channel for status inquiries on submissions in process.

Where to Go for Help

A Note on HQMC Awards Office Designations

The Marine Corps reorganized its awards office over time. Three designations show up across policies and on this page. Get the distinction right so you route Purple Heart requests to the correct office.

• HQMC Manpower Performance Branch, Military Awards Section (MMPB-3). The current umbrella office handling Marine Corps awards adjudication, policy interpretation, and CMC-level approval routing. Listed on the Manpower Marines website at https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Management/Performance-Branch/Military-Awards/.
• HQMC MMPB-31. A sub-element under MMPB-3 specifically handling administrative actions on awards. This includes administrative change requests, replacement certificate procedures, and the administrative correction templates referenced in MARADMIN 093/25MARADMIN 093/25 paragraph 10.k. MMPB-31 is NOT the same as MMMA. The two have different functions.
• CMC (MMMA), Military Awards Branch. The historical designation appearing in older policy documents (SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.3, MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11, and earlier MARADMINs). When you see MMMA in a 2011-era MARADMIN such as 245/11 paragraph 8.B for mTBI reclamas, the function continues today under MMPB-3. The mailing addresses listed in older documents (2008 Elliot Road, Quantico, VA 22134, or 3280 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134-5103) reflect the historical MMMA addresses still cited in those policies. Use the current MMPB-3 email contact below for active inquiries.

Routing by Purpose

The right contact depends on your situation.

• Active duty Marines with current-action processing or routine corrections. Your S-1 is the first stop.
• Recent action (last three years), general. MARCENT. COMUSMARCENTAWARDS@usmc.mil.
• Recent action (last three years), MARSOC. MARFORSOC. MARSOC.G1.RETRO.Active.Awards.SHDMBX@socom.mil.
• Action between 30 August 2021 and three years ago. HQMC. hqmc_ph_mtbi_reclama@usmc.mil.
• mTBI from 11 September 2001 to 15 April 2011. HQMC. hqmc_ph_mtbi_reclama@usmc.mil.
• Non-mTBI injury from 11 September 2001 to 30 August 2021 (GWOT). MARCENT. COMUSMARCENTAWARDS@usmc.mil.
• MARSOC non-mTBI injury 19 April 2007 to 30 August 2021. MARFORSOC. MARSOC.G1.RETRO.Active.Awards.SHDMBX@socom.mil.
• Injury before 11 September 2001. HQMC. hqmc_ph_mtbi_reclama@usmc.mil.
• Posthumous Purple Hearts. The Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO) coordinates per MCO 3040.4MCO 3040.4.
• VA benefits tied to a Purple Heart. Your local VA Regional Office handles claim adjudication.
• Veteran medical records. Department of Veteran Affairs, Records Management Center, P.O. Box 5020, St. Louis, MO 63115-8950.
• Locator for active duty, reserve, or retired Marines (for endorsement signatures). CMC (MMSB) World Wide Locator. SMB.MANPOWER.MMSB@USMC.MIL or 1-800-268-3710.

Mailing address for written reclamas to HQMC.

Commandant of the Marine Corps (MMMA), Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps, 3280 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134-5103.

Where to Go Next on This Site

• Combat Action Ribbon walks through CAR criteria, often earned in the same engagement.
• Personal Military Decorations covers valor and meritorious decorations earned alongside the PH.
• Receiving an Award covers ceremony procedures.
• Wearing Your Awards covers the precedence and star device placement.
• Verifying Your Awards in OMPF walks through the verification steps in detail.

Related Roles

• Leaders witness combat actions, ensure PCRs are filed accurately and contain required PH eligibility language, and follow up on Marine wounds requiring medical officer treatment.
• Commanders at component level approve Purple Hearts per MARADMIN 077/25MARADMIN 077/25 and MMPB-3 guidance, with HQMC retaining authority for mTBI reclamas and out-of-window cases.
• Admin at S-1 and PAC processes Purple Heart documentation through iAPS into your OMPF and MCTFS.

The Purple Heart represents the most direct cost of combat service. If you qualify, the system was built to recognize you. Your job is to get the medical record right at the time of the wound, verify the documentation later, and use the reclama process if your nomination was missed or disapproved.