USCG Commendation Medal

This was originally a ribbon-only award and was, at the time, called the Coast Guard Commendation Ribbon (15 August 1947). On 5 July 1951 it was renamed the Coast Guard Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant. In 1959 it acquired its present designation. It is awarded for (i) heroic or meritorious service or achievement and (ii) for meritorious service resulting in unusual or outstanding achievement. 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 distinguished the individual above others of comparable grade or rating who perform similar services.

To be awarded for heroism, the act must be worthy of special recognition but not to the degree required for the Bronze Star Medal when combat is involved, or the Coast Guard Medal or Meritorious Service Medal when combat is not involved.

For outstanding achievement, those achievements must be worthy of special recognition, but not to the degree required for the Bronze Star Medal or Air Medal when combat is involved, or the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, or Air Medal when combat is not involved. The achievement should be such as to constitute a definite contribution to the Service, such as an invention, or improvement in design, procedure, or organization.

If for meritorious service, that service must be outstanding and worthy of special recognition, but not to the degree required for the Bronze Star Medal or Air Medal when combat is involved; or the Meritorious Service Medal or Air Medal when combat is not involved. The award may cover an extended period of time during which a higher award may have been recommended or received for specific act(s). The criteria, however, should not be the period of service involved, but rather the circumstances and conditions under which the service was performed. The performance should be well above that usually expected commensurate with the individual's grade or rate. If the meritorious service is not sufficient to warrant the award of a Coast Guard Commendation Medal, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal should be considered.

The first recipient of the current version of the Coast Guard Commendation Medal was YN2 Marilyn A. Seebald. She was assigned to the Permanent Uniform Board in the Coast Guard Office of Personnel and received her Commendation Medal on January 13, 1978 for her outstanding performance in the development of a Coast Guard women's uniform.