Awards and decorations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Example: NOAA Corps insignia, badges, and awards

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (or "NOAA Corps"), one of the seven uniformed services of the United States, has the authority to issue various awards and commendations to its members. These include individual honor awards, unit honor awards, service awards, training ribbons and qualification insignia. NOAA Corps awards and decorations include:

NOAA Corps Insignia

Command insignia

There are three NOAA Command insignia: NOAA Command-at-Sea, NOAA Small-Craft-Command, and NOAA Chief-of-Party.[1]

NOAA Command-at-Sea insignia
NOAA Small-Craft-Command insignia
NOAA Chief-of-Party insignia

For each of the three Command insignia, eligibility to wear them is not attained by a NOAA Corps officer being temporarily or acting in command due to absence, illness or transfer of the designated commanding officer, for periods of less than six continuous months.

An incumbent officer wears insignia centered 1/4 inch above the right breast pocket or pocket flap. When a name tag or ribbon bars are worn on the right breast, the insignia is centered 1/4 inch above them. On the men's Service Dress Blue coat, the insignia is positioned on the right breast as though there were a pocket. On Formal Dress and Dinner Dress Jacket (Blue or White), men wear the insignia centered on the right lapel, 3 inches below the notch; women wear the insignia centered on the right lapel, down one third the distance between the shoulder seam and the coat hem.

A post tour officer wears insignia on the left breast 1/4 inch below the top of the pocket/flap. Only one post-tour command insignia may be worn; the choice of insignia is at the individual's discretion. When wearing two qualification insignia, the command insignia is worn 1/4 inch below the secondary insignia, or on uniforms with pocket flaps, 1/4 inch below the flap.

Qualification insignia

NOAA Corps officers who have qualified as aviators, divers, submariners, parachutists, &c., or are otherwise entitled to wear a qualification insignia at their discretion. As follows are the qualification insignia awarded by the NOAA.[1]

NOAA Deck Officer insignia
NOAA Aviator insignia
NOAA Diver insignia

NOAA Corps officers with multiple qualifications may wear two insignia, placing one in the primary position and one in the secondary position. Only one insignia from any qualification category (i.e., diver, aviator, etc.) is authorized for wear at the same time.

When wearing the insignia with ribbon bars or medals, the primary insignia is centered above ribbon bars or medals with the lower edge of the device 1/4-inch above the top row of ribbon bars or medals. The secondary insignia is centered below ribbon bars with the top of the device 1/4 inch below the top of the pocket or pocket flap, or centered below medals with the top of the device 1/4 inch below the lowest row of medals.

Without ribbon bars or medals, the primary insignia is centered above the left pocket with the lower edge of the device 1/4 inch above the top of the pocket. In dress uniforms, men center the insignia on the left lapel, 3 inches below the notch; women center the insignia on the left lapel down one-third the distance between the shoulder seam and coat hem. Secondary insignia is centered 1/4 inch below the top of the pocket or pocket flap. On Dinner Dress Jacket uniforms, position the secondary insignia 1/4 inch below the primary insignia. Secondary insignia are not authorized for wear on working uniforms.

NOAA Corps decorations and awards

Members of the NOAA Corps may be authorized to wear awards and decorations presented by the Commerce Department, Defense Department and other uniformed services, the following list is limited to those awards presented by the NOAA Corps.[2][3][4]

Personal decorations

Unit awards

Campaign and service awards

Ribbon devices

Only one of each medal or service ribbon may be worn by NOAA Corps personnel. Subsequent awards are indicated by certain attachments to the medal's suspension ribbon or on the ribbon bar.

NOAA incentive awards (without medal or ribbon)

NOAA Association decorations

NOAA ACO Junior Officer of the Year = NOAA ACO Award Medal
Awarded annually to a NOAA Corps officer, below the grade of lieutenant commander: for outstanding contributions to NOAA, outstanding performance, and/or the positive reflection cast by the recipient upon the NOAA Corps.
NOAA ACO Science Award = NOAA ACO Award Medal with bronze "S" Device
Awarded for an outstanding scientific contribution made by an officer. This award is distinguished from the Junior Officer of the Year Award by a bronze "S" device attached to the large medal, miniature medal, and ribbon bar.
NOAA ACO Engineering Award = NOAA ACO Award Medal with bronze "E" Device
Awarded for an outstanding engineering contribution made by an NOAA Corps officer. This award is distinguished from the Junior Officer of the Year Award by a bronze "E" Device attached to the large medal, miniature medal, and ribbon bar.
Society of American Military Engineers Colbert Medal with silver Triangle Device
Awarded to a member of the National Ocean Service, officer or civilian, active or retired: for the most outstanding contribution to military engineering through achievement in design, construction, administration, research, or development. Award is made by SAME.
Society of American Military Engineers Karo Award with bronze Triangle Device
A group award presented annually by SAME to a field unit of the National Ocean Service: for an outstanding contribution in an engineering or scientific field.

United States Coast and Geodetic Survey decorations and awards

The original ancestor organization of the NOAA Corps, the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps, existed from 1917 to 1965, then went through a transitional period as the Environmental Science Services Administration Corps (ESSA Corps) from 1965 to 1970 before becoming the NOAA Corps. Like NOAA Corps personnel today, Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps officers were eligible for the Department of Commerce awards described above, as well as awards such as the above-mentioned Colbert and Karo Medals and the awards and decorations of other uniformed services with which they served. The Coast and Geodetic Survey had no awards of its own until 1945, when the following awards – all now obsolete but part of the heritage of the NOAA Corps – were authorized in recognition of service during World War II, the national emergency preceding it, or its aftermath:[6][7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 NOAA Corps Directive, Chapter 12, Part 6, Insignia, Medals, and Ribbon Bars, dated 21 November 2003, last accessed 9 April 2014
  2. 1 2 3 NOAA Corps Directive, Chapter 12, Part 7, Awards, dated 21 November 2003, last accessed 9 April 2014
  3. NOAA Corps, Commissioned Personnel Center Update, Officer Personnel Management Division, dated December 2008, last accessed 22 March 2013
  4. "Department of Commerce and NOAA Award Ribbons". NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  5. "Attachment to NAO 202-451: NOAA Incentive Awards Program". Office of the Chief Adminsrative Officer National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  6. National Archives: Federal Register: Executive Order 9590--Establishing certain awards for the Coast and Geodetic Survey
  7. Coast and Geodetic Survey Awards of World War Two, Page 18.
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