Established in March 2004, the Gallant Unit Citation honors Air Force units that have demonstrated exceptionally heroic service in combat against hostile forces on or subsequent to September 11, 2001, typically entailing risk of life but of a lesser degree than would warrant the Presidential Unit Citation and roughly equivalent to feats that would warrant the Silver Star. The Gallant Unit Citation is generally awarded to units no larger than a group and for a single act or brief period of service.
The ribbon is bisected by a vertical red stripe flanked on either side by a thinner white stripe, a thick dark blue stripe, and red edging proceeding outward.
Subsequent awards may be indicated by oak leaf clusters.