Order of the Sword (United States)

The Order of the Sword is an honor awarded within the United States Air Force. It A special program where noncommisioned officers of a command recognize individuals they hold in high esteem and wish to honor. Those selected for induction are usually honored during a formal ceremony at a dining-in. The honor can be awarded at the unit level or (more rarely) at the Air Force level. [1]

Honor guard members carrying a sword for an Order of the Sword ceremony.

The U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, in particular, lack such an honor bestowed by the enlisted corps upon the officer corps.

The origin of the tradition is that:

The Order of the Sword recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the enlisted corps. Only seven other individuals have been so honored since 1978. The ceremonial presentation was adopted from the Royal Order of the Sword and passed to the United States during the Revolutionary War. However, it lay dormant until it was reinstituted in its current form in 1967. The original order of the sword was patterned after two orders of chivalry founded during the Middle Ages in Europe: the (British) Royal Order of the Sword and the Swedish Military Order of the Sword, still in existence today. In 1522, King Gustavus I of Sweden ordered the noblemen commissioned by him to appoint officers to serve him, and these people became known as the noncommissioned officers.[2]

Recipients
General Lord in 2006
General McNabb in 2007
General Hobbins in 2007
General Carlson in 2007
General Looney in 2008

Source:[3]

Number Recipient MAJCOM/FOA Date
1 Brig Gen Roland J. Barnick MAC May 26, 1967
2 Gen Howell M. Estes II MAC December 20, 1967
3 Brig Gen Gilbert L. Curtis MAC June 18, 1968
4 Brig Gen William V. McBride MAC February 26, 1969
5 Col Reid J. Anderson MAC July 26, 1969
6 Col Gilbert G. Smith, Jr. MAC July 29, 1969
7 Col Thomas J. Arbogast MAC May 12, 1970
8 Brig Gen Clare T. Ireland, Jr. MAC July 23, 1970
9 Brig Gen John H. Germeraad MAC October 2, 1970
10 Brig Gen John F. Gonge MAC February 24, 1972
11 Gen Jack J. Catton MAC April 20, 1971
12 Col Leonard V. Gillespie MAC September 29, 1971
13 Honorable F. Edward Hebert MAC October 28, 1971
14 Maj Gen Archie M. Burke NORAD February 11, 1972
15 Brig Gen Richard M. Baughn USAFE March 20, 1972
16 Maj Gen William G. Moore, Jr. MAC May 6, 1972
17 Col Tedd L. Bishop MAC July 14, 1972
18 Maj Gen Jerry D. Page ATC July 25, 1972
19 Gen George B. Simler ATC August 25, 1972
20 Brig Gen Van N. Backman MAC September 8, 1972
21 Col Robert H. Campbell MAC June 11, 1973
22 Maj Gen Frank M. Madsen, Jr. ATC January 24, 1974
23 Maj Gen Frank W. Elliott, Jr ATC July 26, 1974
24 Col James I. Baginski PACAF July 29, 1974
25 Brig Gen Irbey B. Jarvis, Jr. AFLC October 31, 1974
26 Brig Gen Thomas M. Sadler MAC March 12, 1975
27 Maj Gen Lester T. Kearney MAC May 21, 1975
28 Col Donald A. Michela PACAF August 11, 1975
29 Brig Gen Harry A. Morris MAC September 19, 1975
30 Maj Gen Leroy J. Manor PACAF April 19, 1976
31 Brig Gen Emil N. Block MAC June 9, 1976
32 Brig Gen James E. McAdoo AFRES October 11, 1976
33 Lt Gen John W. Roberts ATC November 12, 1976
34 Gen Paul K. Carlton MAC February 11, 1977
35 Gen Louis L. Wilson Jr. PACAF March 18, 1977
36 Gen Russell E. Dougherty SAC April 5, 1977
37 Maj Gen Ralph S. Saunders MAC May 6, 1977
38 Col James T. Albritton USAFE May 6, 1977
39 Maj Gen Alden G. Glauch MAC July 19, 1977
40 Brig Gen Kenneth D. Burns AFSS October 20, 1977
41 Maj Gen Andrew P. Iosue ATC March 3, 1978
42 Gen Robert J. Dixon TAC March 10, 1978
43 Brig Gen James L. Wade AFRES March 11, 1978
44 Maj Gen Thomas A. Aldrich MAC March 30, 1978
45 Lt Gen Thomas W. Morgan AFSC April 22, 1978
46 Col Sharman R. Stevenson PACAF May 31, 1978
47 Gen David C. Jones SAC May 31, 1978
48 Col Dale L. Oderman MAC June 1, 1978
49 Lt Gen James D. Hughes TAC June 3, 1978
50 Maj Gen Rupert H. Burris AFCS July 19, 1978
51 Maj Gen Paul M. Myers AFSC September 14, 1978
52 Lt Gen Bryon M. Shotts SAC October 10, 1978
53 Lt Gen Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., (Ret) TAC November 10, 1978
54 Maj Gen William Lyon AFRES March 3, 1979
55 Maj Gen Benjamin F. Starr, Jr. MAC April 10, 1979
56 Col Anthony J. Dibaggio USAFSS April 19, 1979
57 Lt Gen Thomas P. Stafford AFSC May 5, 1979
58 Brig Gen Pedroli Attilio ATC December 6, 1979
59 Maj Gen William C. Norris USAFE April 9, 1980
60 Maj Gen LeRoy W. Svendsen, Jr. AFMPC April 10, 1980
61 Maj Gen Robert E. Sadler AFCS April 12, 1980
62 Lt Gen Winfield Scott, Jr. AAC May 16, 1980
63 CMSAF Donald L. Harlow, (Ret) TAC May 20, 1980
64 Mr. Robert (Bob) Hope MAC June 10, 1980
65 Col Thomas G. McInerney PACAF July 22, 1980
66 Gen Curtis E. LeMay SAC September 18, 1980
67 Gen Alton D. Slay AFSC October 18, 1980
68 Brig Gen Sidney S. Novaresi AFRES March 14, 1981
69 Brig Gen Alan G. Sharp AFRES April 4, 1981
70 Gen Richard H. Ellis SAC May 8, 1981
71 Maj Gen John T. Guice ANG May 13, 1981
72 Lt Gen Walter D. Druen, Jr. USAFE May 16, 1981
73 Lt Gen Kenneth L. Tallman USAFA May 21, 1981
74 Gen Robert E. Huyser MAC June 19, 1981
75 Brig Gen Staryl C. Austin, (Ret) ANG October 30, 1981
76 Maj Gen Doyle E. Larson ESC March 27, 1982
77 Col Bruce M. Purvine MAC June 3, 1982
78 Maj Gen Norma Brown ATC June 11, 1982
79 Brig Gen Albert J. Kaehn, Jr. MAC July 27, 1982
80 Maj Gen Kenneth L. Peek AFMPC November 5, 1982
81 Col Lester R. Melott, Jr. ESC February 13, 1983
82 Lt Gen Richard C. Henry AFSC April 16, 1983
83 Lt Gen Robert W. Bazley USAFE May 5, 1983
84 Gen James R. Allen MAC May 18, 1983
85 Lt Gen Charles L. Donley, Jr. PACAF May 28, 1983
Lt Gen Charles L. Donley, Jr. USAFE February 21, 1987
86 Lt Gen Robert T. Herres AFCC August 27, 1983
87 Gen Thomas M. Ryan, Jr. ATC September 3, 1983
88 Gen W. L. Creech TAC February 4, 1984
89 Gen Robert T. Marsh AFSC June 16, 1984
90 Gen James V. Hartinger NORAD/SPACECOM29 June 1984
91 Lt Gen James W. Stansberry AFSC September 2, 1984
92 Maj Gen Donald W. Bennett MAC October 12, 1984
93 Gen Bennie L. Davis SAC October 18, 1984
94 Maj Gen John E. Taylor, Jr. USAFR October 27, 1984
95 Maj Gen John B. Conaway ANG April 10, 1985
96 Brig Gen Regis F. A. Urschler ESC May 1, 1985
97 Maj Gen Cornelius Nugteren AFLC May 31, 1985
98 Col Paul E. Landers, Jr. MAC June 17, 1985
99 Maj Gen Sloan R. Gill AFRES October 27, 1985
100 Col Robert D. Acres AFLC November 2, 1985
101 Gen John L. Piotrowski TAC January 24, 1986
102 Col James D. Elmer MAC February 8, 1986
103 Gen Charles A. Gabriel USAF March 22, 1986
104 Maj Gen Raymond A. Matera ANG April 18, 1986
105 Brig Gen George E. Chapman MAC April 26, 1986
106 Brig Gen Vernon J. Kondra MAC June 14, 1986
107 Col Louis V. Pelini MAC July 25, 1986
108 Maj Gen William J. Breckner, Jr. USAFE. August 30, 1986
109 Gen Earl T. O'Loughlin AFLC September 19, 1986
110 Brig Gen Floyd A. Hargrove MAC October 11, 1986
111 Maj Gen Gerald L. Prather AFCC October 17, 1986
112 Lt Gen Thomas C. Richards AU November 1, 1986
113 Maj Gen Chris O. Divich ATC January 15, 1987
114 Maj Gen Donald D. Brown MAC March 31, 1987
115 Maj Gen Donald Snyder PACAF April 8, 1987
116 Gen Lawrence A. Skantze AFSC April 25, 1987
117 Brig Gen Richard S. Beyea, Jr. AFOSI September 25, 1987
118 Col Richard C. Youngs AFRES September 26, 1987
119 Maj Gen Jack W. Sheppard MAC October 2, 1987
120 Lt Gen Edward L. Tixier PACAF January 11, 1988
121 Lt Gen David L. Nichols AAC May 7, 1988
122 Congressman Sonny Montgomery AFRES May 12, 1988
123 Gen Jack I. Gregory PACAF June 21, 1988
124 Maj Gen Ralph E. Spraker AFSPACECOM July 1, 1988
125 Honorable Caspar W. Weinberger USAF November 19, 1988
126 Maj Gen Melvin G. Alkire AFCOMS January 14, 1989
127 Gen William L. Kirk USAFE March 18, 1989
128 Brig Gen Alfred P. Bunting ANG March 28, 1989
129 Gen Alfred G. Hansen AFLC April 28, 1989
130 Maj Gen Paul H. Martin ESC July 14, 1989
131 Gen Duane H. Cassidy MAC August 18, 1989
132 Maj Gen Fredric F. Doppelt AFSC October 7, 1989
133 Maj Gen James C. Wahleithner AFRES October 14, 1989
134 Maj Gen Vernon Chong ATC December 2, 1989
135 Gen Larry D. Welch USAF March 3, 1990
136 Gen Bernard P. Randolph AFSC March 17, 1990
137 Col Edmund C. Morrisey, Jr., (Ret) ANG March 20, 1990
138 Gen Robert D. Russ TAC April 20, 1990
139 Maj Gen Robert B. Patterson, (Ret) MAC April 20, 1990
140 Lt Gen Robert C. Oaks ATC June 9, 1990
141 Maj Gen Larry N. Tibbetts ATC June 20, 1990
142 Maj Gen Roger P. Scheer AFRES August 25, 1990
143 Maj Gen Paul R. Stoney, (Ret) AFCC September 25, 1990
144 Gen Michael J. Dugan USAFE November 10, 1990
145 Lt Gen James B. Davis PACAF November 24, 1990
146 Maj Gen Paul A. Harvey ATC February 2, 1991
147 Lt Gen Charles R. Hamm USAFA April 26, 1991
148 Lt Gen Gordon E. Fornell AFSC May 11, 1991
149 Gen John T. Chain, Jr. SAC January 13, 1991
150 Lt Gen Donald L. Cromer AFSC May 17, 1991
151 Col Richard F. Law AFOSI June 20, 1991
152 Maj Gen Richard M. Pascoe TAC July 16, 1991
153 Maj Gen Joseph A. Ahearn USAF August 21, 1991
154 Lt Gen Richard J. Trzaskoma MAC September 27, 1991
155 Lt Gen Robert H. Ludwig AFCC September 28, 1991
156 Gen Charles C. McDonald AFLC February 29, 1992
157 Lt Gen Charles A. Horner TAC March 14, 1992
158 Lt Gen Clifford H. Rees, Jr. USAFE July 25, 1992
159 Col Charles L. Fox PACAF October 20, 1992
160 Gen Hansford T. Johnson AMC February 6, 1993
161 Gen Charles G. Boyd AU February 25, 1993
162 Maj Gen John S. Fairfield AFCC May 11, 1993
163 Maj Gen Philip G. Killey ANG November 9, 1993
164 Gen Ronald Fogleman AMC May 14, 1994
165 Maj Gen Robert S. Deligatti USAFE April 29, 1994
166 Lt Gen Bradley C. Hosmer USAFA April 29, 1994
167 Gen Ronald W. Yates AFMC March 5, 1994
168 Maj Gen Robert A. McIntosh AFRES July 29, 1994
169 Gen Merrill McPeak HQ USAF August 20, 1994
170 Gen Robert L. Rutherford PACAF August 23, 1994
171 Gen Henry Viccellio AETC October 1, 1994
172 Maj Gen Kenneth A. Minihan AIA October 24, 1994
173 Lt Gen Edward P. Barry, Jr. AFMC November 18, 1994
174 Gen Thomas Moorman AFSPC November 28, 1994
175 Gen John Michael Loh ACC February 25, 1995
176 Lt Gen Malcolm B. Armstrong AMC September 23, 1995
177 Gen James L. Jamerson USAFE November 18, 1995
178 Gen Joseph W. Ashy AFSPC August 17, 1996
179 Col John E. Killeen AFSPA September 14, 1996
180 Dr. William J. Perry HQ USAF October 19, 1996
181 Lt Gen James E. Sherrard III AFRES November 2, 1996
182 Maj Gen James L. Hobson, Jr. AFSOC January 24, 1997
183 Gen John G. Lorber PACAF June 30, 1997
184 Lt Gen Paul E. Stein USAFA July 12, 1997
185 Maj Gen Donald W. Shepperd NGB November 4, 1997
186 Col John L. Hayes AFWA April 4, 1998
187 Gen Michael E. Ryan USAFE April 17, 1998
188 Gen Walter Kross AMC July 18, 1998
189 Gen Howell M. Estes III AFSPC August 7, 1998
190 Lt Gen Kenneth E. Eickmann AFMC August 15, 1998
191 Gen Richard E. Hawley ACC April 17, 1999
192 Gen Lloyd W. Newton AETC June 18, 1999
193 Col Raymond W. Owens III AFOSI October 21, 1999
194 Maj Gen Paul A. Weaver Jr. ANG November 22, 1999
195 Gen. Charles R. Holland AFSOC January 22, 2000
196 Gen George T. Babbitt AFMC March 27, 2000
197 Gen John P. Jumper USAFE April 8, 2000
198 Brig Gen (Ret) Steven A. Roser AMC April 14, 2000
199 Lt Gen Tad J. Oelstrom AFSOC June 7, 2000
200 Brig Gen Richard A. Coleman AFSFC August 24, 2000
201 Honorable F. Whitten Peters HQ USAF December 16, 2000
202 Brig Gen (Ret) Heinie Aderholt AFSOC January 18, 2001
203 Gen Patrick Gamble PACAF April 6, 2001
204 Maj Gen David E. Tanzi AFRES June 2, 2001
205 Gen Charles T. Robertson AMC November 3, 2001
206 Gen Ralph E. Eberhart AFSC January 25, 2002
207 Lt Gen Maxwell C. Bailey AFSOC March 15, 2002
208 Gen Lester L. Lyles AFMC November 7, 2002
209 Gen Gregory S. Martin USAFE March 30, 2003
210 Maj Gen Timothy J. McMahon ACC October 22, 2004
211 Honorable James G. Roche (SECAF) HQ USAF September 13, 2004
212 Gen William J. Begert PACAF June 30, 2004
213 Gen Hal M. Hornburg ACC October 22, 2004
214 Gen Paul V. Hester AFSOC November 5, 2004
215 Lt Gen John D. Hopper, Jr. AETC December 10, 2004
216 Gen Donald G. Cook AETC June 14, 2005
217 Maj Gen Tommy Crawford 11th Wing July 22, 2005
218 Gen. John W. Handy AMC July 29, 2005
219 Gen Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong USAFE August 26, 2005
220 Brig Gen Francis X. Taylor AFOSI September 16, 2005
221 Lt. Gen. Daniel James III ANG November 16, 2005
222 Gen Lance W. Lord AFSPC February 11, 2006
223 Gen Duncan McNabb AMC September 16, 2007
224 Lt Gen Michael W. Wooley AFSOC September 21, 2007
225 Gen William T. Hobbins USAFE November 17, 2007
226 Gen Bruce Carlson AFMC December 6, 2007
227 Gen William R. Looney III AETC May 30, 2008
228 Col. Francis M. Mungavin USAFR October 24, 2008
229 Lt Gen Charles L. Johnson II AFMC June 20, 2008
230 Lt Gen Robert D. Bishop, Jr. USAFE July 19, 2008
231 Lt Gen Craig R. McKinley ANG November 1, 2008
232 Gen Stephen R. Lorenz[4] AETC July 16, 2010
233 Gen Roger A. Brady USAFE September 7, 2010
234 Gen Gary L. North[5] PACAF August 26, 2011
235 Lt. Gen Michael C. Gould[6] USAFA March 19, 2012[7]
236 Gen Donald J. Hoffman[8] AFMC March 30, 2012
237 Maj Gen Alfred K. Flowers[9] AETC April 6, 2012
238 Gen Raymond E. Johns, Jr. AMC November 28, 2012
239 Gen Norton A. Schwartz[10] AFSOC February 1, 2013
240 Brig Gen Kevin J. Jacobsen AFOSI July 8, 2013
241 Honorable Michael B. Donley (SECAF)[11] USAF September 13, 2013
242 Lt. Gen. James M. Kowalski[12] AFGSC November 6, 2014
243 Gen Frank Gorenc[13] USAFE April 7, 2016
244 Lt. Gen Stanley E. Clarke III[14] ANG April 17, 2016
245 Gen Mark A. Welsh III[15] USAF April 22, 2016
246 Lt. Gen James F. Jackson[16] USAFR July 13, 2016
247 Gen Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle[17] ACC October 27, 2016
248 Brig Gen Keith M. Givens AFOSI May 19, 2017
249 Gen Lori J. Robinson[18] USAF August 25, 2019

References
  1. Boone Nicolls, Airman's Guide. Stackpole Books, 2004 (ISBN 0-8117-3153-7), p. 12.
  2. "Noncommissioned officers recognize Air National Guard director", press release from the Texas National Guard Public Affairs Office, retrieved 1 September 2006.
  3. Names 1 through 231 taken from Members of the Order of the Sword Archived 2011-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Kilgallon, Paul (21 July 2010). "AETC inducts newest member into Order of the Sword". US Air Force Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  5. Gonzalez, Gustavo (1 September 2011). "COMPACAF presented Order of the Sword". US Air Force Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  6. Gould, Michael (13 December 2011). "AFA superintendent invited to join Order of the Sword". US Air Force Public Affairs. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  7. Gino Mattorano, Enlisted bestow highest honor on Academy superintendent, 26 March 2012, Air Force Academy Public Affairs
  8. "Enlisted corps honors AFMC commander with Order of the Sword". Air Force Materiel Command. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  9. Atkins, Clinton (7 April 2012). "General Flowers presented with Order of the Sword". Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  10. Ricks, Markeshia (6 February 2013). "Former CSAF Inducted into AFSOC Order of the Sword". Military Times. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  11. "Donley becomes 9th inductee into AF Order of the Sword". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  12. Raatz, Joseph (7 November 2014). "Kowalski first AFGSC Order of the Sword inductee". Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  13. "COMUSAFE inducted into Order of the Sword". Kaiserslautern American. 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  14. https://www.ang.af.mil/Media/Article-Display/Article/862740/ang-director-to-be-inducted-into-order-of-the-sword/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. "CMSAF Bestows CSAF with Air Force Order of the Sword". DVIDS. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  16. "Order of the Sword". DVIDS. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  17. "COMACC inducted into Order of the Sword". Air Combat Command. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  18. "Retired Gen. Lori Robinson receives Order of the Sword". DVIDS. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
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