United States Army 2LT Connor Thomas, founder of the My GI Foundation,  received a Army Achievement Medal for service as the OIC for a brigade-wide operation. The Army Achievement Medal (AAM) is granted to personnel for outstanding achievement or meritorious service not of a nature that merits the Commendation Medal. The AAM is commonly only given to officers in the pay grade of O-4 and below, as well as enlisted service members below the grade of E-7. The AAM can be granted in a combat area, but for non-combat meritorious service. The Achievement Medal is the lesser of the U.S. military's meritorious service medals, it was also first introduced as a means to recognize the contributions of enlisted personnel and junior officers who were not qualified to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service Medal. Additional awards are denoted by oak leaf clusters.