Military decorations of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) are currently issued under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS is a Cabinet department of the United States federal government with primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States from terrorist attacks and responding to natural disasters. USCG awards are similar to U.S. Navy decorations and Coast guardsmen are entitled to receive all authorized foreign awards, international decorations and inter-service decorations.
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Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is honored to any member of the USCG, who distinguishes themselves by exceptionally meritorious achievement and service to the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility. It is typically awarded to senior flag officers such as the Commandant of the Coast Guard. |
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Coast Guard Medal It is a military decoration that is presented to any member of the USCG, who distinguishes themselves by gallantry actions, but not involving an actual conflict with an enemy i.e. an individual must have performed a voluntary act of heroism in the face of great personal danger. The award is equivalent to the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Airman’s Medal and Soldier’s Medal. |
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Coast Guard Commendation Medal It is a mid-level military award which is awarded for sustained acts of meritorious service or heroism. It is awarded to Coast Guard personnel only who, while serving in any capacity with the USCG, distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement, meritorious service or heroism. |
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Coast Guard Achievement Medal It is a military decoration that is awarded to military members only for their meritorious achievement or service in either non-combat or combat based on persistent performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature, but not justifying for a commendation medal or higher. It is generally awarded to officers in the pay grade O-4 and below. |
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Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal This medal is awarded to any member of the United States Coast Guard, who performs twenty-one days of cumulative duty ashore or afloat north of the Arctic Circle. For flight personnel, it is authorized for twenty-one flight days above the Arctic Circle. It is also awarded to personnel who serve on remote radio stations in certain areas of Norway, Greenland and Alaska. |
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Lifesaving Medal The Silver and Gold Lifesaving Medals are a military and civil decoration of the USCG. They are two of the oldest medals in the U.S. and were originally established at the Department of Treasury Lifesaving Medals First and Second Class. These decorations are awarded to any member of the U.S. civilian or U.S. military, who endeavors to rescue, or rescues, any other person from shipwreck, drowning, or other peril of water. The attempted rescue or rescue must take place in waters within the U.S. or one of the parties involved must be a citizen of the U.S. |
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Good Conduct Medal This military decoration is awarded to any active-duty enlisted member of the USCG, who completes three successive years of faithful and honorable service. Such service implies that a standard enlistment was completed without any court martial offenses, disciplinary infractions, or non-judicial punishments. If a military personnel commits an offense, then the three years mark resets. |
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Marksmanship Medal
It is the highest award one may receive for weapons qualification. This medal is equivalent of the Expert Marksmanship Badge in the United States Marine Corps and Army. It is awarded for qualifying as an expert marksman on either M16 rifle or .40 S&W SIG P229 DAK. The standard weapons qualification course usually consists of many courses of fire from double-handed standing, one-handed kneeling and firing from a crouched position (in the case of the M16). |
