Not sure if I'd even wear it with the Aux uniform, but I hold a decoration authorized in the UK & Commonwealth for wear with military uniforms. How would I go about getting approval to wear it with the Aux uniform?

quote:

Originally posted by Auxmaniac:
Not sure if I'd even wear it with the Aux uniform, but I hold a decoration authorized in the UK & Commonwealth for wear with military uniforms. How would I go about getting approval to wear it with the Aux uniform?

First check the ribbon checker on the Chief Directors site, if the award is not listed, then you must do step 2. Check the CG awards and uniform manual, which lists all awards that are allowed to be worn on a CG uniform. Remember the Aux uniform is a CG uniform. Also the ribbon checker does have all the awards, so the manual check will just confrm the checker. If either 1 or 2 above does not have the award listed, then it can not be worn on the CG uniform....

There are no UK/Commonwealth awards allowed...

quote:

Originally posted by baloo0136:
There are no UK/Commonwealth awards allowed...

Not entirely true. There is at least one active duty Coast Guardsman wearing an award issued from the UK and it is authorized. He is a personal friend of mine. I have seen the award and he has CG orders authorizing its wear.

An auxiliarist may or may not be able to get theirs approved.

Well, that's pretty odd...

I believe if you check in the awards manual there is a section covering foreign decorations.

Most US Military awards manuals list the most common Foreign decorations in their placement, to list them all would be impossible, that does not mean that those not listed are not authorized for wear.

Generally, a Foreign award must be a National level decoration and not a sub-government (state, city, town, etc.) award. This is similar to the rule that US State awards for National Guardsmen are not worn on Active Duty uniforms.

Also, the award must be military in nature and not a civilian award. An example would be the German BMPB (aka GAFET) which is allowed to be worn on US Army uniforms but the German Sports Badge, a civilian award, is not.

Obviously the award must conform to standard US ribbon and/or medal bars or it cannot be worn.

And lastly, at least one US Award must be worn for any Foreign to be worn.

These are general, all Service, rules. The USCG and the USCGAux may have more stringent regulations, so check with your chain of leadership and management.

But I'll bet you that if it fits on a US ribbon bar and you have at least one US military or USCGAux award, you can wear it.

Excerpt from Chapter 5 of the Coast Guard Awards Manual:

B. Non-U.S. and international awards authorized for Coast Guard personnel. Standards of
Ethical Conduct, COMDTINST M5370.8 (series), contains policy guidance governing the
acceptance and retention of decorations and gifts from foreign governments.

1. Non-U.S. personal decorations.
a. Personal awards tendered to members of the Coast Guard by friendly foreign nations
or non-U.S. entities for a specific act or acts of gallantry or meritorious service may
be authorized for wear in accordance with this section and fall immediately after all
U.S. service awards in precedence. Requests to accept, retain, and wear non-U.S.
personal decorations should be submitted in memorandum format to Commandant
(CG-1221) via the appropriate chain of command. The memorandum will contain a
copy of the award certificate and citation, the period of service for the award, the
date received, and from whom the award was received.

The answer to the original poster.

Yes you can wear it (so long as you have one US award) and you already have authorization in the AuxMan.

AuxMan 10.F.5. Ribbons and Medals (bolding added)

quote:

Auxiliarists wear ribbons and medals, as part of the uniform, as tangible evidence of certain awards received. Auxiliarists who are authorized U.S. awards may wear the corresponding ribbons on all but Undress, Working/ODU, Blue Blazer, Flight Suit, and Jump suit uniforms. Auxiliarists authorized foreign awards may wear them provided at least one U.S. or Auxiliary award is worn.

Further:

AuxMan 11. Introduction (bolding added)

quote:

The Auxiliary’s Awards, as the parent organization, will precede all other organizational awards, except as noted. DOT awards are listed, but other civilian Governmental departments, international, and foreign awards may be appropriately worn.

The civilian Aux foregin award rules are much more 'liberal' then the USCG and the other Armed Services. Basically, according to the AuxMan, if you have it- wear it.

Which award is it?

Just wear it, nobody knows what half of the shirt bling is anyhow.

A former member of my flotilla, now sadly deceased, had been a soldier in the Second World War, and served in one of the units that linked up with the Red Army on the Elbe in 1945. On the 60th anniversary of that event, he was invited to visit Russia and received a decoration. I tried to talk him into wearing it to at least one Aux meeting or event, but he was a better man than I, and never gave in to that temptation.
/R.I.P. Bernie! BZ and thanks for your service.

quote:

Originally posted by NM11AZ:
Just wear it, nobody knows what half of the shirt bling is anyhow.

BULLCRAP!! Thats a major problem. First, wearing without authorization and second, KNOWING you're wearing without authorization.

What is UP with you guys wearing all your pretties? Is it a competition or something? Is it a show? Its pretty bad when you see an Aux member sporting more awards than the Commandant. IMO that's poor and inexcusable. That's like wearing something flashy to show up the bride. If you've truly earned them and they are within CG regs, then wear them with pride but not with self vanity.

Whats comical is when I see some AD wear only their 'top 3' and then watching Auxie's study them and give that inquisitive 'is that all you got' look, all the while grinning at themselves because they have more salad than Olive Garden.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SearchNRescue,

I agree with SearchNRescue....

I'm still interested in knowing what award the original poster was wanting to wear.

quote:

...they have more salad than Olive Garden.

Wow, what a "perfect storm".

Even if I got permission, I'm not sure I'd wear it with the Aux uniform, except perhaps at non-Aux events with the dinner dress uniform. It raises too many questions and I'd have to explain it all the time.

Sorry, I'd rather not say what the exact award is. It's analagous to the army's medal for non-military volunteer work

quote:

Sorry, I'd rather not say what the exact award is. It's analagous to the army's medal for non-military volunteer work

Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal



It's NOT just an Army award, it's an all Service award.

Gosh, I was hoping for something more like what all those "crowned heads of Yurrup" wear on those really cool sashes, like Girl Scouts and Brownies wear.
BTW, that's an American award, the OP's is British. I'll bet it's more spectacular.

quote:

Originally posted by NM11AZ:
Gosh, I was hoping for something more like what all those "crowned heads of Yurrup" wear on those really cool sashes, like Girl Scouts and Brownies wear.
BTW, that's an American award, the OP's is British. I'll bet it's more spectacular.

I envisioned something more akin to the full dress turn-out of the late Michael Jackson heading to a court appearance or preparing to visit an orphanage.

Michael Jackson is my hero. I'm sure if he'd known about the USCG Aux he would have become a member. FSO for youth outreach or something.