Awards and decorations of the Public Health Service

Last updated
Example of awards, special skills badge, and identification badges of the USPHS Commissioned Corps as worn on the service dress uniform of RADM Scott Giberson. USPHSCC Award and Insignia Example.png
Example of awards, special skills badge, and identification badges of the USPHS Commissioned Corps as worn on the service dress uniform of RADM Scott Giberson.

The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC), one of the eight uniformed services of the United States, has the authority to issue various awards, commendations, and other insignia to its members. These include individual honor awards, unit honor awards, service awards, training ribbons, special skill badges, and identification badges. The following PHSCC awards are listed in the service's order of precedence: [1] [2] [3]

Contents

An overview of awards for the Commissioned Corps as of 2021 USPHS Commissioned Corps Decorations and Insignia.pdf
An overview of awards for the Commissioned Corps as of 2021

Personal awards and decorations

U.S. - Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.png Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal – worn after the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and before the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.png Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal – worn after the Purple Heart and before the Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Assistant Secretary for Health's Exceptional Service Medal ribbon.png Assistant Secretary for Health's Exceptional Service Medal – awarded at the discretion of the Assistant Secretary for Health, worn after the Meritorious Service Medal and before the Surgeon General's Medallion
Surgeon General's Medallion ribbon.png Surgeon General's Medallion – worn after the Assistant Secretary for Health's Exceptional Service Medal and before the Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal
Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal ribbon.png Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal – worn after the Surgeon General's Medallion and before the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal
Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal ribbon.png Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal – worn after the Air Medal and before the NOAA Administrator's Award
Public Health Service Commendation Medal ribbon.png Public Health Service Commendation Medal – worn after the Aerial Achievement Medal and before the Joint Service Commendation Medal
Public Health Service Achievement Medal ribbon.png Public Health Service Achievement Medal – worn after the Department of Transportation Superior Achievement Medal and before the Achievement Medal of other uniformed services
USPHS Citation Medal ribbon bar.svg Public Health Service Citation Medal – worn after the NOAA Corps Achievement Medal and before the Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon

Unit awards

USPH Presidential Unit Citation.svg Public Health Service Presidential Unit Citation – the highest unit decoration of the Public Health Service.
Public Health Service Outstanding Unit Citation ribbon.png Public Health Service Outstanding Unit Citation – the second highest unit decoration of the Public Health Service.
Public Health Service Unit Commendation ribbon.png Public Health Service Unit Commendation – the third highest unit decoration of the Public Health Service.

Service and campaign awards

USPHSCC Awards and Decorations poster, 2015. USPHSCC Awards Poster May 2015.pdf
USPHSCC Awards and Decorations poster, 2015.
USPHS Smallpox Campaign Award ribbon.png Public Health Service Smallpox Eradication Campaign Ribbon
USPHS Global Health Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Public Health Service Global Health Campaign Medal
USPHS Ebola Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Public Health Service Ebola Campaign Medal
USPHS Covid-19 Pandemic medal ribbon bar.svg Public Health Service COVID-19 Pandemic Campaign Medal
USPHS Hazardous Duty Award ribbon.png Public Health Service Hazardous Duty Award
Public Health Service Foreign Duty Service Award ribbon.png Public Health Service Foreign Duty Award
USPHS Special Assignment Award ribbon.png Public Health Service Special Assignment Award
USPHS Isolated Hardship Service Award ribbon.png Public Health Service Isolated/Hardship Award
Public Health Service Crisis Response Service Award ribbon.png Public Health Service Crisis Response Service Award
USPHS Global Response Service Award ribbon.png Public Health Service Global Response Service Award
USPHS Response Service Award ribbon.png Public Health Service Response Service Award
USPHS National Emergency Preparedness Award ribbon.png Public Health Service National Emergency Preparedness Award
USPHS Recruitment Service Ribbon.png Public Health Service Recruitment Service Award [4]
USPHS Global Health Initiatives Service Medal ribbon.png Public Health Service Global Health Initiative Service Medal
Public Health Service Bicentennial Unit Commendation Award ribbon.png Public Health Service Bicentennial Unit Commendation Award
Public Health Service Regular Corps Ribbon.png Public Health Service Regular Corps Ribbon
USPHS Commissioned Corps Training Ribbon.png Commissioned Corps Training Ribbon

Association and organization awards

The following awards are awarded by various associations and organizations related the PHS mission and may be worn on the uniform (in order of precedence shown) when attending a function of that association: [5]

Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Association ribbon.png Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service (COA) [6]
Association of Military Surgeons of the United States ribbon.png Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS)
Reserve Officers Association ribbon.png Reserve Officers Association (ROA)

Attachments worn on ribbons

Valor device.svg
U.S. - Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.png
Bronze letter "V" device worn on the Distinguished Service, Meritorious Service, and the Outstanding Service Medals to indicate an award for valor.
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.png
5/16th inch gold stars are worn on the Distinguished Service, Meritorious Service, Surgeon General's Exemplary Service, Outstanding Service, Commendation, Achievement, and PHS Citation Medals to indicate subsequent awards.
Award-star-silver-3d.png
Public Health Service Achievement Medal ribbon.png
In lieu of five gold 5/16th inch stars, a silver 5/16th inch star is worn.
Public Health Service Unit Commendation ribbon.png Bronze-service-star-3d.svg Bronze-service-star-3d.svg Silver-service-star-3d.svg Bronze-service-star-3d.svg 3/16th inch service stars in bronze are worn on campaign, unit, and service awards to indicate subsequent awards. In lieu of five bronze stars, a silver star is worn.
USPHS PUC 2nd Award.svg A gold frame is placed around the Presidential Unit Citation to indicate a second award. [7]
USPHS Global Response Service Award ribbon.png NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps Expeditionary Attachment.png The Expeditionary Attachment is worn centered on the suspension ribbon and ribbon bar. [8]

Badges and insignia

Assistant Secretary for Health & Principal Deputy Secretary for Health Officer-In-Charge Insignia.png
Assistant Secretary for Health
USPHSCC Surgeon General Badge.png
Surgeon General Badge
USPHSCC Deputy Surgeon General Badge.png
Deputy Surgeon General Badge
USPHSCC Officer-in-Charge Badge.png
Officer-in-Charge Badge
USPHSCC Chief Professional Officer Badge.png
Chief Professional Officer Badge
USPHS Associate Recruiter Badge.png
Associate Recruiter Badge
USPHSCC Music Ensemble Badge.png
Music Ensemble Badge
Office of HHS ID Badge.png
HHS Identification Badge
Field Medical Readiness Badge--recognizes officers who have exceeded force readiness standards while deployed PHSCC FMRB.png
Field Medical Readiness Badge—recognizes officers who have exceeded force readiness standards while deployed

Commissioned Corps officers may wear two authorized special skills badges and two breast or identification badges on the Corps uniform. Badges of the USPHS take precedence over badges earned in other uniformed services. [3] [9] [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

The United States has eight federal uniformed services that commission officers as defined by Title 10 and subsequently structured and organized by Titles 10, 14, 32, 33, and 42 of the U.S. Code.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surgeon General of the United States</span> Head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

The surgeon general of the United States is the operational head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) and thus the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government of the United States. The surgeon general's office and staff are known as the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG), which is housed within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Public Health Service</span> Division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concerned with public health

The United States Public Health Service is a collection of agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services concerned with public health, containing nine out of the department's twelve operating divisions. The Assistant Secretary for Health oversees the PHS. The Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) is the federal uniformed service of the PHS, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces</span> Military awards and decorations of the US

The awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces include various medals, service ribbons, ribbon devices, and specific badges which recognize military service and personal accomplishments of members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a service member's career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps</span> Federal uniformed service

The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is the uniformed service branch of the United States Public Health Service and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. The commissioned corps' primary mission is the protection, promotion, and advancement of health and safety of the general public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oak leaf cluster</span> Award

An oak leaf cluster is a ribbon device to denote preceding decorations and awards consisting of a miniature bronze or silver twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem. It is authorized by the United States Armed Forces for a specific set of decorations and awards of the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, and Department of the Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uniform Service Recruiter Badges (United States)</span>

The Recruiter Badge is a decoration of the United States uniformed services that is awarded to personnel who have performed recruitment duties as service recruiters. The Recruiter Badge is issued by every branch of the U.S. uniform services except for the Marine Corps and the NOAA Commissioned Corps. With the exception of the U.S. Army, a Recruiting Service Ribbon is also awarded to those personnel who have completed successful tours as recruiters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public Health Service Achievement Medal</span> Award

The Public Health Achievement Medal is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Officer Corps and to members of any Uniformed Services of the United States whose accomplishments or achievements are of outstanding or unique significance to the missions of the Corps. It is the ninth-highest award awarded by the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Identification badges of the uniformed services of the United States</span> List of identification badges of the US Uniformed Services

Identification badges of the uniformed services of the United States are insignia worn by service members conducting special duties, many of which can be awarded as permanent decorations if those duties are performed successfully. There are a few identification badges that are awarded to all services, others are specific to a uniform service. The Office of the President and Vice President and department/service headquarters badges are permanent decorations for those who successfully serve in those assignments. Some of the service level identification badges can be permanent decorations and others are only worn by a service member while performing specific duties, such as the Military Police Badge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assistant Secretary for Health</span> USHHS primary advisor on US public health

The assistant secretary for health (ASH) is a senior U.S. government official within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The position is a statutory office and the holder of the office serves as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services's primary advisor on matters involving the nation's public health. The assistant secretary oversees all matters pertaining to the United States Public Health Service (PHS), the main division of the Department of Health and Human Services, for the secretary and provides strategic and policy direction. The Public Health Service comprises almost all of the agency divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services including the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, one of the eight federal uniformed services, comprising more than 6,500 uniformed health professionals who serve with the Department of Health and Human Services, or are assigned to work within other federal agencies, including the United States Armed Forces.

The Public Health Service Smallpox Eradication Campaign Ribbon is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Officer Corps and to members of any other uniformed service of the United States

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public Health Service Ebola Campaign Medal</span> Decoration of the U.S. Public Health Service

The Public Health Service Ebola Campaign Medal is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It recognizes service in responding to an outbreak of the Ebola virus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public Health Service Crisis Response Service Award</span> Decoration of the US Public Health Service

The Public Health Service Crisis Response Service Award is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It recognizes service in response to a crisis within the United States.

The Public Health Service Global Response Service Award is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It recognizes service in response to a crisis outside the United States.

The Public Health Service Response Service Award is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It recognizes deployments to meet a public health need or to support a National Special Security Event.

The Public Health Service Recruitment Service Award is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It recognizes contributions to recruitment efforts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public Health Service Bicentennial Unit Commendation Award</span> Decoration of the U.S. Public Health Service

The Public Health Service Bicentennial Unit Commendation Award is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It recognizes service during the bicentennial of the U.S. Public Health Service.

The Public Health Service Regular Corps Ribbon is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It recognizes membership in the Regular Corps of the USPHS Commissioned Corps.

The Public Health Service Outstanding Unit Commendation is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It is the third-highest unit award of the USPHS Commissioned Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service</span> Professional organization of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

The Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service, often referred to as the Commissioned Officers Association (COA), is a professional association of officers of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps. It is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the interests of the USPHS Commissioned Corps. COA describes itself as a "nationally recognized member-based organization" formed to "protect and enhance the public health and safety of the United States by supporting and advancing the interests of the Commissioned Corps and its officers." It describes itself as the only organization "that works exclusively on behalf of active, inactive, and retired" USPHS Commissioned Corps officers.

References

  1. "CCI 512.01 Wear of Awards and Badges" (PDF). United States Department of Health and Human Services . Program Support Center. 2020-07-02. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  2. "USPHS Commissioned Corps Management Information System, Awards Information, Types of Recognition & Awards Criteria". Commissioned Corps Management Information System. United States Public Health Service. Archived from the original on 2013-02-18. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  3. 1 2 U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Decorations & Insignias USPHS, dated 20 May 2015, last accessed 27 August 2016
  4. 1 2 3 "PHS NO. 382, Implementation of an Associate Recruiter Lead Badge (ARLB) and PHS Recruitment Service Ribbon (RSR)" (PDF). Commissioned Corps Management Information System. United States Public Health Service. 4 March 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-10-16. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  5. PHS Commissioned Corps Awards CCPM Pamphlet No. 67 Archived September 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , dated April 1998, last accessed 30 March 2013
  6. "Who We Are". Commissioned Officers Association. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  7. "COMMISSIONED CORPS INSTRUCTION 511.01" (PDF). Commissioned Corps Issuance System (CCIS). US Department of Health and Human Services. 19 January 2021. p. 7. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  8. "Commissioned Corps Instruction 511.01" (PDF). US Department of Health and Human Services. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  9. "PPM 08-019 Wear of Skill and Breast Badges" (PDF). dcp.psc.gov/. United States Public Health Service. 28 August 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  10. Public Health Service Music Ensemble Badge, United States Army Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 23 August 2020
  11. "CCI 511.02 Field Medical Readiness Badge" (PDF). ccrf.hhs.gov/ccrf. United States Public Health Service. 26 July 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-27. Retrieved 5 August 2012.