ALCOAST 200/18 - MAY 2018 AWARD OF THE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL FOR HURRICANE HARVEY RESPONSE

R 230746 MAY 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//DCO-D//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N01650//
ALCOAST 200/18
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ:  AWARD OF THE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL FOR HURRICANE HARVEY RESPONSE
A. CG-PSC-PSD-ma MEMO 1650 of 28 FEB 2018
B. Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual, COMDTINST M1650.25 (series)
1. In honor of the contribution of Coast Guard personnel in support of rescue and recovery
efforts following Hurricane HARVEY, the Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM) is authorized for
Coast Guard military personnel physically present in the area of eligibility between 23 August
and 31 October 2017. In accordance with the recommendation of REF (A) and the criteria
outlined in REF (B), Coast Guard service members who directly participated for one or more days
in the humanitarian and disaster relief support are awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal.
2. The eligible areas include the following:
   a. Texas counties: Aransas, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado,
DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper,
Jefferson, Karnes, Kleberg, Lavaca, Lee, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces,
Orange, Polk, Refugio, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Waller,
and Wharton counties.
   b. Louisiana parishes: Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson
Davis, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, Vermilion, and Vernon.
3. Additional criteria for this award are provided in Chapter 5 of REF (B). No person will be
entitled to more than one award of the HSM for participation in the same humanitarian
operation. For individuals who have previously earned the HSM, a 3/16-inch bronze star will
be awarded to indicate a subsequent award or a 3/16-inch silver star to denote five bronze
stars (sixth award). Award of the HSM to an individual does not preclude that member from
being recognized with an additional personal award. Civilian personnel are not eligible to
receive the Humanitarian Service Medal.
4. Each unit, in coordination with their servicing administration office, must validate
personnel eligibility, location, and time period (i.e. permanent duty station or TDY orders
to an area of eligibility and physical presence).
   a. Units shall electronically submit rosters of eligible members, with command approval,
via a standard Excel spreadsheet, which can be found on the CG PSC PSD-fs portal site at:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/psc/Medals%20and%20Awards/default.aspx.
(Note: Units will not be able to edit the spreadsheet until a local copy is created via
“Save As” function. A standard naming convention for email and file titles is required to
facilitate processing of the rosters (AWARD_UNIT_DATE (i.e., HSM_MSU TEXAS CITY_20180401)).
Units should refer to the specific instructions contained in the spreadsheet in completing
the rosters.
   b. Spreadsheets (left in Excel form) must be submitted electronically to:
D08-SMB-District-Harvey-Awards@uscg.mil by 12 June 2018.
   c. D8 will consolidate the rosters and forward to LANTAREA for compiling into one
HSM HARVEY roster no later than 10 July 2018.
   d. Upon completion of consolidation and no later than 24 July 2018, LANTAREA will
forward the final roster to CG-PSC-PSD-ma at: ARL.AWDSBOARD@uscg.mil.
5. Direct Access entries will be coordinated between D8, LANTAREA, and PPC (The Issue Date
for Direct Access entry is: 30 March 2018; The Grantor for Direct Access entry is: COMDT/Ref:
(this ALCOAST i.e.: “ALCOAST XXX/18”). Units will not have to make the entries and an Coast
Guard Award Recommendation, Form CG-1650 is not required.
6. Units may procure Humanitarian Service Medals and ribbons for first-time awardees through
the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Information needed for order: Humanitarian Service Medal,
NSN: 8455-01-063-4674, Unit of Issue – EA, Source (stock point) – SMS (Note: This is a change
from the source of supply listed in REF (B)); Humanitarian Service Medal Ribbon,
NSN: 8455-01-093-2839, Unit of Issue – EA, Source (stock point) – SMS. Units may issue awards
to eligible members upon submission of approved unit rosters.
7. All questions should be directed to CG-PSC-PSD-ma at: ARL.AWDSBOARD@uscg.mil.
8. RADM L. L. Fagan, Deputy for Operations Policy and Capabilities, sends.
9. Internet release authorized.