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Coast Guard Commendation Medal


Description

Obverse:  The Coast Guard Commendation Medal is a bronze hexagon (one point up), 1-1/4 inches wide and 1-3/8 inches wide, point-to-point.  In its center is the Coast Guard seal.

Reverse:  The reverse contains a circle consisting of the word AWARDED at the top and OUTSTANDING SERVICE in the lower third, separated by laurel leaves.  Inside the circle are the words TO and FOR, separated by a space for engraving the recipients name.  The inscription is configured to read, AWARDED TO [recipients name] FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE.  The inscription describes the purpose of the award, and the laurel leaves represent achievement.

Ribbon
The ribbon consists of a field of myrtle green with one 3/32-inch white stripe in the center and a 3/16-inch white stripe situated 1/8 of an inch inside each edge of the ribbon.

Criteria
See COMDTINST M1650.25D (Medals and Awards Manual).

Background
This award was initially established by the Commandant of the Coast Guard in August 1947 as the Coast Guard Commendation Ribbon.  It was redesignated as the Coast Guard Commendation Medal in 1959.  The medal was designed by Jay Morris and sculpted by Lewis King, Jr., both of the Armys Institute of Heraldry.  The Coast Guard Commendation Medal Armed Forces, serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard, for meritorious service resulting in unusual and outstanding achievement rendered while the Coast Guard is serving under Department of Homeland Security jurisdiction.  To merit this award, the acts or services must be accomplished or performed in a manner above that normally expected and must be sufficient to distinguish the individual above others of comparable grade or rating who perform similar services.





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