The Liberty Institute, which has represented SMSgt Philip Monk in his allegation of religious discrimination against the US Air Force, announced that SMSgt Monk had been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for the time period covering his last assignment:

Monk’s attorney, Mike Berry of Liberty Institute, says the Air Force has recognized the outstanding job Monk did as first sergeant…

Berry sees the award as a testament to Monk’s courage and conviction…

“For a long time his future and even his military retirement and pension were kind of up in the air and we weren’t really sure what was going to happen to him,” Berry continues. “And yet now we have the Air Force coming out and awarding him this prestigious military honor for his tenure there at that unit.”

As some others have noted, the MSM is a “common” award for Airmen of Monk’s rank and position as they leave one assignment and move to another — but that is essentially the point. The Air Force could have withheld the award, and some critics clearly believe they should have not only withheld it but punished Monk as well.

There were very public accusations leveled against SMSgt Monk. While the exoneration of SMSgt Monk was not as strongly publicized as the initial criticisms, it would seem the Air Force considers the matter closed — and SMSgt Monk’s service “reflects great credit upon…the United States Air Force.”

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