Awards List
Here is a list of the awards available from the Air Defense Artillery Association.
The History of Saint Barbara and Molly Pitcher
The patron Saint of Air Defenders is Saint Barbara. She will protect against thunderstorms, fire and explosions.
Mary Hays McCauley was an artillery wife that stepped in to provide pitchers of water to the soldiers during the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. When her husband fell wounded, she took the rammer staff and manned a gun. For her heroic role, General George Washington issued her a warrant as a non commissioned officer. 
Air Defenders worldwide honor our current members through the presentation of Saint Barbara and Molly Pitcher awards.
The Honorable Order of Saint Barbara
The Honorable Order of Saint Barabara recognizes those individuals who have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and moral character, have displayed an outstanding degree of competence, and served the United States Army Air Defense Artillery Branch with selflessness. Individuals must have significantly contributed to the promotion of the Air Defense Artillery branch in ways that stand out in the eyes of the recipient’s seniors, subordinates, and peers alike.
Nominations for the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara must be made by a member of the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. The Air Defense Artillery Commandant reserves the right to waive any requirements. All Honorable Order of Saint Barbara nominees must be an ADA Association member. Those who are not current members will need to follow the proper procedures to procure membership with the ADA Association.
The Ancient Order of Saint Barbara
The more distinguished of the two levels of the Order of Saint Barbara. This honor recognizes the select few individuals who stand above their peers of the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. The criteria for accession into the Ancient Order are to have made extraordinary contributions through long-term service for, or on behalf of, the United States Army Air Defense Artillery branch. The Ancient Order is reserved for those members whose careers have embodied the spirit, dignity, sense of sacrifice and commitment epitomized by Saint Barbara. Membership in the Honorable Order is a prerequisite for membership in the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara.
The Honorable Order of Molly Pitcher
The Honorable Order of Molly Pitcher recognizes those individuals who have voluntarily contributed in a significant way to the improvement of the Air Defense Artillery Community.
Nominations for the Honorable Order of Molly Pitcher must be made by a member of the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. All nominees or their spouse must be an ADA Association member. Those who are not or whose spouses may not be members will need to follow the proper procedures to procure membership with the ADA Association
The Esteemed Order of Molly Pitcher
The Esteemed Order of Molly Pitcher is the more distinguished of the two levels of awards. It recognizes those individuals who stand above their peers in the Honorable Order of Molly Pitcher. The criteria for accession into the Esteemed Order are to have made extraordinary voluntary long term contributions through service for, or on behalf of, the Air Defense Artillery branch. Esteemed Molly Pitcher nominees must have also contributed in a significant way to the improvement of the Air Defense Artillery community.
*The Air Defense Artillery Association has updated its submission process for award nominations. Submissions via email and payments made by phone are no longer accepted.
To initiate the submission process, nominators or the Point of Contact (POC) must log into their membership account. On our website, navigate to the "Products" section at the top, where you'll find a drop-down menu of products, including awards. Select the desired awards, add them to your cart, and proceed to checkout. Upon completing the payment, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the JotForm for submissions.
Submission requirements vary based on rank. For foreign military members, Air Defense Artillery Association membership is not mandatory; please enter '0' for the membership number in such cases. However, nominations for other branches of the military and civilians must possess an Air Defense Artillery Association membership. Molly Pitcher award nominations may use the spouse's membership number.
It's important to note that CONUS (Continental United States) submissions must be completed a minimum of 6 weeks before the presentation date, while OCONUS (Outside Continental United States) submissions require a minimum of 8 weeks before the presentation date. Failure to meet these timelines will incur a late fee and necessitate a Letter of Lateness from the unit.
Nominations are forwarded from the ADA Association to the ADA Commandant's office for routing. The ADA Commandant retains the authority to approve or deny any award nomination. If the ADA Commandant deems the justification insufficient for the honor, the ADA Association will notify the POC and issue a partial refund of $22.50 for the payment.
This is the 2024 Revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
For any questions or concerns please contact us by e-mail at officeadmin@firsttofire.net or by phone at (580)-919-2174.
EXAMPLE SAINT BARBARA AND MOLLY PITCHER MEMORANDUMS
