---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 313"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "313"
heading: "Bilateral or regional cooperation programs: awards and mementos to recognize superior noncombat achievements or performance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/313"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part I — Organization and General Military Powers"
  - "Chapter 16 — Security Cooperation"
  - "Subchapter II — Military-To-Military Engagements"
---

# §313. Bilateral or regional cooperation programs: awards and mementos to recognize superior noncombat achievements or performance

- (a) **General Authority.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may present awards and mementos purchased with funds appropriated for operation and maintenance of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) to recognize superior noncombat achievements or performance by members of friendly foreign forces and other foreign nationals that significantly enhance or support the [National Security](/usc/10/801.md?p=16) Strategy of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1).
- (b) **Activities That May Be Recognized.—** Activities that may be recognized under [subsection (a)](#a) include superior achievement or performance that—
  - (1) plays a crucial role in shaping the international security [environment](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) in ways that protect and promote [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) interests;
  - (2) supports or enhances [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) overseas presence and peacetime engagement activities, including defense cooperation initiatives, security assistance [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) and [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1), and [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) and exercises with the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4);
  - (3) helps to deter aggression and coercion, build coalitions, and promote regional stability; or
  - (4) serves as a role model for appropriate conduct by [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) forces in emerging democracies.
- (c) **Limitation.—** Expenditures for the purchase or production of mementos for award under this section may not exceed the minimal value in effect under [section 7342(a)(5) of title 5](/usc/5/7342.md?p=a-5).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title XII, § 1222(a), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1652, § 1051b; renumbered § 313, Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XII, § 1241(b), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2500.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2016—Pub. L. 114–328 renumbered section 1051b of this title as this section.