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Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
CGDSM
Awarded by United States Coast Guard
Type Personal decoration
Eligibility Individuals serving in any capacity with the US Coast Guard
Awarded for Distinguished and exceptionally meritorious service to the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility.
Status Currently awarded
Statistics
Established 4 August 1949
First awarded 1961
Precedence
Next (higher) Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Transportation Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Distinguished Service Medal[1]
Equivalent Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal[1]
Next (lower) Silver Star[1]
Gold star
Coast Guard Distinguished Service ribbon

Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal ribbon with award star indicating a subsequent award

The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal (CGDSM) is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard that was established 4 August 1949 by 14 U.S.C. § 492. Prior to this date, members of the Coast Guard were eligible to receive the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. The medal is presented for, "Exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility."[2]

The Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal, which replaced the Transportation Distinguished Service Medal in 2002, is another higher precedence Distinguished Service Medal that may be awarded to Coast Guardsmen.[3]

Criteria[]

The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to any member of the U.S. Coast Guard who distinguishes themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility. The exceptional performance of duty must be clearly above what is normally expected and must have contributed materially to the success of a major command or project. The decoration is typically awarded to senior flag officers, such as the Commandant of the Coast Guard. However, this does not preclude the award of the medal to any person who meets the eligibility requirements.[3]

The bestowing authority of the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is the Secretary of Homeland Security. Prior to 2003, the award was authorized by the Secretary of Transportation.

Notable recipients[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Ribbon Order of Precedence". United States Coast Guard. http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg1/cg122/PolicyStandards/medals/docs/Order_of_Precedence.pdf. Retrieved 19 January 2013. 
  2. Armed Forces Information Service (1992). Armed Forces Decorations and Awards. Department of Defense. p. 6. http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/p672_6.pdf. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 United States Coast Guard (May 2008). "COMDTINST M1650.25D Medals and Awards Manual". Department of Homeland Security. http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/1000-1999/CIM_1650_25D.pdf. Retrieved 19 January 2013. 
  4. "Eric A. "Rick" Trent". Military Times. Gannett. http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=27268. Retrieved 19 January 2013. 


All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Distinguished Service Medal (US Coast Guard) and the edit history here.
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