ALCGPSC 102/20 - AWARD OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL AND HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL FOR CORONAVIRUS OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES

8 SEP 2020

ALCGPSC 102/20
SUBJ:  AWARD OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL AND HUMANITARIAN
SERVICE MEDAL FOR CORONAVIRUS OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
A. Department of Defense P&R memorandum of 30 June 2020
B. Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual, COMDTINST M1650.25
(series)
C. DoD Manual 1348.33, Volume 2, Manual of Military Decorations and
Awards, paragraphs 4.4.3.(3) and 4.8.e.(6).
1. Per Ref (A), award of the Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM) and
Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM) is authorized for eligible service
members, including the Coast Guard, for qualifying coronavirus
operations and activities. 
2. Eligibility Criteria for both service medals:
   A.  Period of Award (POA): 31 January 2020 to a future “to be
determined” termination date.
   B.  Area of Eligibility (AOE): Given the global nature of the
Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is no designated area of
eligibility, and award authorities determine eligibility based on the
nature of the qualifying COVID-19 operation and/or activity.
   C. Eligible Personnel: Active and Reserve Component members who
meet the AFSM and HSM eligibility criteria contained in references
(A), (B) and (C).
   D. Operations and Activities: Guidance on determination of the
appropriate medal for actions and operations is provided in Sections 3
and 4 below. Further assistance may be obtained from PSC PSD Medals
and Awards at ARL.Medals@uscg.mil.
3. ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL (AFSM):
   A. Due to the global nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, as an
exception, the AFSM is authorized for award to qualifying Service
members who deploy to perform duties related to COVID-19 operations or
activities for at least 30 days (either consecutively or non-
consecutively).  The AFSM deployment requirement is waived for non-
deployed Service members, provided the members were re-assigned from
their normal duties to primarily perform duties related to COVID-19
operations or activities for at least 30 days.  Finally, due to the
health risk posed by COVID-19, award of the AFSM is authorized for any
period of time completing qualifying service per para(b), if that
service resulted in the member contracting the virus.
   B. Qualifying COVID-19 operations or activities include such
actions as logistical support; modifications to facilities;
development or implementation of policies and procedures related to
COVID-19; coordination/facilitation of cruise ship passenger/staff
disembarkation and safe transit to homeport; regulatory, statistical,
or administrative support duties directly supporting COVID-19
operations and activities. These examples are not all inclusive of
support actions that may be eligible for AFSM consideration.
   C. As the AFSM is a DOD-regulated award, the Coast Guard does not
have the authority to approve additional waiver requests for defined
eligibility requirements from reference (C), which supersedes the
guidance in reference (B). 
4. HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL (HSM):
   A. The HSM will only be awarded for humanitarian actions related to
COVID-19 per HSM policy contained in references (B) and (C). The HSM
requires only one day of direct support for a member to qualify for
the award.   
   B. Qualifying direct, hands-on COVID-19 support would include such
actions as medical personnel directly providing medical testing,
medical treatment or follow-up care; first-responder personnel
responding for COVID-19 emergency; front line delivery of necessities
directly to people in need; contact tracing; and personnel who
provided mortuary assistance to communities and hospitals. These
examples are not all inclusive of humanitarian actions eligible for
the HSM.
5. A member cannot be awarded an AFSM and HSM for the same actions,
deployment, or period of service. Additionally, only one AFSM/HSM may
be awarded for the COVID-19 operation regardless of number of
deployments or subsequent qualifying service. 
6. VERIFICATION AND AUTHORIZATION:
   A. The first O-6 or above in the member’s chain of command may
direct the issuance of the AFSM or HSM to service members under their
command. 
   B. Commands must verify that members recommended for the AFSM/HSM
meet eligibility criteria listed above and shall maintain appropriate
documentation substantiating the issuance.  A CG-1650 is not required
and commands may utilize existing internal administrative review
processes in vetting eligibility determinations. 
7. ISSUANCE AND SERVICE RECORD ENTRIES:
   A. Commands are authorized to make appropriate Direct Access
entries and issue award elements for members authorized the AFSM/HSM
as authorized in 6.A. of this message. 
   B. AFSM Direct Access Entries
      (1) Award Approval Date: date member has completed qualifying
service and is authorized in 6.A. above.  The issue date may not be
earlier than 1 July 2020.
      (2) Honor and Award: CGAF “Armed Forces Service Medal”.
      (3) From Date: start date of qualifying service
      (4) To Date: end date of qualifying service
      (5) Grantor: COVID19
   C. HSM Direct Access Entries:
      (1) Award Approval Date: date member has completed qualifying
service and is authorized in 6.A. above.  The issue date may not be
earlier than 1 July 2020.
      (2) Honor and Award: CGNP “Humanitarian Service Medal”.
      (3) From Date: start date of qualifying service
      (4) To Date: end date of qualifying service
      (5) Grantor: COVID19
   D. The AFSM and HSM do not have an accompanying certificate,
citation or other documentation, other than electronic database
entries.
   E. Only one award of the AFSM and HSM are authorized for multiple
qualifying period of service or deployments for COVID-19 operations
and activities. Members previously awarded the AFSM or HSM denote
subsequent awards with a 3/16-inch bronze or silver star (sixth award)
per reference (B).
8. Please refer to the PSC Portal site
(https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/psc/Medals and Awards/default.aspx)
for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions. All
questions should be directed to CG PSC-PSD-ma at: ARL.Medals@uscg.mil.
9. RDML S. N. Gilreath, Commander, CG Personnel Service Center, sends. 
The Service Center for Our Most Important Resource - Our People.        
10. Internet release authorized.