The Meritorious Honor Award is an award of the United States Department of State. Similar versions of the same award exist for the former
U.S. Information Agency
The United States Information Agency (USIA), which operated from 1953 to 1999, was a United States agency devoted to " public diplomacy". In 1999, prior to the reorganization of intelligence agencies by President George W. Bush, President Bill ...
,
Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and
USAID
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. With a budget of over $27 bi ...
. It is presented to groups or individuals in recognition of a special act or service or sustained outstanding performance.
The award consists of a certificate signed by an assistant secretary, an official of equivalent rank or the
Chief of Mission
In diplomatic usage, head of mission (HOM) or chief of mission (COM) from the French "chef de mission diplomatique" (CMD) is the head of a diplomatic representation, such as an ambassador, high commissioner, nuncio, chargé d'affaires, permanent ...
. While the
FAM still stipulates award of a medal set, per a 2007 ALDAC (a cable intended for distribution to all diplomatic and consular posts), medals are no longer issued.
Criteria
The following criteria are applicable to granting a Meritorious Honor Award:
* Outstanding service in support of a one-time event (e.g., support for a major conference or summit meeting);
* Innovation and creativity in accomplishing short-term tasks or projects;
* Outstanding performance in one or more areas of the employee’s official duties as defined in the Work Requirements Statement (Foreign Service) or Performance Plan (Civil Service); and/or
* Contributions that resulted in increased productivity and efficiency, and economy of operations at post or bureau level.
Nominating and Approval Procedures
Nominations for State and USAID employees are submitted on Form JF-66, Nomination for Award, through supervisory channels to the Joint Country Awards Committee for review and recommendation to the Chief of Mission for final action.
Nominations initiated in Washington are submitted to the appropriate area awards committee for final action. For USAID, nominations initiated in Washington are reviewed by the USAID bureau/office with final approval by the appropriate assistant administrator or office head.
Military use
Upon authorization, members of the U.S. military, may wear the medal and ribbon in the appropriate
order of precedence
An order of precedence is a sequential hierarchy of nominal importance and can be applied to individuals, groups, or organizations. Most often it is used in the context of people by many organizations and governments, for very formal and state o ...
as a
U.S. non-military personal decoration.
The Marine Corps is not permitted to wear the MHA.
References
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See also
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USAID Meritorious Honor Award
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Awards of the United States Department of State
The United States Department of State, like other agencies of the U.S. federal government, gives civilian decorations for outstanding service, sacrifice, or heroism. The criteria for the awards are set down in 3 FAM 4820 - ''Foreign Affairs Manual ...
*
Awards and decorations of the United States government
*
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an United States federal executive departments, executive department of the Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government responsible for the country's fore ...
*
U.S. Foreign Service
Awards and decorations of the United States Department of State
United States Department of State