ALCOAST 009/26 - JAN 2026 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) SECRETARY'S AWARDS REQUEST FOR NOMINATIONS

R 092002Z JAN 26   MID320018460014U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 009/26
SSIC 12451
SUBJ: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) SECRETARY'S AWARDS
REQUEST FOR NOMINATIONS
A. Honorary Awards, DHS Directive 255-01-001
B. Coast Guard Civilian Awards Manual, COMDTINST 12451.1C
C. Invitational Travel Authorizations, COMDTINST 12570.3H
1. The Coast Guard is now accepting nominations for the DHS
Secretary's Awards in accordance with REFs (A) and (B). The
Secretary will honor individual and collective achievements across
DHS that occurred during the period of 20 January 2025 through
31 December 2025. Nomination packages are due by 1700 EST on
16 January 2026 in accordance with paragraph 4.
2. Nominations are solicited for the following categories:
    a. Exceptional Service Award (Gold Medal);
    b. Secretary's Meritorious Service (Silver Medal);
    c. Secretary's Award for Valor;
    d. Secretary's Award for Leadership Excellence (Team and
Individual);
    e. Secretary's Award for Innovation;
    f. Secretary's Award for Team Excellence; and
    g. Secretary's Award for Volunteer Service.
3. Eligibility:
    a. Military members and civilian employees, including
Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) employees, are eligible. Retirees and
contractors are not eligible. An individual can only be included
in one nomination (both individual and team), and teams are limited
to 20 individuals.
    b. Nominees must be deserving of the highest recognition, having
made extraordinary contributions to DHS as a whole. Criteria for
each award can be found at the link provided in paragraph 4.b.
    c. Nominations may not be submitted for individuals/teams whose
accomplishments are pending final action or involve a pending
investigation.
4. Nomination Packages:
    a. Nomination packages must be submitted no later than 1700 on
16 January 2026 to the online submission form with all applicable
documents uploaded at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/BMN3qKy6Yp

Extensions will not be granted. Incomplete submissions will not be
accepted.
    b. Nomination packages must contain:
        (1) A completed Nomination Form: Secretarial Awards, DHS Form
3100-1 (version 8/21) - current version of form must be used. The
first Flag Officer/SES in the chain of command must endorse Block 8.
The signature lines in Block 10 must be left blank and are reserved
for Commandant and DHS signatures.
        (2) If the nomination is for a team, a completed USCG -DHS
Secretary's Annual Awards Team Member List (Excel file) is required.
Information on the form must be complete and accurate for all team
members. Team members are limited to 20 and should include only
those employees/members who personally and significantly contributed
to the project/event. Exceptions to team size limits must be
coordinated with CG PSC.
        (3) If a team member is on detail to the Coast Guard from
another component, concurrence from the nominee's component is
required on a separate form (External Component Nomination
Concurrence Sheet).
    c. The 2025 DHS award categories, Coast Guard nomination
instructions, and required forms are available at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cg1214/cg-124/SitePages/
Honorary-Awards---DHS.aspx

5. All units are encouraged to take full advantage of this
opportunity to nominate deserving military members and civilian
employees for recognition in the appropriate award categories above.
6. Travel for award recipients will be funded by the member's
command IAW REF (C).
7. POC: For assistance/questions, please contact the Awards Team
at: DHSAwardsSubmissions@uscg.mil.
8. RDML Zeita Merchant, Assistant Commandant for Workforce
Management (CG-WM), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.