The Coast Guard Unit Commendation is the highest peacetime unit award that may be awarded to military commands of the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mult ...

. The decoration was first created in 1963 and is presented to members of any Coast Guard unit that distinguishes itself by valorous or extremely meritorious service, not involving combat, but in support of Coast Guard operations. It may also be awarded to units and personnel of the other U.S. armed forces, typically when in support of operations where the Coast Guard is the lead service. One example was the award of the commendation with

Operational Distinguishing Device The Operational Distinguishing Device ("O" device) is a miniature silver inch letter "O" that is authorized by the United States Coast Guard as a ribbon device which may be authorized for wear on certain awards and decorations of the United State ...

to rescue squadrons of the

U.S. Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...

and maritime patrol squadrons and helicopter squadrons of the

U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...

, when said units assisted the Coast Guard during search and recovery operations following the January 1986 loss of the

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...

Space Shuttle Challenger Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' (OV-099) was a Space Shuttle orbiter manufactured by Rockwell International and operated by NASA. Named after the commanding ship of a nineteenth-century scientific expedition that traveled the world, ''Challenge ...

. Additional awards of the Coast Guard Unit Commendation are denoted by award stars. The

, a 5/16 inch silver letter "O" centered on the unit of the uniform ribbon, is also authorized for units which are presented the decoration for field operations and conditions. Prior to 2003, the Coast Guard Unit Commendation was subordinate to the Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award. With the transfer of the Coast Guard to the

Department of Homeland Security The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries. Its stated missions involve anti-terr ...

, the Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award became obsolete, making the Coast Guard Unit Commendation the senior peacetime award, but junior to the

Joint Meritorious Unit Award The Joint Meritorious Unit Award (JMUA) is a US military award that was established on June 4, 1981, by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982. The Joint Meritori ...

and the Presidential Unit Citation. Admiral Paul Zukunft, Commandant, awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation to the

Coast Guard Auxiliary The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGA, USCGAUX, CGAux, or USCG Aux) is the civilian uniformed volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard. Congress established the unit on 23 June 1939, as the United States Coast Guard Reserve ...

on June 23, 2014, for members active from June 24, 2009 to June 23, 2014. "Beyond the day to day, the Auxiliary has been there as part of the Coast Guard's total force in every major disaster," said Coast Guard Commandant ADM Zukunft at the ceremony. "During disasters, the Auxiliary takes action to provide air support, conduct search and rescue, fix aids to navigation, conduct public affairs and augment units at home stations whose responders are deployed." References: ALAUX 011/14; COMDTINST M16790.1G (Auxiliary Manual), Chapter 10; and COMDTINST M1650.25D, Medals and Awards Manual. On the 80th anniversary of the USCG Auxiliary, On May 16, 2019, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary was awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation ribbon to all Auxiliarists by

Karl Schultz Karl Schultz (born 6 November 1937) is a German equestrian and Olympic medalist. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein. He competed in eventing at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal Montr ...

the

Commandant of the Coast Guard The commandant of the Coast Guard is the service chief and highest-ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The commandant is an admiral, appointed for a four-year term by the president of the United States upon confirmation by the Uni ...

.Coast Guard Unit Commendation 2019
/ref> The Coast Guard Auxiliary has been awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation a total of six times: # September 9, 1993—For service period October 1991 through November 1992 while engaged in several massive operations including service during Hurricanes Andrew, Iniki, Typhoon Omar and instances of serious flooding. # August 10, 1999 – 60th Anniversary. For service period June 23, 1939 through June 23, 1999. # September 1, 2002 – For service period September 11, 2001 through September 1, 2002 with Operational Distinguishing Device (“O”). # June 23, 2009 – 70th Anniversary. For service period June 24, 1999 through June 23, 2009. # June 24, 2014 – 75th Anniversary. For service period June 24, 2009 through June 23, 2014. # May 16, 2019 – 80th Anniversary. For service period June 24, 2014 through June 23, 2019.

References

{{USCG decorations Unit Commendation

See also

References