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AW ARD CRI TERI A FOR MARI NE CORPS AW ARDS

M ED AL OF H ON OR - M H

a.Authorization. 10 U.S.C. 6241.

b.Eligibility Requirements

(1)Awarded by the President in the name of Congress to members of the naval service who conspicuously distinguish themselves by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty.

(a)while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

(b)while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or

(c)while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

(2)There must be no margin of doubt or possibility of error in awarding this honor. To justify the decoration, the individual's service must clearly be rendered conspicuous above his or her comrades by an act so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes his or her gallantry beyond the call of duty from lesser forms of bravery; and it must be the type of deed which if not done would not subject the individual to any justified criticism. The deed must be without detriment to the mission of the command or to the command to which attached.

c.Special Benefits for Medal of Honor Recipients

(1)Title 38 U.S. Code, Section 560 establishes a roll designated as the "Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll" listing the name of each surviving person who has served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and has been awarded a Medal of Honor.

(2)Title 38 U.S. Code, Section 561 provides that each person whose name is entered on the Medal of Honor Roll shall be furnished a certificate of service.

(3)Title 38 U.S. Code, Section 562 requires the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to pay to each person whose name has been entered on the Medal of Honor Roll, a special pension of $400 per month.

(4)Title 10 U.S. Code, Sections 4342, 6954, 9342 authorizes the appointment of children of persons who have been awarded the Medal of Honor as cadets at the U.S. Military and U.S. Air Force Academies, and midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy without regard to quota requirements.

(5)Medal of Honor recipients are authorized to travel in U.S. military aircraft on a space-available basis, within the Continental United States, provided they certify that the trip is not for personal gain or remuneration.

•Must be fully justified.

•Eyewitness statement (at least two if practicable).

•For Medal of Honor also include a summary of the recommendation in the following format: Name: ____________________________________________________

Rate or rank at time of action:___________________________

Organization: ____________________________________________

Next of kin: _____________________________________________

Person who assisted: _____________________________________

Conditions Under Which Act Performed

Location: ________________________________________________

Date: ____________________________________________________

Terrain: _________________________________________________

Weather: _________________________________________________

Enemy condition: _________________________________________

Friendly condition: ______________________________________

Narrative Description of Gallant Conduct

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

OPENING SENTENCE:

"For conspicious gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty***

N AV Y CROSS – N X

a.Authorization. 10 U.S.C. 6242.

b.Eligibility Requirements

(1)Awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself/herself by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of the Medal of Honor.

(a)while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

(b)while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or

(c)while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

(2)To warrant this distinctive decoration, the act or the execution of duty must be performed in the presence of great danger or at great personal risk and must be performed in such a manner as to set the individual apart from his or her shipmates or fellow Marines. An accumulation of minor acts of heroism does not justify the award. The high standards demanded must be borne in mind when recommending the award.

OPENING SENTENCE:

"For extraordinary heroism **

D EFEN SE D I STI N GUI SH ED SERV I CE M ED AL - D D

C3.4.1.1. Authorized by E.O. 11545 (reference (i)).

C3.4.1.2. The DDSM shall only be awarded to officers of the Armed Forces of the United States whose exceptional performance of duty and contributions to national security or defense have been at the highest levels. Such officers have direct and ultimate responsibility for a major activity or program that significantly influences the policies of the U.S. Government. Only under the most unusual circumstances will the DDSM be awarded as an impact award for outstanding TDY achievement. The DDSM is specifically intended to recognize exceptionally distinguished service and to honor an individual's accomplishments over a sustained period.

C3.4.1.2.1. Normally, such broad responsibilities shall be held by only the most senior officers whose duties bring them into direct and frequent contact with the Secretary of Defense and the other senior officials within the Government. Examples of such positions are the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Chiefs and the Vice Chiefs of the Military Services, including the Commandant and the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; and the CINCs and the Deputy CINCs of the Unified Combatant Commands.

C3.4.1.2.2. The DDSM also may be awarded to other senior officers who serve in positions of great responsibility, or to an officer whose direct and individual contributions to national security or defense are recognized as being so exceptional in scope and value as to be equivalent to contributions normally associated with positions encompassing broader responsibilities.

C3.4.1.3. The DDSM, as the highest Defense decoration, may only be awarded by the Secretary of Defense. Under no circumstances may the awarding authority be delegated.

C3.4.1.4. The DDSM shall be placed in precedence after the MOH and the Distinguished Service Crosses of the Armed Forces, but before the Distinguished Service Medals of the Armed Forces.

C3.4.1.5. All recommendations for award of the DDSM to members of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or the Unified Combatant Command Headquarters or activities reporting to or through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall be processed through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for recommendation. These recommendations shall not be boarded at the Joint Staff level. The Director, Joint Staff, for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall forward his recommendations to the Chief, Military Personnel Division, Personnel and Security Directorate, WHS, for boarding and processing. Recommendations should be submitted to arrive at the Joint Staff no later than 90 days before the desired presentation date.

C3.4.1.6. All other recommendations for award of the DDSM shall be submitted to the Chief, Military Personnel Division, Personnel and Security Directorate, Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), for boarding and processing. Recommendations should be submitted to the WHS no later than 90 days before the desired presentation date.

D I STI N GUI SH ED SERV I CE M ED AL – D M

a.Authorization. 10 U.S.C. 6243

b.Eligibility requirements

1.Awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States in a duty of great responsibility. To justify this decoration, an exceptional performance of duty, clearly above that normally expected, which has contributed materially to the success of a major command or project, is required. In general, The Distinguished Service Medal will be awarded only to those officers in principle commands at sea or in the field whose service is such as to justify the award. However, this shall not be interpreted to preclude the award of the Distinguished Service Medal to any individual whose service meets the requirements. If there is any doubt as to the degree of service involved, the Legion of Merit is the more appropriate award.

OPENING SENTENCE:

"For exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in a duty of great responsibility***"

SI LV ER STAR – SS

a. Authorization. 10 U.S.C. 6244

b. Eligibility Requirements

(1)Awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, is cited for gallantry in action that does not warrant the Medal of Honor or Navy Cross

(a)while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

(b)while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or

(c)while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

(2)The heroic act(s) performed must render the individual conspicuous and well above the standard expected. An accumulation of minor acts of heroism normally does not justify the award, but unusual or exceptional cases will be decided on their merits.

OPENING SENTENCE:

"For Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action ***"

D EFEN SE SUPERI OR SERV I CE M ED AL – D S

C3.4.2.1. Authorized by E.O.11904 (reference (j)).

C3.4.2.2. The DSSM shall be awarded only to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after February 6, 1976, rendered superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility. Only under the most unusual circumstances will DSSM be awarded as an impact award for outstanding TDY achievement. The DSSM is specifically intended to