Coast Guard expands limited award issuing authority to all unit commanders > United States Coast Guard > My Coast Guard News

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U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Joseph Mayer, a culinary specialist temporarily assigned to USCGC Bear (WMEC 901), reads his citation after being awarded a letter of commendation ribbon at quarters, Atlantic Ocean, Sep. 13, 2022. Mayer was being rewarded for his continued hard work demonstrated over the course of his time aboard the Bear. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew Abban)

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Expanded Award Issuance

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Joseph Mayer, a culinary specialist temporarily assigned to USCGC Bear (WMEC 901), reads his citation after being awarded a letter of commendation ribbon at quarters, Atlantic Ocean, Sep. 13, 2022. Mayer was being rewarded for his continued hard work demonstrated over the course of his time aboard the Bear. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew Abban)

Officers-in-charge (OICs) and commanding officers (COs) of all paygrades are now the award issuing authority for the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbons (LOC) and CG Meritorious Team Commendation (MTC) awards.

The Coast Guard broadened the authority to issue these two awards to include all unit commanders with non-judicial punishment authority.

This expanded authority allows CO and OICs to expeditiously recognize the outstanding performance of their members vice waiting for one 'big' award at the end of tour.

“This is a great win for small units who are now empowered with the authority to recognize their crews at a higher level quickly and organically,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Jeremiah Wolf, command master chief for the Deputy Commandant of Mission Support - Deputy for Personnel Readiness. “It also reduces the burden for their superior command who no longer need to adjudicate these.”

The Personnel Service Center made this change because of a grassroots effort to promote timely recognition of our deserving servicemembers and to reduce the total administrative time spent approving awards.

Previously OICs and O-3 and below COs lacked any award issuing authority.

Resources:

feature news award letter of commendation LOC MTC meritorious team commendation authority

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