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Auxiliary Distinguished Service Medal

The Auxiliary Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) recognizes Auxiliarists who distinguish themselves by contributing exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service to the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Coast Guard Auxiliary Distinguished Service Award is only awarded by the Commandant.

Eligibility

The performance required to justify this award is exceptional performance of duty, which benefits the Auxiliary as a whole. This performance, therefore, must be clearly much higher than normally expected, and must have a measurable, positive effect on the entire organization. Normally this award will be given to elected and appointed officers for extraordinary achievement. This statement should not be interpreted so as to preclude the award to any Auxiliarist whose service meets the requirement.

The key words for this award are distinguished, operational, and exceptional meritorious service. To justify this award, exceptional performance of duty, clearly much higher than normally expected, which has resulted in significant benefit to the entire Auxiliary organization, is required.

Legion of Merit

The Auxiliary Legion of Merit (ALOM) is awarded for service comparable to the ADSM but in a duty of lesser, though considerable, responsibility. The Commandant or any Coast Guard Vice Admiral may award the ALOM. All ALOM packages must be submitted through the appropriate Auxiliary chain of leadership to NACO for review and approval. This applies prior to District review and subsequent routing of nominations to Area or Headquarters level.

Eligibility

In general, the ALOM will be awarded to Auxiliarists in leadership positions who have performed such exceptionally meritorious service as to justify the award of the ADSM, except as to degree of merit. Recognized performance must clearly be much higher than expected and have a measurable, positive effect on the Auxiliary across multiple Auxiliary regions or at Auxiliary Area or National level. This should not be interpreted to preclude the award of the ALOM to any Auxiliarist whose acts or services meet the requirements. When the degree of achievement or service rendered, although meritorious, is not sufficient to warrant award of the ALOM, the AMSM should be considered.

Guardian Medal

This medal is 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 have a profound impact in their field, Federal Government, or on the general public in providing for the protection and security of the U.S. and its citizens.

Eligibility

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 U.S.

Auxiliary Plaque of Merit

The Auxiliary Plaque of Merit is given to Auxiliarists in recognition of extreme skill in performing an assist or rescue that involves risk to the Auxiliarist’s life. The Auxiliary Plaque of Merit may be awarded by any Flag officer with Chief Director of Auxiliary concurrence.

Eligibility

This award recognizes heroism in the face of grave personal risk and which clearly stands out as above normal expectations. The key aspects of performance for award of the Auxiliary Plaque of Merit are extreme skill, assist or rescue, and risk to the Auxiliarist’s life. As can be seen, the Auxiliary Plaque of Merit can only be given for an assist, or rescue. The Auxiliarist must have exercised extreme skill, as opposed to just skill required for the Medal of Operational Merit. Lastly, there must have been risk to the Auxiliarist’s life. Neither the assist nor rescue need be successful, only that the action required extreme skill and was performed or attempted at risk to the Auxiliarist’s life.

Auxiliary Meritorious Service Award

The Auxiliary Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) is awarded to Auxiliarists who have contributed exceptional meritorious service to the Coast Guard and/or Auxiliary. Auxiliarists who serve in any capacity within the Auxiliary are eligible. The Auxiliary MSM may be awarded by any Flag officer. The meritorious performance of duty must have enhanced Auxiliary goals.

Eligibility

This performance must clearly be of a nature much higher than that normally expected, and which has a significant positive effect on the ability of the Coast Guard and/or the Auxiliary to complete its missions and goals. For this award, the key words are outstanding and meritorious service worthy of special recognition, which contributes significantly to fulfillment of Auxiliary goals at the local level.

Medal of Operational Merit

The Medal of Operational Merit is given to Auxiliarists in recognition of outstanding skill in performing an assist, rescue, or other meritorious operational service. The Medal of Operational Merit may be awarded by any Coast Guard Commanding officer (06 and above) of an operational unit or serving as DVC or higher at a district office, MLC, HQ, or serving as a Director.

Eligibility

This award recognizes outstanding achievement or service of an operational nature (defined as direct, hands on, underway, surface or airborne aviation mission activity) worthy of special recognition. For this award, the key words are outstanding operational performance, skill, assist, rescue or other meritorious operational service. To receive the Medal of Operational Merit, only skill is required, not extreme skill, and therefore does not have to be a risk to the Auxiliarist’s life. Outstanding operational performance and other meritorious operational service have been included in this category. This was added to allow recognition of a cumulative series of operational services, none of which, standing alone, would merit this award, but taken as a group, do merit this level of recognition.

Auxiliary Commendation Medal

The Auxiliary Commendation Medal (ACM) is given to Auxiliarists in recognition of outstanding assistance that furthers any of the Auxiliary’s authorized activities, except operations (since the Medal of Operational Merit is for operations). The Auxiliary Commendation Medal may be awarded by any Coast Guard Commanding officer (06 or above) of an operational unit or serving as DVC or higher at a district office, MLC, HQ, or serving as a Director.

Eligibility

This award recognizes outstanding achievement or service worthy of special recognition as described below. The key words for the Auxiliary Commendation Medal are outstanding achievement, which significantly furthers any of the Auxiliary’s authorized activities. The Auxiliary Commendation Medal is for outstanding administrative services. This requires services accomplished in a manner, which is much better than could normally be expected from an Auxiliarist of like capability and experience. Neither doing a difficult job well nor doing a routine job in an excellent manner will suffice. The achievement must be truly outstanding.

Transportation 9/11 Medal

This medal is awarded to employees of the DOT and private citizens for meritorious service resulting from unusual and outstanding achievement in response to the attacks on 11 September, 2001. Specifically, this award is authorized for the following personnel:

• Posthumously presented to those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks of 11 September, 2001 that had immediate family employed by DOT.

• Employees of DOT who were on scene at the World Trade Center Complex in New York, the crash site in Pennsylvania, or at the Pentagon on 11 September, 2001 and performed a role in the initial rescue and recovery operations.

• All personnel directly involved in the evacuation of lower Manhattan to include DOT employees, masters and crews of commercial vessels and crews of recreational boats that actually transported evacuees during the evacuation on 11 September, 2001. The level of effort must clearly set the Auxiliarist above that described in the 9/11 Ribbon.

• Personnel that demonstrated extraordinary participation or leadership while patrolling harbors, securing critical infrastructure facilities, escorting high interest vessels and conducting boardings of vessels entering U.S. waters during the period of 11 September, 2001 to 11 September, 2002. The level of effort must clearly set the Auxiliarist above that described in the 9/11 Ribbon.

Employees of DOT who demonstrated extraordinary dedication or leadership between 11 September, 2001 and 11 September, 2002. Participation must have been at an exceptional level to warrant consideration for the awarding of the 9/11 Medal. The level of effort must clearly set the Auxiliarist well above that described in the 9/11 Ribbon.

Auxiliary Achievement Medal

The Auxiliary Achievement Medal (AAM) is given to Auxiliarists in recognition of their sustained professional and/or leadership achievements in administration or operations. The Auxiliary Achievement Medal may be awarded by any Coast Guard Commanding officer (0-4 and above) of an operational unit or serving as a DVC or higher at a district office, MLC, HQ or Director.

Eligibility

This award recognizes outstanding achievement or service of a nature, which is worthy of special recognition as described below. The key words for the Auxiliary Achievement Medal are sustained professional, leadership achievements and period of time. The Auxiliary Achievement is for recognition of Auxiliarists who have maintained an outstanding level of performance and/or achievement over a period of time to further authorized activities of the Auxiliary. The achievements could be in administration or operations.

Auxiliary Sustained Service Award

This award is presented to an Auxiliarist contributing a documented total of 750 volunteer hours of Auxiliary service. Subsequent awards are presented for each additional 750 hours of service until the tenth award is achieved. Auxiliarists indicate multiple awards by adding 3/16-inch bronze or silver stars, until the tenth award, at which time an hourglass device will be used. This award includes a miniature medal, ribbon, and certificate. Eligibility for this award is documented by the Director, using AUXDATA information, whose staff shall then forward the initial medal/ribbon set issue and a prepared certificate to be presented per district/regional policy. Subsequent awards receive the star or hourglass device and a certificate showing the number of hours being recognized.

Auxiliary Commandant Letter of Commendation

The Auxiliary Letter of Commendation Ribbon (ACLOC) is the Auxiliary’s equivalent to the Coast Guard’s Commandant Letter of Commendation (CLOC) Ribbon. Coast Guard units and Directors can prepare award citations using the same criteria, format, and style as the CLOC.

Eligibility

The award is intended for Auxiliarists serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard or Auxiliary for an act of service resulting in unusual and/or outstanding achievement, whose performance is lesser than that required for the Auxiliary Achievement Medal. The award can also be used to recognize an Auxiliarist’s service/performance for a special event or project. Commanding officers/Group Commanders, Directors, DVCs of HQ, MLC, ISC or district offices, O-4 and above, can approve the ACLOC. Recommendations are made on the CG-1650 award recommendation form and submitted to the approving official, via the Auxiliarist’s chain of leadership and management.

Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation

For meritorious achievement and outstanding performance in action from 29 August to 13 September 2005 in preparation for, and response and recovery to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. The United States Coast Guard anticipated the potential for significant loss of life and property and, in advance of Hurricane Katrina, relocated its personnel, vessels, and aircraft out of harms way. The Coast Guard successfully executed multiple primary missions throughout the Gulf Coast in the wake of the worst natural disaster in United States history. Responding with more than 4,500 personnel, 130 small boats, 4 cutters, and 60 aircraft to devastation and despair across more than 90,000 square miles and 6,400 miles of coastline, the Coast Guard rescued more than 33,000 people, began clean-up operations of 9.4 million gallons of oil, replaced and repaired over 1,800 aids to navigation, and most importantly provided hope to hundreds of thousands displaced citizens through its proactive and vigorous actions. This inspiring response is a direct result of the spirit and practice of operational initiative, positive leadership and courage of the total Coast Guard force of active duty, reserve, auxiliary and civilian members. Every Coast Guard man and woman demonstrated superior professionalism, commitment, humanitarianism, tenacity, tactical acumen, technical expertise, compassion and support while maintaining the highest level of operational readiness. By their outstanding courage, resourcefulness, and aggressive actions under desperate conditions, the members of the United States Coast Guard reflected great credit upon themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the United States of America.

All Coast Guard members are authorized to wear the Presidential Unit Citation ribbon with a special clasp in the form of the internationally recognized "hurricane symbol.

Secretary's Outstanding Unit Award

The Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award is a unit decoration of the United States Coast Guard which was issued from 1992 to 2003. The decoration is considered the highest unit award of the Coast Guard and is presented to those Coast Guard units which perform outstanding service to the Coast Guard as a whole.

Coast Guard Unit Commendation

Auxiliarists are eligible to receive the Coast Guard Unit Commendation and the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Medals. The award consists of a ribbon only, there are no miniature medals. A Flag officer must approve these awards. To be eligible, an Auxiliarist must have participated directly in at least 50% of the action in a single operational incident for which the Coast Guard unit involved received a citation for one of these awards. The operational “O” is attached when authorized. Auxiliarists indicate multiple awards by 5/16-inch gold or silver stars. Specific Auxiliary units awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation are authorized to fly the award pennant for three years after the award.

Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation

Auxiliarists are eligible to receive the Coast Guard Unit Commendation and the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Medals. The award consists of a ribbon only, there are no miniature medals. A Flag officer must approve these awards. To be eligible, an Auxiliarist must have participated directly in at least 50% of the action in a single operational incident for which the Coast Guard unit involved received a citation for one of these awards. The operational “O” is attached when authorized. Auxiliarists indicate multiple awards by 5/16-inch gold or silver stars. Specific Auxiliary units awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation are authorized to fly the award pennant for three years after the award.

Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation

Auxiliarists are eligible to receive the CG Meritorious Team Commendation award. A Captain (O-6) or higher serving in command billets (area, MLC, district, unit), serving as an office chief at CGHQ or serving as an Auxiliary District/Regional Director authorize this award. To be eligible, an Auxiliarist must have made a significant contribution to a group or team cited for the award. This team can consist of Auxiliarists and other team CG members, or all Auxiliarists. The command member, exercising operational or administrative control of the chartered team should initiate the recommendation. Recommendations for the Meritorious Team Commendation are made to appropriate operational CG commanders for actions under their control. Awards involving Auxiliary flotilla, division or district staffs must be forwarded to the applicable Director who will process via an Auxiliary or District Awards Board, as appropriate. Recommendations involving Auxiliary national staff members must be forwarded to the Chief Director, who will process came through appropriate channels. Awards should be recommended promptly after the action as there is a time limitation for making recommendations.

Coast Guard Auxiliary Operational Excellence "E" Ribbon

The Operational Excellence Program will provide Coast Guard Auxiliary boat crews with a challenging opportunity to highlight their proficiency and skills through the completion of a series of evaluated scenarios. Boat crew members will receive a letter of successful completion, and Coxswains will be issued the Operational Excellence Program E-Decal. The Coast Guard Auxiliary Excellence “E” ribbon will be issued to those team members who earned the Operational Excellence Program E-Decal award. This operational recognition program is not mandatory, and does not replace qualifications or certification. It is intended to give Auxiliarists certified in the Boat Crew Program an incentive to train and increase proficiency by working together as a highly trained and coordinated crew and to encourage additional Auxiliarists to offer their boats as Facilities. The team’s FC, at a regularly scheduled Auxiliary meeting to promote recognition and achievement among all Auxiliarists, presents the award.

Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation

Only those Auxiliarists who were members during the entire period from March 1989 to October 1989 are authorized to wear the Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation. The award consists of a ribbon only. There is no miniature medal.

Coast Guard Auxiliary Humanitarian Service Award

The Auxiliary Humanitarian Service Award (HSA) is presented to Auxiliarists who distinguish themselves as individuals or as members of an operational unit by meritorious, direct, non-routine participation in a significant act or operation of a humanitarian nature. Direct participation is defined as being physically present at the designated location, having directly contributed and influenced the action.

This award is considered the Auxiliary equivalent of the military Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM). Since Auxiliarists are not eligible to receive the HSM, the Auxiliary Humanitarian Service Award is awarded to Auxiliarists who participate in the same operations where Coast Guard active duty personnel are awarded the HSM.

Participation in domestic disturbances involving law enforcement, equal rights to citizens or the protection of properties are excluded from this award.

Transportation 9/11 Ribbon

This ribbon is awarded to an individual serving in any capacity with the DOT, merchant marines, or other civilians, for an act or service that contributed to recovery from the attacks of 11 September 2001, and force protection following the attacks or efforts that directly contributed to the increased infrastructure security effort between 11 September 2001 and 11 September 2002.

Eligibility

Specifically, it may be awarded to the following authorized personnel:

• Coast Guard units that shifted Operational Control (OPCON) to Operations Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, or Protecting Liberty for any amount of time between 11 September 2001 and 11 September 2002.

• All personnel involved in patrolling harbors, critical infrastructure facilities, escorting high interest vessels, and conducting boardings of vessels entering U.S. waters during the period of 11 September 2001 to 11 September 2002. Participation in these operations must be no less than 14 days.

• All personnel to include active, Reserve, Auxiliary, and civilian personnel that manned or augmented for no less than 14 days, Coast Guard, DOT, FEMA, and DoD command centers (including Operations Centers at Groups and above, COTP ICS, FEMA Regional Operations Centers, and VTS) between 11 September 2001 and 11 September 2002.

Coast Guard Special Operations Ribbon

Auxiliarists who participate in a Coast Guard special operation, not involving combat, may receive this award. It is for Auxiliarists not recognized by another service award for the same operation, during the same period of service. This award can be authorized by the Commandant or an Area Commander.

Auxiliary Recruiting Service Award

The Auxiliary Recruiting Service award is awarded for recruiting seven or more new Auxiliarists into the Auxiliary as determined and credited through the FC.

Coast Guard Recruiting Service Ribbon

Auxiliarists who complete the Coast Guard recruiter PQS and have augmented a recruiting office for two years are eligible for the Coast Guard Recruiting Service ribbon. Auxiliarists apply via the Coast Guard recruiter at the recruiting office they augment. Approval authority is the Director, Coast Guard Recruiting Center.

Specialty Training Ribbon

This recognition is presented to an Auxiliarist who has satisfactorily completed any of the specialty courses. Auxiliarist add 3/16-inch bronze or silver stars to show completion of additional courses. This designation recognizes the satisfactory completion of all six specialty courses, which entitles the Auxiliarist to wear the AUXOP device. After earning the device, Auxiliarist no longer wear the Specialty Ribbon.

Marine Safety Trident Training Ribbon

The Marine Safety Training ribbon was created in recognition of the considerable and long-term, sustained effort that Auxiliarists must put forward in order to earn the Auxiliary Marine Safety (Trident) insignia. The ribbon recognizes achievement in the marine safety, security, and environmental protection mission area as a precursor to achievement of the Auxiliary Marine Safety (Trident) insignia. Auxiliarists who successfully complete the following tasks are entitled to wear this ribbon (there is no time limit in which these tasks must be completed):