Personnel Service Center (PSC) | U.S. Coast Guard.Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard - Wikipedia
Looking for:
USCG Medals and Awards Manual- COMDTINST ME | Make It Easier To Serve |
- Coast Guard Honorary Awards Program (CG) | Guard
An official website of the United States government Here's how you know. /16713.txt websites use. Department of Defense organization in the United States. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Uscg awards manual to main content Press Enter. CG-6 Home. CG Home. Commandant Directives Menu.
About CG Directives System. Commandant Instructions. Commandant Uscg awards manual. Commandant Change Notices. Commandant Instruction Manuals. DCMS Instructions. Forms Management. Coast Guard CG Forms. Interagency Agreements. Postal Management.
Printing and Publishing. Records Management. Section FOIA Logs. Frequently Requested Records. Safety Mishap Analysis Summaries. Collection of Information CG-6P. Active Collections. Manuals require a table of contents and must be organized by chapters and sections.
When a manual imposes reporting requirements, they will appear in the prescribing LOP. Manuals uscg awards manual be reviewed every five years for content, and when the contents are no longer applicable the information is cancelled by the originator or a higher authority.
Page 4 of 9.
Awards > United States Coast Guard > USCG Resources.Awards > United States Coast Guard > USCG Resources
Commandant Instruction Manuals. DCMS Instructions. Forms Management. Coast Guard CG Forms. Interagency Agreements. Postal Management. Printing and Publishing. No service stars are authorized. Service members must be bona fide members of a unit participating for one or more days in the operation within the designated area of eligibility AOE , or meet one or more of the following criteria:.
Qualifying Operations. Awarded to military personnel under the general and specific criteria below:. Direct participation is defined as being physically present at the designated location, having directly contributed to and influenced action. The designated location is the immediate site s of the humanitarian operations as defined by the Presidential request for assistance in the U. When appropriate, the local commander in his or her recommendation may propose specific clarification of designated boundaries based on the intent of the Presidential or Department of State request.
Specifically excluded from eligibility are service members or elements remaining at geographically separate locations or who were assigned to the location, but did not make a direct contribution to, nor influenced the action. Award of the HSM does not preclude or conflict with other medals or ribbons awarded on the basis of unit achievement, or of individual valor, achievement, or meritorious service.
No person will be entitled to more than one award of the HSM for participation in the same military act or operation of a humanitarian nature.
The following types of military acts or operations may qualify for award of this medal:. These must be above and beyond routine actions. Similarly, in accordance with the laws and traditions of the seas , the rescue of stricken vessels by Coast Guard units would not normally be eligible. See enclosure 17 for Coast Guard approved operations. Service rendered in the act or operation being considered must meet the following criteria:.
The Humanitarian Service Medal must not be awarded for participation in domestic disturbances involving law enforcement, equal rights to citizens, or protection of properties. The Humanitarian Service Medal is awarded to individuals, not units. As such, only those people who meet the specific requirements and guidelines in Paragraph 5. Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States and their Reserve Components who, subsequent to 31 December , perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct, and consequential nature.
While there is no specific time threshold to qualify for the MOVSM, award periods of less than two years are uncommon; approval authorities must ensure the service to be honored merits the special recognition afforded by this medal. The MOVSM is intended to recognize exceptional community support over an extended period of time and not a single act or achievement.
Voluntary service while deployed in support of a contingency operation is not qualifying for award of the MOVSM. It is intended to honor direct support of community activities. While all members, as good citizens, should become involved in some level of community support, this award recognizes the truly outstanding volunteers.
Volunteer Fire Dept. At a minimum, the Summary of Action should contain the following: 1 the community activity name, address, and point of contact; 2 the period of service; 3 a description of the mission and population served; 4 a description of the service rendered and the impact or results achieved; and 5 the approximate number of hours contributed.
Award Elements. The letter is prepared on Commandant stationery and is signed by the awarding authority. Awarded to personnel of the Armed Forces of the U. The member must not have been recognized by another service award, such as the Humanitarian Service Medal, for the same operation during the same period of service. See enclosure 19 for a listing of approved operations. The Coast Guard Special Operations Service SOS Ribbon may be authorized for any of the following categories of multi-unit or multi-service operations, but may not be awarded for training:.
Definitions and Guidelines. Recommendations for this award will be submitted to the Area Commander or CG PSC-PSD-ma via the appropriate chain of command, within two years of the military act or operation to be recognized.
Recommendations must be in letter form and include the following:. Procurement, Issuance, and Manner of Wear. The awarding authority will distribute initial issue quantities; recipients may purchase replacement ribbon bars. There is no citation to accompany the SOS Ribbon. Enclosure 22 indicates the precedence of the award. Awarded to active and inactive duty members of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve or non-Coast Guard personnel who, under temporary or permanent assignment, satisfactorily complete a minimum of 12 months cumulative sea duty first award.
For the purposes of the award, sea duty is defined as duty performed:. Verification of Entitlement and Issuance. Commanding officers or officers in charge are authorized to verify service records and issue this award to eligible individuals based upon cumulative qualifying duty time. For those personnel whose service records do not clearly show entitlement, an affidavit certified by the member, showing dates of service and the name of the unit, may be used.
Units established at or in support of contingency operations are ineligible; similarly, units eligible for campaign or expeditionary medals are excluded. Coast Guard personnel assigned to units where it is optional to have accompanying dependents are not eligible for this award.
Commanding officers or officers in charge may authorize and issue this award to unit personnel at the end of each PCS tour of restricted duty. In addition, they are authorized to verify service records and issue this award to eligible individuals based on past PCS tours of restricted duty, ensuring appropriate service record entries are made.
For eligibility purposes, two inactive duty for training IDT periods equal one day of qualifying service. Travel time does not count. Overseas is defined as duty outside the United States. Alaska and Hawaii are not eligible for this service award. Duty on board U. Personnel who receive or are eligible to receive the Coast Guard Restricted Duty Ribbon or an award for similar service from another branch of the Armed Forces are not eligible to receive the Coast Guard Overseas Service Ribbon for the same period.
No waivers or exceptions are authorized. The ribbon may be awarded retroactively to personnel who are credited with completion of a tour of overseas duty as stated in the eligibility criteria above. Individuals requesting awards for service prior to the approval date of the award are eligible for the initial award only.
Personnel requesting verification of their eligibility are responsible for providing supporting documentation to their current unit commander to substantiate eligibility for this award. Subsequent awards of the Coast Guard Overseas Service Ribbon are authorized for completion of additional tours of duty meeting the requirements above.
The Commanding Officer, U. Coast Guard Training Center, Cape May, New Jersey, may authorize and issue the award s at the end of each recruit training period, ensuring appropriate service record entries. Individuals who believe themselves eligible for, but have not received this award may submit a request for verification and issuance to Commanding Officer, U. Individuals who graduated from Coast Guard recruit training prior to 1 April and believe they are eligible for this award may submit a request, with supporting documentation, to CG PSC-PSD-ma, via the chain of command.
Active duty personnel who successfully complete a PCS tour of at least two consecutive years of duty in recruiting are eligible for the award. The award is retroactive to those personnel who have successfully completed at least two consecutive years of duty in recruiting on or after 1 January Inactive duty reserve personnel who complete recruiter personnel qualification standards and drill at or augment a recruiting office for a minimum of two years are eligible for the award.
All service after 1 January may be credited. Only one award may be earned by inactive duty reserve personnel; subsequent awards are not authorized for continued service under this criterion. The Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Recruiting Command, and Superintendent, Coast Guard Academy will issue the award upon the completion of the first two years of an initial recruiting tour on or after 26 January All subsequent awards will be issued upon successful completion of additional tours of recruiting.
In cases of extensions to second or subsequent tours in recruiting, award eligibility will be granted upon final tour completion. For Satisfactory Service for a Period of 10 Years. Such years of service must have been performed within a period of 12 consecutive years and with a minimum of 50 points per qualifying year. Service in a regular component of the Armed Forces is excluded, except active duty service performed by members of a reserve component will be included.
Any period during which reserve service is interrupted by one or more of the following will be excluded in computing, but will not be considered as a break in the period of 12 years:. Coast Guard Reserve members who receive orders changing their duty status or legal authority under which they perform duty, their duty location, or assignment to support a contingency operation are eligible for the award.
Only one award of the mobilization device is authorized per contingency or operation. The year hourglass device is authorized for wear on the AFRM to denote each succeeding year period as follows:. No number is worn for the first award. Issuance, Procurement, and Verification of Entitlement. Unit commanding officers are delegated the authority to award the AFRM to eligible personnel.
Commands unable to verify qualifying service for individuals claiming entitlement to this medal who have not received it may submit requests for verification and issuance to CG PSC-PSD-ma. Expert medals and marksmanship ribbons will be awarded for achieving specified scores over a prescribed course of fire. Marksman, sharpshooter, or expert awards are permanent. Awarded to Coast Guard personnel who qualify as expert with the service rifle over a prescribed course of fire.
Awarded to Coast Guard personnel who qualify as expert with the service pistol over a prescribed course of fire. Authorized for each Coast Guard person who qualifies as marksman or better with the service rifle over a prescribed course of fire.
The ribbon is worn without any device for marksman qualification. Authorized for each Coast Guard person who qualifies as marksman or better with the service pistol of one of the prescribed courses of fire. Expert Rifleman and Pistol Shot Medals are awarded by district commanders and commanding officers of headquarters units for initial qualification only. Ribbons, attachments and miniature medals may be obtained by the member from commercial sources. Personal awards tendered to members of the Coast Guard by friendly foreign nations or non-U.
Requests to accept, retain, and wear non-U. The memorandum will contain a copy of the award certificate and citation, the period of service for the award, the date received, and from whom the award was received. Such awards take precedence among themselves in the order earned, except that when two or more are received from the same country, they are worn in accordance with the precedence established by the country.
Unit Awards. The only non-U. United Nations Medal. Awarded to U. There is a corresponding service ribbon. A bronze service star is worn on the medal and service ribbon to denote subsequent awards for participation in more than one of the qualifying operations. See enclosure 20 for a list of qualifying operations. Their practice is to use the same medallion for all awards with a different suspension ribbon for each authorized operation. Medal with unique suspension and service ribbon for which they are eligible.
Medal will normally be awarded by the Chief of the U. Questions regarding eligibility must be addressed to the U. Inter-American Defense Board. Coast Guard personnel assigned to the Inter- American Defense Board may wear the badge as instructed by reference a. The ribbon only is authorized for post-assignment wear. Additional Non-U. This Chapter discusses awards formerly authorized for issue to Coast Guard personnel for which the eligibility period has permanently expired.
Awards are arranged chronologically in order of first to most-recently inactivated. Criteria are listed for reference only and included as published at the time the awards were rendered inactive. Republic of Korea War Service Medal. On 20 August , the Defense Department approved the acceptance and wear of the medal. The ROK specifies the eligibility period and criteria. Only the ROK-provided medal is approved by the U.
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Awarded in recognition of service performed in Vietnam on or after 1 March , in the cause of the Republic of Vietnam. The provision of Public Law permits acceptance of the medal. Service in connection with the Military Assistance Program does not preclude acceptance of this medal. After determination of eligibility, the commanding officer must take the following action: For active duty personnel who claim eligibility for the award by reason of prior service on shore in Vietnam or within the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or Vietnam Service Medal eligibility area, on the basis of available records, make appropriate entries in enlisted service records and address official letters to officers, certifying eligibility for the award, authorizing the wearing of the ribbon bar with device and indicating the date of issuance.
Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States under the following conditions:. Upon application, any such member may be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal in lieu of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for such service. However, no person shall be entitled to both awards for service in an area for which the Vietnam Service Medal has been authorized.
Specific Personnel Eligible. Attached to or regularly serving for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations; attached to or regularly serving for 1 or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; actual participation as a crewmember in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations; service for 30 consecutive or 60 non- consecutive days, except that time limit may be waived for personnel participation in actual combat operations.
See enclosure 16 for a list of authorized campaigns and Coast Guard units having service creditable for the Vietnam Service Medal. Kuwait Liberation Medal Saudi Arabia. The Deputy Secretary of Defense authorized the acceptance and wearing of this medal. Eligibility requirements for the award are as follows:. That time limitation may be waived for personnel who participated in actual combat operations. Since the Government of Saudi Arabia specified the eligibility period and geographic boundaries, those criteria may not be waived.
Kuwait Liberation Medal Kuwait. The Deputy Secretary of Defense authorized the acceptance and wearing of this medal on 7 August Since the Government of Kuwait specified the eligibility period and geographic boundaries, those criteria may not be waived. Awarded to military personnel in designated areas of operation as follows:. Individuals serving in Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, and Jordan, including airspace and territorial waters , between 17 January and 30 November are also eligible for award of this medal.
The time limitation may be waived for people who participated in actual combat operations. The campaign periods are designated as:. Awarded to senior government transportation officials who, through visionary leadership, have re-directed the focus and resources of their organization, or major entities within their organization, and had a profound impact in their field, federal government or on the general public in providing for the protection and security of the United States and its citizens.
New recommendations for the Department of Transportation Guardian Medal are not authorized. To justify this decoration, nominations must demonstrate exceptional performance of duty while in a position of great responsibility, clearly above that normally expected, which has contributed materially to the betterment of the United States.
Submission Requirements. Authorized by the Secretary of Transportation on 11 February Awarded to employees of the Department of Transportation and private citizens for meritorious service resulting from unusual and outstanding achievement in response to the attacks on September 11, The award may be made posthumously and the decoration and certificate presented to the next of kin with appropriate ceremony.
Specifically this award is authorized for the following personnel:. Commanding officers of Coast Guard units must forward a complete list of names for those individuals eligible with a summary of action, not longer than one page, for each person via the chain of command to the Area Commander.
In the event that actions of a group of individuals were very similar in nature, and can easily be described in a single page, commands may group these names together and attach them to a single summary of action for submission.
Awarded to an individual serving in any capacity within the DOT, Merchant Marines , or other civilians, for an act or service that contributed to recovery from the attacks of 11 September , force protection following the attacks, or efforts that directly contributed to the increased infrastructure security effort between 11 September and 11 September The award may be made posthumously and the decoration and certificate presented to the next of kin with an appropriate ceremony.
Specifically, it may be awarded to the following authorized personnel:. Participation in these operations must be no less than 14 days. Awarded to persons who have provided extraordinarily meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility while assigned in the Department of Transportation, either national or international, as may be assigned by the Secretary. Department of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award. Since the operations that merit the Department of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award are unique and usually very broad in scope, there is no standard opening or commendatory remarks for the award citations.
Coast Guard are as follows:. Navy are as follows:. Public Law on Oct. Aviation Detachment, U. Disaster Control Group 2. Disaster Control Group 8. CG Liaison Office, U. Group Sandy Hook, Ft. Station St. Task Group Service must have been performed under honorable conditions.
No court martial conviction allowed. No misconduct allowed. To MCM 2Article 4. Between 14 July and 31 December , persons serving in their first enlistment who meet the requirements for a Good Conduct Medal, except for 3 months or less of completing a 4-year period of continuous active duty due to early discharge under the provisions of articles 1.
Prior service in any of the Armed Forces is considered a first enlistment, and any later enlistment in the Coast Guard is considered reenlistment and is not subject to the above benefit. The period of service for a second award shall begin on the date of return to active duty in a subsequent enlistment. The reason for issuing a good conduct award for less than 4 years of service as indicated above shall be entered on page 7 of the service record.
Coast Guard units authorized this medal for the Cuban operation during the period 03 January to 23 October inclusive. Cuban operation area is defined as that water area: between 12oN and 28oN latitude and between 66oW and 84oW longitude. Coast Guard Vessels, Units, and Special Flights listed below are eligible for this medal during period of operation listed. The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the armed forces, who served in Vietnam, its contiguous waters, or airspace, between 15 March and 28 March Personnel serving in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia, in direct support of operations in Vietnam, during this period, are also eligible for the medal.
To qualify for award of the Vietnam Service Medal an individual must have met one of the following qualifications: - Be attached to or regularly serve for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting or aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations.
Additional bronze stars awarded for each subsequent period of service. A silver star is used in place of five 5 bronze stars. The decoration was also awarded throughout the Vietnam War to certain units of the U. The medal was awarded by the Vietnam Government to military personnel who accomplished deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while fighting the enemy and has been cited individually at the regiment, brigade, division, corps, or armed forces level. The ribbon bar with frame and palm are authorized for wear by personnel who served with certain cited units in Southeast Asia during the approved periods.
Eligibility requirements: - Wounded or injured in hostile action. The six 6 months required need not be consecutive. Snow Blow, Operation St. Soufriere Eruption Operation St. Western U. Support to U. There is no doubt that the Coast Guard cherishes its many peacetime activities. But it is also proud of its services in the wars of the United States. In this war and the War of , these small, lightly armed cutters proved their worth against experienced European warships.
Embroidering the names of battles on flags may be traced to the early days of the republic. By the end of the 19th century, embroidery was discontinued in favor of inscribed silver bands around the color staffs.
This too was changed in World War I in favor of small ribbons bearing battle names. The impressive ceremonies were appropriately held at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
The words of the Commandant on that occasion best summarize the purpose of Battle Streamers on the Coast Guard Color:. Let these Battle Streamers forever stand as a living memorial and a lasting tribute to our gallant personnel, who, by their deeds and heroic action, served the Coast Guard and their nation with glory and distinction in its hour of need.
The Coast Guard adopted battle streamers following the practice established by the U. The streamers are attached to the Coast Guard standard, replacing cords and tassels. Streamers will be affixed to the streamer attachment at the top of the flagstaff below the topping. The senior streamer will be fastened to the front of the streamer attachment, followed by the remaining streamers, in descending order, clockwise around the attachment.
They are carried in all ceremonies, representing heroic actions in all maritime and naval encounters from to the Global War on Terrorism and beyond. The battle streamers may be displayed by major commands.
Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation with Hurricane Device: The streamer has nine stripes consisting of white, orange, white, corsaire blue, white, corsaire blue, white, orange, and white. The citation was awarded for meritorious achievement and outstanding performance in response to Hurricane Katrina from 29 August to 13 September The men and women of the Coast Guard were responsible for rescuing over 33, people, beginning clean-up operations of 9. For this specific award, members authorized the award will wear the ribbon with hurricane device.
Navy Presidential Unit Citation: The streamer is blue, gold, and red. The award was again presented to specific units for their outstanding performance of duty in New York Harbor following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center from September 11, through October 22, Coast Guard Unit Commendation: The streamer has nine stripes consisting of blue, yellow, red, green, white, green, red, yellow, and blue.
Awarded by the Commandant and by those designated, to any unit which has distinguished itself by valorous or extremely meritorious service not involving combat but in support of Coast Guard operations, which renders the unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service. Navy Unit Commendation: The streamer is green with two groupings of blue, yellow and red stripes. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation: The streamer has nine stripes consisting of blue, white, green, white, light blue, white, green, white, and blue.
Awarded by the Commandant and by those designated, to any unit which has distinguished itself by valorous or meritorious achievement or service not involving combat but in support of Coast Guard operations, which renders the unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service.
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation: The streamer green with two groupings of yellow, blue and yellow; red center. The commendation is awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit distinguishing itself under combat or non-combat conditions. Army Meritorious Unit Commendation: The streamer is scarlet.
The commendation was awarded by the Secretary of the Army to the Coast Guard Port Security and Waterways Detail Vietnam for its operations in securing port areas and supervising the handling of ammunition and explosives in Vietnam between 15 October and 15 April Maritime Protection of the New Republic: The streamer is alternating horizontal stripes of eight red scarlet and eight white.
The streamer was adopted on 30 December to recognize the heroic actions of the Revenue Cutter Service--the forerunner of the U. Coast Guard--which served as the sole maritime defense force protecting our young Nation from to Most notably, the Revenue Cutter Service fought against French privateers who were seizing British and Spanish ships in American waters. Coast Guard today. French Naval War Quasi-War with France : The streamer is light blue with two groupings of red, white and blue stripes.
Although out-gunned, and outnumbered, the cutters distinguished themselves. War of The streamer is scarlet with two white stripes. In all, the cutters took 18 enemy ships. Nominations for most Coast. Allen-Yearout was a driving force in establishing the Coast Guard Ombudsman Program and symbolizes voluntary commitment to the Coast Guard mission by supporting our members and their families.
National Awards for Reservists Here are three national awards with two categories each that recognize Reservists with exemplary service in honor of the leaders for which they were named. Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Awards Criteria and Submission Template An annual recognition of units from each of the Armed Forces Reserve components that have demonstrated excellence in family readiness and have contributed to mission success.
Some of the awards are also available for spouses of Reservists. Replacement of U. List of cited cutters and units Disposition of Citations Gold and Silver Lifesaving Medals Certificate of Valor Campaign and service awards DOT Medal Antarctica Service Medal DOT Ribbon Eligibility Requirements Leadership and Service Awards Captain Edward R.
Swivel Shot Award Master Chief Angela M. McShan Inspirational Leadership Award Commodore Charles S. Greanoff Inspirational Leadership Award Operations Awards Perchard Memorial Trophy Ancient Albatross Award Coast Guard Reserve Forces Awards Coast Guard Public Service Awards Public Affairs Awards Financial Management Awards Acquisition Awards Engineering Awards Oren Medal Sargent Medal Solberg Award David W.
Taylor Medal Lucas Plaque Perry Award Stabile Award Intelligence Awards This Manual contains Coast Guard policy, regulations, and information concerning awards available to individuals and units in or associated with the Coast Guard.
It explains procedures for awarding personal decorations, unit decorations, service awards, and nonmilitary decorations, and acceptance of foreign military decorations by members of the Armed Forces of the United States. It describes the various awards and the eligibility requirement for each.
Some awards not usually associated with the Coast Guard are also mentioned for informational purposes. The Commandant, via Chief, Office of Military Personnel CG , may issue directives and changes as required, to amplify and modify the provisions of this Manual to meet special situations.
Authorization for awards and penalties for the unauthorized disposition and wear of awards. In addition, 18 USC prohibits and imposes a suitable penalty for the unauthorized wearing, manufacture, or sale of any decoration, medal, or ribbon, which has or may be authorized by the Armed Forces of the United States, except when authorized under regulations pursuant to law.
Awards as recognition. The judicious and timely use of personal decorations and unit awards provides an effective means of fostering high morale, incentive, and esprit de corps; therefore, recommendations for military decorations and awards must be initiated promptly after the act or period of service being recognized ideally within 30 days , in sufficient time to ensure presentation before the recipient detaches from the unit at which the award was earned. Receipt of a unit or team award does not prohibit a deserving individual from receiving a personal award for individual acts or services performed during the same period.
Only one medal representing a given decoration will be issued to an individual. For subsequent awards of the same decoration, an appropriate device will be issued see Table 1 at the end of this chapter.
Awards will be made for either a period of meritorious service or for performance of a specific meritorious achievement or act. Citations and certificates for awards for an extended period. Awards for performance of a specific meritorious achievement or act will include the date, month and year for the inclusive period e.
Dual Recognition. Only one award of a personal decoration will be made for the same act, achievement, or period of meritorious service. However, if a member is cited for heroism or specific meritorious achievement within a longer period that is later recognized by an award for meritorious service, this circumstance is not considered a duplication of recognition and the member may be entitled to two awards.
Later, the same individual receives the Coast Guard Commendation Medal for outstanding achievement as a shop supervisor from May to June To maintain the separation of the accomplishments being recognized, neither the award of the Air Medal nor the justification used to support it can be mentioned in the citation of the Commendation Medal.
Since the two actions are distinct, no duplication exists. Benefits for extraordinary heroism. Only awards higher than the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, including the Gold and Silver Lifesaving Medals, will receive consideration for this added distinction.
The Commandant retains approval for all cases of extraordinary heroism. Recommendations for extraordinary heroism will be forwarded through the chain of command to the Commandant CG for consideration by the Headquarters Board of Awards. These awards must be documented in accordance with paragraph 1. Criteria that awards boards and awarding authorities must also consider for extraordinary heroism include:.
Was the act performed voluntarily? Carrying out orders beyond that which is ordinarily expected is not disqualifying. Did the individual choose not to seek cover or safety, or leave a place of comparative safety, to perform the act without direct orders, or without being forced into a more dangerous situation by uncontrolled circumstances? Posthumous awards. If a subsequent award, a gold star is attached to the appropriate large medal and the decoration is forwarded for presentation by the presenting authority.
Privacy considerations. Award recommendations and supporting documentation are considered privileged information and should be made available only to those with a need to know. Originators and officials who review or approve personal award recommendations must not discuss them with nominees until the award has been approved and is ready for presentation.
Revocation of awards. Any Coast Guard decoration for a distinguished act, achievement, or service may be revoked if facts, later determined, would have prevented original approval of the decoration. When the awarding authority has determined that an award should be revoked, after consultation with supervisors and legal staff, he or she will notify both the member and Commander, Coast Guard Personnel Command CGPC-adm Once presented to the recipient, awards may not be revoked for the purpose of submitting an individual for a higher-level award.
Additionally, 14 USC provides that no individual, nor their representative, shall be awarded a Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, or Coast Guard Medal if the individuals entire service subsequent to the period has not been honorable. This public law provides for the cancellation of an award in process or revocation of a previously presented award based on an individuals conduct following receipt of a high-level award.
Cash, gratuities, gift certificates. As a general rule, military members are not entitled to cash awards, gratuities, gift certificates, or coupons for recognition of superior performance of duty to include from other government agencies. Active Duty and Reservists. Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria for an award, active or reserve while participating in authorized periods of training, or while in an active status , may be recommended by competent authority who is senior to the individual being recommended.
For purposes of personal awards, U. Coast Guard Academy cadets are considered to be on active duty and are eligible for all military decorations. Reserve Officer Training Corps ROTC cadets are not eligible for military awards because they are not considered to be on active duty except when on military orders for summer training. Public Health Service and Chaplain Corps.
Public Health Service Officers and members of the Chaplain Corps, while serving with the Coast Guard, are eligible and may be considered for all military decorations. PCS assignment to another military service.
Coast Guard personnel serving with another United States military service and vice versa are authorized to accept and wear awards at the Meritorious Service Medal MSM level and below , provided they are not given for the same act or service for which an award has been made or is planned by their Service. Members of other military services temporarily assigned to the Coast Guard may be recommended for an award, which must be forwarded through Commandant CG to the parent service for approval.
Coast Guard Auxiliarists. See Chapter 3, Unit Awards, for additional information. Coast Guard civilians. They are not eligible to receive other Coast Guard awards and decorations governed by this Manual except the Gold and Silver Lifesaving Medals. Contract employees. Approval authority, delegation, and precedence of personal and unit awards and decorations.
Table 1 at the end of this chapter lists personal and unit awards in order of precedence and the prescribed authorized awarding authority for each. For awards authorized for approval at the Flag or SES level, awarding authority shall not be delegated, except when an O-6 or Civilian equivalent or higher is acting in a vacant Flag or SES billet.
Award authority will not be delegated to subordinates due to the temporary absence of the awarding authority. A commanding officer, officer-in-charge, or any E-7 or above senior to the individual being recommended may initiate a recommendation for the award of a military decoration. Time restrictions. To be meaningful, award recommendations must be timely. The expectation is that an individuals award will be presented prior to departure from the awarding unit.
For oversight purposes, recommendations for unit awards and personal decorations must be submitted within three years from the date of the act or service; commands do not have authority to waive the three-year time limitation. If an award recommendation is lost or accidentally destroyed, certification by competent authority, accompanied by a copy or reconstruction of the recommendation, will be considered.
Proper completion of Coast Guard Award Recommendation, form CG, available on USCG Forms and a proposed citation are essential to the timely and accurate processing of personal, team, and unit award recommendations.
Fundamentally, a citation is an account of heroic acts or an enumeration of meritorious services or achievements. A citation is laudatory and formalized; it should highlight the primary action s for which the award is proposed; it must be factual; it must not contain classified information; it should be concise, straightforward and easy to read aloud; and it should be adaptable to publication by the media.
A proposed citation will be prepared by the first-level awarding authority for presentation, or for forwarding to the next-level awarding authority, as appropriate. Units with the capacity and capability to produce acceptable citations are required to do so when initiating award recommendations.
The individual citation Coast Guard Achievement Medal and higher will be typed and error-free. It will be prepared in landscape orientation on the award stationery with one-inch side and top margins, and at least a two-inch bottom margin where a gold seal, two inches in diameter, will be embossed with the awarding authoritys official seal.
The seal will be placed at the lower left corner of the citation in line with the left margin. The body of the citation cannot exceed 16 lines of text, using Times New Roman, 11 to pitch, bold font. If the Operational Distinguishing Device or Valor Device is authorized, the citation will so indicate with a statement double-spaced below the citation text and the entire citation is then limited to 18 lines.
Text kerning and other character or line spacing modifications are not authorized. Do not use acronyms. A very limited use of abbreviations is authorized. For subsequent awards, a gold or silver star is issued in lieu of an additional medal, and must be so specified in the citation. A citation will consist of one brief paragraph containing the following three parts; see examples in enclosure 24 :.
The second part of the citation describes the specific duty assignment s , accomplishment s , and outstanding personal attributes displayed by the individual. Throughout the citation, the recipient is identified by grade and surname in capital letters e.
The results and impact of achievements should be included. If duty was performed in actual combat, the citation should so state. The third part of the citation is a standard closing sentence, specific to the level of the award recommended see Chapters 2, 3, and 4 for discussion on specific awards.
Comments
Post a Comment