I got these direct from the State Department!


-Department of State Award for Heroism-

Award for Heroism - is a set of three individual medals, a medium sized medal, a small medal, each with a ribbon attached that is to be worn pinned to the breast area of the wearer's clothing, and a lapel pin.

Description - Medium sized medal - sterling silver with a blue, white and gray ribbon, 1-1/2 inches long (doubled) by 13/8 inches wide, fed through a ring attached to the top of the emblem. The top portion of the ribbon is constructed with a safety pin that is used for pinning the medal to the breast area of the wearer's clothing. The emblem is round, 1-1/4 inches in diameter with a raised outer border approximately 3/16 inch wide imprinted in raised 1/8 inch lettering arranged at the top half of the medal from left to wright wtih the words "DEPARTMENT OF STATE." The bottom half has, arranged from left to right, a raised imprint of olive branch tips banded on each end, and in the center an imprint of the words "HEROISM" in 1/8 inch raised letters. In the center of the emblem is a raised imprent of the "Great Seal" of the United States approximately 3/4 inch highby 6/8 inch wide.

Small medal - Sterling silver medallion, a replica of the medium sizering that links to another ring affizd medal, 3/8 inch in diameter with a blue, white, and greay ribbon 2 inches long (doubled) fed through a 6/8 ring that links to another ring affixed to the top of the medal.


-Department of State Meritorious Honor Award-

Meritorious Honor Award – is a set of three individual parts, a medium sized medal, a small medal that is a replica of the medium sized medal, each with a ribbon attached that is to be worn pinned to the breast area of the wearer’s clothing and a lapel pin.

The medium sized medal is bronze with a ribbon 1¾ inches long by 1½ inches wide that is dark blue with three white stripes in the center 3/16 inches apart, each approximately 1/64 inches wide. The ribbon has a pin on a plate attached to the top (reverse) that is used for pinning the emblem to the breast area of the wearer’s clothing. The ribbon is fed through a ring attached to the top of the emblem. The emblem is round 1¼ inches in diameter with a wreath encircling approximately the lower half of the medal on each side of the emblem. Where the wreath begins at the bottom center of the emblem is the image of a scroll approximately ¾ inches wide and 3/16 inches high etched with the words MERITORIOUS HONOR AWARD” in the center (two lines) in 1/16 inch lettering. The center of the emblem is imprinted with the raised image of the “Great Seal” of the United States ¾ inches high by ¾ inches wide. A raised ring encircles the “Great Seal.” Beginning at the top third of the emblem and arranged from left to right just outside of the inner circle of the raised ring, imprinted in 1/8 inch raised letters are the words “DEPARTMENT OF STATE.” Beginning at the bottom two-thirds of the emblem, arranged from left to right is a star and imprinted in 1/8 inch lettering are the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” followed by another star.

The small medal is a bronze replica of the larger medal reduced to be ¾ inches in diameter, on a similarly reduced (in width) ribbon 1½ inches long and ¾ inches wide.

BREAK

Both of these medals ARE NOT currently on a DD214...but I received them in certificate form...

Anyhow...I recently got both the Embassy in Dublin and the Department of State (Main State DC) to write a memo to say that I actually received these awards.......Dublin is from the Ambassador himself and the main State one is from the Department Awards officer ( no Condi on this one..lol)

The next step is to get a notarized copy of the certificates/memos from my local county Veterans Office, keep the originals and send them to the Army Board of Military Corrections to get them annotated on my DD214 via a DD215 (Correction to DD form 214)...

I have been waiting for these medals for years....and it just occured to me last month that it would be better to get new certificates/memos stating that I received each award rather than pass off a ten year old copy of a certificate (The DOS Award for Heroism cert CAME in a plexigalss covered wooden frame-State Dept doesn't mess around. The original Meritorious Honor Award is in Dublin...Treat it as a unit award....however I was listed as a recipient...

Anyhow... We'll see if they put them on a DD215...they are authorized to do so as the 600-8-22 DATA codes sheet says they can which can be found below:

AR 600-8-22 (Military Awards) DATA Codes

They are found under "Non-Military Decorations"

I am out...I wont wear these on a uniform...maybe a VFW one, but I wont ever wear large medals...those are going on the wall.

I am going to do Mini's.

I need some help...where would these medals go on a ribbon rack/mounted medals...or should I just mount both of them alone and keep them separate?

help....

I'm guessing they go after the Good Conduct medals...with the DOS AFH first.....

wow I'm so happy...I will post individual medal pics and certificates when I scan them/take pics....my last name will be ommitted....so ya know.

Photo Credits: www.omsa.org

Sweet. That must have been a pleasant surprise

yeah pics will come soon of actual memo's/medals...

The DOS AFH medal is sterling silver..it is a little heavy ...and it says "sterling" on the obverse (back).

I will post a photo of them....

I got these through a contact in the State Dept..He is a Diplomatic Security Agent who knew the Dept awards gurus....

ok here's the story...on paper a military member can wear the award if it was tendered to them...

The Dept of State awarded both awards to me in "group form" meaning all of us received it, but not on an individual level...much like a unit award..I talked to HRC on this and they said it was ok to receive an award on the group level as the State department awards them on the same basis as the individual level (they can't regulate non-military awarding practices as well)....but heres the catch....

When a DOS award is tendered in a 'group award" only the recipient receives the citation or the "mission" cited received the certificate for display (mission is DOS speak for Embassy, Consulate etc.)....no individual medal is given!!!.....

I have fought for receiving a medal for a long time...my friend in the DOS argued that State Dept folks receive cash awards in addition to whatever the citation says as well as a copy of the citation...pretty hefty cash awards as well....since military members cannot receive awards of cash....his argument was that we should be compensated differently...it worked...he tried to get 2 sets for me (1 for wear, 1 for show) but a no-go...oh well I am happy I received them...at no cost.

like I said now I am going to make it official.....with a DD215....thats why I had the DOS and the Embassy in Dublin write the memos to add to my argument and to give my request..10 years after the fact...the credence and leverage it deserves...

I tried to get these on my last DD214 but some POS Army NTL Guard E-7 pogue *** SOB just didn't want to believe me....to his defense all I had were copies..copies of the certificates...but yeah...that was a whole other rant thread....

I am going to put this right...and what is cool...the ten year window is about only 2 1/2 now since I got out in Oct 05....and ABMCR requests are usually not heard after 3 years....so I think I have it in the bank....

I just wonder how the Army is going to see awards from my time in the USMC on an Army DD215...but I think since they are approved and the AR 635-5 says "all periods of service"...I should be good...

heres to hope of sanity in regards to regs!



Wish me luck.......

Wow, thats quite an ordeal. I probably would have given up a long time ago.

Congratulations and best of luck with your quest. Generally the order of precedence for Federal medals awarded for heroism and meritorious service will be between the lowest commendation or achievement medal and the senior good conduct medal.

FYI Medals of America can mount both the full-size and mini medals with your Military awards.

Plus they can most likely make ribbons to match the medals to go in your normal everyday ribbon stack.

My photos of the medals and a few comparisons in size/appearance with the NDSM.









And the obverse (back):



Certificates/memo's to come soon.

Well I sent my request (DD form 149) to the Army Board for Military Corrections......with like 15 enclosures.

Oh how I am praying.

Bust......

I got a reply back form the Army Board for Military Corrections saying the following:

quote:

"The proponent of the Military Awards branch DATA Codes Quick reference Guide posted on the HRC website stated that non-military awards and decorations are not listed on the DD214 when a soldier separates from the Army and that the purpose of the reference guide is for updating a Soldier's record brief while still actively serving in the Army.

I don't understand one word of that sentence and heres' why:

AR 636-5 (Separation Documents) states that for item 18 on the DD214:

quote:

DECORATIONS, MEDALS, BADGES, CITATIONS AND CAMPAIGN RIBBONS AWARDED OR AUTHORIZED.
List awards and decorations for all periods of service in the priority sequence specified in AR 600-8-22. Each entry will be verified by the soldier’s records. Do not use abbreviations.

So if it is listed in AR 600-8-22...shouldn't the award listed in a reference for 600-8-22 be listed on a DD214?

No where in the AR of 635-5 says anything about non-military decorations.

Also, having seen the DD214 database when I was getting mine done 3 yrs ago next week I saw the Department of State Superiour Honor Award listed when looking for my two awards....

Guess who has one of those:



I bet ANY MONEY his is going on his DD214 when he leaves the service....

Anyone doubt me on this one?

On a good note...

I got my:

1. Kosovo Campaign medal updated on a DD215 to be awarded with one star vice by itself.

2. An OSR for my 10 (mos) tour in GTMO-YES JUST 10 Months for an OSR bwahahahahhaha!

3. Both markmanship badges I qual'ed for awarded.

4. An Army lapel button

5. My DD form 256A issued...still waiting 3 yrs later..

Overall....I give the Army a B in terms of their awards system.

Comments?

quote:

Soldier's record brief

What is that?

A computerized summary of your 201 File.

Id give them a D at best, Ive all but given up on getting the awards Im due on my NGB22 or DD214 and getting the ones Im not supposed to have removed...