What documents are required to authorize wearing a Federal Civilian Award on the uniform?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 08:43:22 -0500

A soldier of mine is a reservist who as a civilian works for the DoD. Recently, in a civilian capacity, his team won the National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation. According to HRC Awards and Decorations Branch, regulations allow for him to wear the award ribbon on his uniform. However, they state they are not the ones to dictate what documents need to be submitted or provided in order to substantiate wear of the award. I have tried multiple offices at HRC with no luck, my Chain of Command and S1 do not know, and I have reached out to the iPerms help desk and have gotten no answer from them. Does anyone know what needs to be submitted or provided, if anything, to support his wear of the award. I know the award can be awarded to military personnel and for them it is probably a citation, orders, and 4187 but since this was as a civilian I wasn't sure if it would be the same documents or different. Thank you everyone in advance.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 9:00 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 09:00:19 -0500

This is how I would attack this: I would submit whatever and ALL paperwork your Soldier received for this award to the S1. I mean give them everything!!!! And then make them do their job!!!!!!! A lot of the unit citations can be found on the HRC website. That's how you find out if your unit was given an award after you have left that unit. At that point all you need to show are orders saying you were in that unit at that time. Bottom line, you make the S1 do their job with providing them all documents in support of the award, and let them tell you yes or no. Here is the link for unit awards approved through Dec 2019. https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Unit%20Award%20Info

HRC Homepage

The security accreditation level of this site is UNCLASSIFIED and below. Do not process, store, or transmit any Personally Identifiable Information (PII), UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO or CLASSIFIED information on this system.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Feb 28 at 2020 9:47 AM

SSG Robert Webster — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 09:47:52 -0500

Without looking at the regulations, these are the things that I would gather to submit;
1. A copy of the citation (establishes the period of the award),
2. A copy of the appropriate sections of his Civilian Personnel Record showing his DoD assignment for the same period as the award period,
3. If it is recorded (the award) in his Civilian Personnel Record, a copy of the appropriate section of the record.
Remember, the most important element of this is that the individual was assigned to the 'unit' for at least part of the period of the award. Just because someone was assigned when the award was presented, does not mean that they were assigned during the award period. That is why numbers 1 and 2 are important.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 10:40 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:40:23 -0500

I would treat it the same as a foreign award and submit those required documents (without the translated copy of course). https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Foreign%20Award%20Info

HRC Homepage

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 28 at 2020 11:44 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 11:44:37 -0500

That award is already authorized for wear on the Army Uniform.

REF DA PAM 670-1

Response by SSG Jason Doss made Feb 28 at 2020 3:36 PM

SSG Jason Doss — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 15:36:22 -0500

When I worked in two different organizations in DHS, they informed us that the only days the military ribbons were authorized was on veterans day and memorial day.
That was from 04-09.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 7:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 19:18:55 -0500

Thank you everyone for your advice, guidance and help on this topic. I think the consensus on this one seems to be to get any and all documents he has, fill out a 4187 and send it up the chain so that he can get the supporting documents in iPerms for him to wear this ribbon.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2020 4:02 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 04:02:18 -0500

Give copies to admin and follow up through the chain. It's their job.

Response by SFC Quinn Chastant made Mar 1 at 2020 8:19 AM

SFC Quinn Chastant — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 08:19:25 -0500

Sgt Knight, I am a Retired Reservist and Retired DA Civilian. With the Civilian Award, he would also receive the documentation showing what it is for and time periods. That supporting document with the 4187 submitted to his S1 should allow annotation and entry in his 201 file. As for proper wear, I am referring to DA Pam 670-1 of 25 May 2017, Beginning on page 237. Paragraph 20-5 Order of Precedence within categories of medal; sub section C. US Nonmilitary Decorations.

I also copied and pasted one excerpt as applies to myself:
c. U.S. nonmilitary decorations. U.S. nonmilitary decorations authorized for wear on Army uniforms are listed below in their order of precedence (this list is not all inclusive). Personnel will wear other U.S. nonmilitary (Federal agency) decorations based upon date of receipt. If more than one decoration is awarded by the same agency, the decorations are worn in the order of precedence as established by the awarding agency. Personnel will not wear U.S. nonmilitary decorations that duplicate recognition for service or an act for which a military decoration has already been awarded. Awards given by a jurisdiction inferior to the Federal Government are not authorized for wear on the Army uniform, except as specified in paragraph j, below. (1) Presidential Medal of Freedom. (2) Presidential Citizen’s Medal. (3) President’s Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service Award. (4) Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award. (5) Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom. (6) Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award. (7) Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award.

As I was awarded the Civilian Service Medal upon retirement and separation from Civil Service after Retirement it would be the last medal worn according to the information.

Then go to subsection f for the unit awards information: and only a 2 specific activities are named;
f. U.S. nonmilitary unit awards. The Public Health Service Unit Award and the National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation are authorized for wear on the Army uniform.

Finally Non US awards are listed in section i on page 241.
I am authorized to wear my Civilian Service Award, by order of precedence it would worn before the NATO Medal I also wear. The NATO award is the last medal worn.

Your supporting S1 section, should be able to confirm or correct the order of sequence. However the Military Personnel Records Jacket should be checked yearly and updated upon all receipts of action. It is incumbent on your Soldier to request that S1 action.