The Coast Guard Unit Commendation is the highest peacetime unit award that may be awarded to military commands of the United States Coast Guard . The decoration was first created in 1963 and is presented to members of any Coast Guard unit that distinguishes itself by valorous or extremely meritorious service, not involving combat, but in support of Coast Guard operations.
8-510: It may also be awarded to units and personnel of the other U.S. armed forces, typically when in support of operations where the Coast Guard is the lead service. One example was the award of the commendation with Operational Distinguishing Device to rescue squadrons of the U.S. Air Force and maritime patrol squadrons and helicopter squadrons of the U.S. Navy , when said units assisted the Coast Guard during search and recovery operations following
16-494: A decoration, both the person's work and unit must be operational in nature. Such examples include search and rescue , fire fighting , maritime law enforcement , disaster relief , pollution response , and aids to navigation maintenance and operations. The decision to authorize an Operational Distinguishing Device is made by the award approving authority, giving a wide discretion as to what actions may qualify. The Operational Distinguishing Device may be authorized for wear on
24-551: Is a miniature silver 5 ⁄ 16 inch letter "O" that is authorized by the United States Coast Guard as a ribbon device which may be authorized for wear on certain awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard . The "O" device is either centered on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal or unit award ribbon, or to the middle-right if there are an even number of letter devices on
32-612: The January 1986 loss of the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger . Additional awards of the Coast Guard Unit Commendation are denoted by award stars . The Operational Distinguishing Device , a 5/16 inch silver letter "O" centered on the unit of the uniform ribbon, is also authorized for units which are presented the decoration for field operations and conditions. Prior to 2003, the Coast Guard Unit Commendation
40-599: The 80th anniversary of the USCG Auxiliary, On May 16, 2019, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary was awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation ribbon to all Auxiliarists by Karl Schultz the Commandant of the Coast Guard . The Coast Guard Auxiliary has been awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation a total of seven times: Operational Distinguishing Device The Operational Distinguishing Device ("O" device)
48-782: The Coast Guard Unit Commendation to the Coast Guard Auxiliary on June 23, 2014, for members active from June 24, 2009, to June 23, 2014. "Beyond the day to day, the Auxiliary has been there as part of the Coast Guard's total force in every major disaster," said Coast Guard Commandant ADM Zukunft at the ceremony. "During disasters, the Auxiliary takes action to provide air support, conduct search and rescue, fix aids to navigation, conduct public affairs and augment units at home stations whose responders are deployed." References: ALAUX 011/14; COMDTINST M16790.1G (Auxiliary Manual), Chapter 10; and COMDTINST M1650.25D, Medals and Awards Manual. On
56-429: The ribbon. Any authorized gold 5 ⁄ 16 Inch Stars alternate around the "O" device. The first star is placed to the wearer’s right of the "O" device and the second star is placed to wearer's left of the "O" device. Only one "O" device may be worn per ribbon. Eligibility criteria are based on a member's or unit's direct participation in missions of an operational "hands on" nature. To qualify for this device on
64-671: Was subordinate to the Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award . With the transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security , the Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award became obsolete, making the Coast Guard Unit Commendation the senior peacetime award, but junior to the Joint Meritorious Unit Award and the Presidential Unit Citation . Admiral Paul Zukunft, Commandant, awarded
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