The original Combat Readiness Medal was an award senior to the Air Force Commendation Medal, and it was awarded for superior and meritorious duty to the United States Air Force.

A service member must have completed 24 cumulative months of sustained duty performance for the medal to be received.

On the obverse, it has an inverted triangle on top of a delta-swept winglike object, both representing supersonic aircraft.

This design is enclosed by a stylized compass rose, with triangles at the points, indicating the worldwide nature of the mission of the Air Force.

[2] Multiple presentations of the Combat Readiness Medal are authorized, with additional awards denoted by oak leaf clusters.