Unified Scoring Matrix — USM-25

The complete scoring methodology used to rank decorated military heroes

1. Base Medal Values

Medal of Honor, Victoria Cross, George Cross (and coded Indian level-1 gallantry)100 pts per instance

Level 2 — Service Crosses (DSC, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross), DFC, MC, DSO, CGC, etc.75 pts per instance

Level 3 — Silver Star, Military Medal, DSM, Vir Chakra, etc.50 pts per instance (Silver Star always 50)

Level 4 — Bronze Star / Commendation Medal (with V or gallantry), MiD, QGM, etc.25 pts per instance when valor applies

Legion of Merit24 pts

Purple Heart & wound stripes0 pts first instance; +5 per additional (wound bonus)

Foreign gallantry & national orders (not flat 100 for every #1)Tiered bases (~70 typical top tier); +15 when gallantry-flagged; 100 cap on foreign patterns; Virtuti Militari 90 base; Légion Grand-Croix 70; gold/silver/bronze or 1st/2nd/3rd class → 100% / 66% / 33% of pattern base

Other medalsCatalog basePoints when no engine pattern matches

2. Bonuses and Multipliers

Multiple awardsFull value × count per instance

Valor devices (config)+2 pts per V device (default)

Combat theater+5 pts per distinct war/theater (default)

Combat leadership+10 pts for unit-level command in combat (default)

Survival / POW heroism+15 pts when POW heroism flag applies (default)

Wounds bonus+5 pts per additional Purple Heart / wound stripe after the first (default)

3. Combat Achievement Modifier (defaults)

Aviation — ace threshold+25 at 5 confirmed kills, then +2 per kill beyond 5 (defaults; defining-missions multiplier not applied to aviation ace line)

Submarine — ship sink threshold+25 for first 3 ships sunk, +5 per ship beyond 3 when in command; extreme-risk missions ×25 pts each (defaults)

Surface / generic — major engagements+5 pts per engagement (default)

Surface / generic — defining missions & conspicuous bravery+10 pts per mission (default)

4. Cumulative Recognition

Multi-service or multi-war+5% of subtotal before rounding (default)

5. Ranking Rules

TotalsRounded to nearest 5 pts (default)

Tie-breaker 1Highest single award

Tie-breaker 2Total combat tours

Tie-breaker 3Wounds sustained

About This Matrix

The Unified Scoring Matrix (USM-25) is a standardized framework designed to objectively assess and rank military heroes based on their documented awards, combat service, and recognized achievements. The matrix was developed to provide a transparent, academically defensible methodology for comparing decorated service members across different eras, branches, and conflicts. All scores are computed automatically from verified award records.

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