Meritorious Honor Award

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Meritorious Honor Award
DoS Meritorious Honor Award Medal Set.jpg
TypeMedal
Awarded for"A special act or service or sustained outstanding performance"
Presented by United States Department of State
Eligibility Foreign Service, Civil Service, US Military
StatusCurrently awarded
DoS MHA.svg
Ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher) Superior Honor Award
Next (lower) Expeditionary Service Award

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, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and USAID. It is presented to groups or individuals in recognition of a special act or service or sustained outstanding performance.

Contents

The award consists of a certificate signed by an assistant secretary, an official of equivalent rank or the Chief of Mission. 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: [1]

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.

The Marine Corps is not permitted to wear the MHA. [2]

Air Force members may accept awards proffered by federal agencies, but not U.S. Non-Military Service Awards like the MHA. Air Force members are not authorized to wear any U.S. non-military service awards specifically intended to recognize participation in campaigns, expeditions, or fulfillment of specific service requirements. Reference Air Force Manual 36-2806, AWARDS AND MEMORIALIZATION PROGRAM, Attachment 9, paragraph A9.3.2. (https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afman36-2806/afman36-2806.pdf).

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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, 3 FAM - Personnel, section 3 FAM 4800 Department Awards Program.

Award for Heroism

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.

Distinguished Honor Award Award given by the United States Department of State

The Distinguished 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, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and USAID. It is presented to groups or individuals in recognition of exceptionally outstanding service or achievements of marked national or international significance.

Superior Honor Award

The Superior 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, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and USAID. It is presented to groups or individuals in recognition of a special act or service or sustained extraordinary performance covering a period of one year or longer.

Secretarys Award

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.

USAID Meritorious Honor Award

The Meritorious Honor Award is an award of the United States Agency for International Development. Similar versions of the same award exist for the former U.S. Information Agency, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and Department of State. It is presented to groups or individuals in recognition of a special act or service or sustained outstanding performance.

USAID Superior Honor Award

The Superior Honor Award is an award of the United States Agency for International Development. Similar versions of the same award exist for the former U.S. Information Agency, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and Department of State. It is presented to groups or individuals in recognition of a special act or service or sustained extraordinary performance covering a period of one year or longer.

ACDA Meritorious Honor Award

The Meritorious Honor Award is an award of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, an independent agency charged with implementing and verifying arms control strategies which has since been merged into the Department of State. Similar versions of the same award exist for the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of State, and the former U.S. Information Agency. This award has been replaced with the State Department's Meritorious Honor Award. This award was presented to groups or individuals in recognition of a special act or service or sustained outstanding performance.

ACDA Distinguished Honor Award

The Distinguished Honor Award is an award of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, an independent agency charged with implementing and verifying arms control strategies which has since been merged into the Department of State. Similar versions of the same award exist for the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of State, and the former U.S. Information Agency. This award has been replaced with the State Department's Distinguished Honor Award. This award was presented to groups or individuals in recognition of exceptionally outstanding service or achievements of marked national or international significance.

USAID Distinguished Honor Award

The Distinguished Honor Award is an award of the United States Agency for International Development. Similar versions of the same award exist for the former U.S. Information Agency, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and Department of State. It is presented to groups or individuals in recognition of exceptionally outstanding service or achievements of marked national or international significance.

USIA Meritorious Honor Award

The Meritorious Honor Award is an award of the United States Information Agency, an independent agency charged with public diplomacy which has since been merged into the Department of State. Similar versions of the same award exist for the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of State, and the former Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. This award has been replaced with the State Department's Meritorious Honor Award. This award was presented to groups or individuals in recognition of a special act or service or sustained outstanding performance.

USIA Distinguished Honor Award

The Distinguished Honor Award is an award of the United States Information Agency, an independent agency charged with public diplomacy which has since been merged into the Department of State. Similar versions of the same award exist for the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of State, and the former Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. This award has been replaced with the State Department's Distinguished Honor Award. This award was presented to groups or individuals in recognition of exceptionally outstanding service or achievements of marked national or international significance.

References

  1. "3 FAM 4828 Meritorious Honor Award". US Department of State. 31 January 2003. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  2. "DEPARTMENT OF STATE MEDALS > The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website > Marines.mil - Messages".

See also