ALCOAST 201/18 - MAY 2018 AWARD OF THE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL FOR HURRICANES IRMA AND MARIA RESPONSE

united states coast guard

R 230753 MAY 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//DCO-D//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N01650//
ALCOAST 201/18
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ:  AWARD OF THE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL FOR HURRICANES IRMA AND MARIA RESPONSE
A. CG-PSC-PSD-ma MEMO 1650 of 13 MAR 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 Hurricanes IRMA and MARIA, the Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM) is
authorized for Coast Guard military personnel physically present in the area of eligibility
between 06 September and 20 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 area of eligibility for award of the HSM include the following:
   a. State of Florida;
   b. Georgia counties: Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Coffee, Glynn, Liberty, McIntosh;
   c. Puerto Rico;
   d. U.S. Virgin Islands; and
   e. the Caribbean Islands and the adjacent waters from Barbados northward to Anguilla and
northwestward to the Straits of Florida.
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_AIRSTA CLEARWATER_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:
D07-SMB-District-Hurricane-Awards@uscg.mil by 12 June 2018.
   c. D7 will consolidate the rosters and forward to LANTAREA for compiling into one HSM IRMA
and MARIA 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 D7, LANTAREA, and PPC (The Issue Date for
Direct Access entry is: 10 May 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.