Medals

Council Medal of Honor

Medals are new upgrades that can be given to soldiers in XCOM: Enemy Within.

XCOM Database

“	As XCOM fights against the alien invasion, medals will periodically become available. These can be awarded to soldiers entirely at the Commander's discretion. Before awarding a medal, the Commander must choose which ability that medal type will confer upon its recipient.	”
– XCOM Database, XCOM: Enemy Within

Acquisition

Medals are unlocked by completing certain criteria. In general, unlocking a medal requires successfully completing a certain type of mission. 

Once a given medal type is unlocked, additional medals are awarded by completing a specific number of missions after unlock - all mission types count toward the number for additional medals, regardless of what type of mission was required to unlock the medal.

Additionally, if a decorated soldier dies, their medals will become available again after two missions. This number is the same, regardless of the type of medal. Dismissing a soldier results in the permanent loss of their medal(s), therefore it may be preferable to have a decorated soldier die in action rather than dismissing them.

Medals can be renamed, have their particular bonuses chosen (a permanent choice between one of two potential powers for each medal type), and be awarded to individual soldiers from the Barracks. Awarding a soldier a medal initiates a brief cutscene showing them in dress uniform with the medal and saluting. Each soldier can only receive one of each medal type.

Medal Types

There are five different types of Medals, each with specific conditions for unlocking, and a maximum number available. 

Urban Combat Badge

Unlocked by: Completing 2 Alien Abduction missions.
Additional: 2, 5, and 8 missions after unlock (ie, 2 more, 3 more, 3 more).
Maximum: 4
Combat Bonus:

	+5 Defense when in cover.
OR
	+5 Aim against enemies in full cover.

Defender's Medal

Unlocked by: Having a soldier die during a mission. (Tutorial unlocks this). A SHIV counts for this.
Additional: 2 and 5 missions after unlock (ie, 2 more, 3 more).
Maximum: 3
Combat Bonus:

	Never panic as a result of allies getting wounded or killed.
OR
	Medikits and Restorative Mist heal 2 HP more when used on the soldier.

International Service Cross

Unlocked by: Completing missions on three different continents.
Additional: 6 missions after unlock.
Maximum: 2
Combat Bonus:

	+2 Will per different nationality in the squad.
OR
	+2 Aim per continent bonus XCOM has earned.

Council Medal of Honor

Unlocked by: Completing three Council Missions, Terror Sites or Covert Operations.
Additional: 9 missions after unlock.
Maximum: 2
Combat Bonus:

	+1 Aim and Will for each mission completed with no soldier deaths, up to a maximum of +10.
OR
	+10 Aim and Critical Chance if not within 7 tiles of an allied unit.

Star of Terra

Awarded for: Completing the XCOM Base Defense mission.
Additional: None.
Maximum: 1
Combat Bonus:

	Entire squad receives +5 Will and +5 Defense in battle. Robotic units receive only the Defense bonus.
OR
	All soldiers in the squad at Lieutenant rank or lower gain +25% XP for completing missions.

Notes

• The criteria for Defender's Medals has not been completely confirmed. Please review and/or contribute to the article's talk page.
• Designating a Psionic soldier with all five medals as The Volunteer grants the "Guardian of Earth" achievement.
• The Council Medal of Honor's requirement regarding "no soldier deaths" includes the sacrifice of enemy units under active XCOM control – whether this is via Mind Control or Drone Hack.

Trivia

• The Star of Terra is also an award that a Commander Shepard with the 'War Hero' background received in Mass Effect.

Gallery

A soldier salutes after receiving his first medal.

A MEC Trooper with four medals.

A highly decorated soldier with all five medals.

XCOM Database image