Award for Heroism

Last updated

Award for Heroism
DoS Award for Heroism Medal Set.jpg
TypeMedal
Awarded for"Acts of courage or outstanding performance under unusually difficult or dangerous circumstances"
Presented by United States Department of State
Eligibility Foreign Service, Civil Service, US Military
StatusCurrently awarded
DoSAwardforheroism.JPG
Ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher) Secretary’s Award
Next (lower) Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service
Award for Valor (obsolete)

The Award for Heroism is an award of the United States Department of State. It is presented to employees of State, USAID and Marine guards assigned to diplomatic and consular facilities in recognition of acts of courage or outstanding performance under unusually difficult or dangerous circumstances, whether or not in connection with the performance of assigned duties. [1]

Contents

The award consists of a silver medal set and a certificate signed by an assistant secretary, an official of equivalent rank or the Chief of Mission. Due to the location and dangerous nature of their work, the majority of the recipients have been Foreign Service Special Agents of the Diplomatic Security Service.

The Award for Heroism is a replacement for the former Award for Valor. The basic difference between the two medals is that the Valor Award was issued in 10K gold whereas the Heroism Award is issued in sterling silver. The ribbon reflects this; the designs are almost identical, but the color scheme indicates the precious metal issued with the respective awards.

Criteria

The following criteria are applicable to granting an Award for Heroism:

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 as a U.S. non-military personal decoration.

Recipients

Secretary Hillary Clinton presents the Department of State Award for Heroism to Matthew T. Sherman, November 18, 2009 DOS0909.jpg
Secretary Hillary Clinton presents the Department of State Award for Heroism to Matthew T. Sherman, November 18, 2009
Secretary Clinton pins Award for Heroism on Principal Officer Lynne Tracy Lynne Tracy Receives the Award for Heroism.png
Secretary Clinton pins Award for Heroism on Principal Officer Lynne Tracy

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Mombasa attacks</span> Terrorist attacks in Kenya

The 2002 Mombasa attacks was a two-pronged terrorist attack on 28 November 2002 in Mombasa, Kenya against an Israeli-owned hotel and a plane belonging to Arkia Airlines. An all-terrain vehicle crashed through a barrier outside the Paradise Hotel and blew up, killing 13 and injuring 80. At the same time, attackers fired two surface-to-air missiles at an Israeli charter plane. The Paradise Hotel was the only Israeli-owned hotel in the Mombasa area. The attacks were believed to be orchestrated by al-Qaeda operatives in Somalia in an attempt to disrupt the Israeli tourist industry on the African continent. Much speculation has occurred as to who the perpetrators are, but no complete list of suspects has been defined. The attack was the second al-Qaeda terrorist operation in Kenya, following the bombing of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi in 1998. Following the attack, the UN Security Council and other nations condemned the bombing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Foreign Service</span> Primary personnel system used by the diplomatic service of the United States federal government

The United States Foreign Service is the primary personnel system used by the diplomatic service of the United States federal government, under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of over 13,000 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S. citizens abroad. The current director general is Marcia Bernicat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bureau of Diplomatic Security</span> U.S. State Department security and law enforcement division

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security, commonly known as Diplomatic Security (DS), is the security branch of the United States Department of State. It conducts international investigations, threat analysis, cyber security, counterterrorism, and protection of people, property, and information. Its mission is to provide a safe and secure environment for officials to execute the foreign policy of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diplomatic Security Service</span> Security and law enforcement arm of the U.S. State Department

The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is the principal security and law enforcement agency of the United States Department of State (DOS). As the operational division of DOS' Bureau of Diplomatic Security, its primary mission is to protect diplomatic assets, personnel, and information and combat visa and passport fraud. DSS also conducts counterterrorism, counterintelligence, cybersecurity and criminal investigations domestically and abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign Service officer</span> Member of the United States Foreign Service

A Foreign Service officer (FSO) is a commissioned member of the United States Foreign Service. Foreign Service officers formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States. FSOs spend most of their careers overseas as members of U.S. embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic missions, though some receive assignments to serve at combatant commands, Congress, and educational institutions such as the various U.S. service academies.

Ali Abdul Saoud Mohamed is a double agent who worked for both the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and Egyptian Islamic Jihad simultaneously, reporting on the workings of each for the benefit of the other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobile Security Deployments</span> Police unit of the US State Department

Mobile Security Deployments (MSD) is a small specialized tactical unit within the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) of the United States Department of State. The MSD provides U.S. embassies and consulates with security support, protects the Secretary of State and other U.S. officials, including domestically as well as visiting foreign officials, and also provides security training at U.S embassies and consulates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prudence Bushnell</span> American diplomat (born 1946)

Prudence Bushnell is an American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Kenya and as United States Ambassador to Guatemala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 United States embassy bombings</span> Attacks on US Embassies in two countries in 1998

The 1998 United States embassy bombings were attacks that occurred on August 7, 1998. More than 200 people were killed in nearly simultaneous truck bomb explosions in two East African cities, one at the United States Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the other at the United States Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States–Yemen relations</span> Bilateral relations

In the years after the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, Yemen became a key site for U.S. intelligence gathering and drone attacks on Al-Qaeda. According to the 2012 U.S. Global Leadership Report, 18% of Yemenis approved of U.S. leadership, with 59% disapproving and 23% uncertain. According to a February 2015 report from the Congressional Research Service, U.S. officials considered Al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula the Al-Qaeda affiliate "most likely to attempt transnational attacks against the United States."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenya–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Kenya–United States relations are bilateral relations between Kenya and the United States. Kenya and the United States have long been close allies and have enjoyed cordial relations since Kenya's independence. Relations became even closer after Kenya's democratic transition of 2002 and subsequent improvements in human rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embassy of the United States, Kabul</span> Former U.S. diplomatic mission to Afghanistan

The Embassy of the United States of America in Kabul was the official diplomatic mission of the United States of America to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The embassy was housed in a chancery located on Great Massoud Road in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood of the Afghan capital, Kabul, and was built at a cost of nearly $800 million. On August 15, 2021, in the face of a Taliban advance on Kabul, embassy staff relocated to makeshift but secure facilities at Hamid Karzai International Airport. Kabul fell and the chancery building officially closed late August 15.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service</span> Award

The Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service is an award of the United States Department of State. It is presented to employees of State, USAID, and civilian contractors assigned to diplomatic and consular facilities for events that lead to death or serious illness or injury. It is roughly comparable to the U.S. military's Purple Heart, but since the criteria for the award is so strict, nearly all of them are awarded posthumously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary's Award</span> Award from the United States Department of State

The Secretary’s Award is an award of the United States Department of State. It is presented to employees of State, USAID and Marine guards assigned to diplomatic and consular facilities in recognition of sacrifice of health or life, in the performance of official duties. It is somewhat similar in function to the U.S. military’s Purple Heart medal, though it tends to only be issued for serious injuries that are directly related to official duties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Department Award for Valor</span>

The Award for Valor is an obsolete award of the United States Department of State. It has since been replaced with the Award for Heroism. It was presented to employees of State, USAID and Marine guards assigned to diplomatic and consular facilities in recognition of acts of valor or outstanding performance under unusually difficult or dangerous circumstances, whether or not in connection with the performance of assigned duties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embassy of the United States, Mogadishu</span> U.S. diplomatic mission in Mogadishu, Somalia

The Embassy of the United States of America to Somalia is a diplomatic mission of the United States in Mogadishu, Somalia from 1960 to 1991. In 1957, the US opened a consulate-general in Mogadishu—the capital of the Trust Territory of Somalia, a UN trusteeship under Italian administration. The consulate was upgraded to embassy status in July 1960, when the US recognized Somalia's independence and appointed an ambassador. The embassy served to counter Soviet influence during the Cold War and also served as a base for the United States Agency for International Development, which had a large presence in the country. In 1989, the embassy moved from a dilapidated building in central Mogadishu to a new compound on the outskirts of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embassy of the United States, Nairobi</span> American embassy

The Embassy of the United States of America to Kenya, located in Nairobi, is home to the diplomatic mission of the United States to the Republic of Kenya. The embassy opened in central Nairobi on 2 March 1964, when the United States established diplomatic relations with Kenya. In 1998, the original embassy was the target of a terrorist attack, after which a new embassy building was constructed in Gigiri, a suburb of Nairobi, in 2003.

The following lists events that happened during 2016 in Afghanistan.

The Special Program for Embassy Augmentation and Response (SPEAR) is an antiterrorism and policing force in select regions around the world, designed to respond to crises and threats to US diplomats as well as US embassies and diplomatic missions. Law enforcement personnel from host nations are chosen to be members of SPEAR and are trained by the Diplomatic Security Service's (DSS) Office of Antiterrorism and Assistance (ATA). SPEAR was established in 2014 in the aftermath of the 2012 Benghazi attack, in nations where the ability to protect high risk U.S personnel and property were weak. Since its inception, SPEAR personnel have by mid-2021 provided extra security for more than 500 diplomatic affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Allies Refuge</span> 2021 evacuation of Americans and eligible Afghans from Afghanistan

Operation Allies Refuge was a United States military operation to airlift certain at-risk Afghan civilians, particularly interpreters, U.S. embassy employees, and other prospective Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants from Afghanistan during the final days of the 2001–2021 War in Afghanistan. U.S. personnel also helped NATO and regional allies in their respective evacuation efforts from Hamid Karzai International Airport in the country's capital of Kabul. The operation was concurrent with the larger American military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the multinational evacuation of eligible foreigners and vulnerable Afghans.

References

  1. "3 FAM 4824 Award For Heroism". US Department of State. January 31, 2003. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  2. "Meet and Greet at Embassy Kabul with Employees and Their Families". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  3. Biography for Lynne Tracy State Department Website State.gov
  4. United States Department of State
  5. "Diplomatic Courier Honored for Heroism". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  6. "U.S. Department of State". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  7. "Nolan, Stephen J." Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  8. "U.S. Department of State" . Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  9. United States Department of State
  10. United States Department of State