The Medal of Honor is the United States Armed Forces’ highest military decoration, awarded to service members who distinguish themselves by acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty in armed conflict with an enemy of the United States. It is typically presented by the President in the name of Congress, and is often referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor, though the official name is simply the Medal of Honor. There are three variant versions (Army, Navy/Marine/Coast Guard, and Air Force) corresponding to the branch of service, with the Air Force having its own distinct design since 1965. The medal was established during the Civil War, with the Navy version created in 1861 and the Army version in 1862, making it the oldest continuously issued combat decoration in the U.S. Armed Forces. As of recent counts, thousands of recipients have been honored for acts of extraordinary bravery, and the award has become a symbol of the highest level of military valor and sacrifice.