The United States Department of the Army

United States Department of the Army

The Department of the Army is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Department of the Army is the Federal Government agency which the United States Army is organized within, and it is led by the Secretary of the Army who has...

 offers a variety of awards, decorations and incentive programs to honor and recognize the contribution and efforts of its civilian

Civilian

A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...

 workforce.

There are three categories of recognition: monetary, honorary, and time-off.

Superior Accomplishment Awards

• Special Act or Service Award
• On-the-Spot Cash Award
• Time Off Award
• Performance Award

Honorary Awards

(These awards are listed in hierarchical order from the highest to the lowest):

• Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom
• Secretary of the Army Award for Valor
  Secretary of the Army Award for Valor
  The Secretary of the Army Award for Valor was established 15 April 2002, to acknowledge acts of heroism or bravery connected with an Army employee or Army activity, or that is some way benefits the Army. The performance of the act must be evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of...
  
  
• Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
  Department of the Army Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
  The Department of the Army Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service is the highest award that may be bestowed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Army to Army civilian employees. The medal was approved by the War Department 29 December 1945. This award consists of a gold medal, lapel button...
  
  
• Meritorious Civilian Service Award
  Department of the Army Meritorious Civilian Service Award
  The Meritorious Civilian Service Award is the second highest award granted by the Secretary of the Army or a major Army commander to civilian personnel. It consists of a medal, lapel button, and citation certificate. Nominees must have established a pattern of excellence, normally demonstrated by...
  
  
• Superior Civilian Service Award
  Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award
  The Superior Civilian Service Award is the third highest award of the Department of the Army Honorary Awards for Department of the Army Employees. It consists of a medal, lapel pin, and certificate...
  
  
• Commander's Award for Civilian Service
  Commander's Award for Civilian Service
  The Commander's Award for Civilian Service is an honorary award presented by the Department of the Army to civilian employees for commendable service or achievement. Employees who have a past record of excellence, normally recognized by the previous receipt of one or more honorary or performance...
  
  
• Achievement Medal for Civilian Service
  Achievement Medal for Civilian Service
  The Department of the Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service is awarded for noteworthy achievements that are of a lesser degree than those recognized by the Commander's Award for Civilian Service. It was approved by the Army Chief of Staff, on 24 August 1987...
  
  
• Certificate of Appreciation for Patriotic Civilian Service
• Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service
  Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service
  The Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service is both an honorary and public service award presented by the Department of the Army to individuals who have distinguished themselves by meritorious direct “hands-on” participation in an act or operation of...
  
  
• Certificate of Achievement
• Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal
  Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal
  The Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal is established to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of the U.S. Department of Defense civilian workforce who directly support the military forces, when those members are engaged in military operations of a prolonged peacekeeping or humanitarian...
  
  

Public Service Awards

(These awards are in hierarchical order from the highest to the lowest)

• Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service
  Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service
  The Department of the Army Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service was established by directive of the Secretary of the Army in May 1956. This award consists of a gold medal, lapel button and certificate...
  
  
• Secretary of the Army Public Service Award
  Secretary of the Army Public Service Award
  The Secretary of the Army Public Service Award consists of a silver medal, lapel button, and citation certificate. The United States Secretary of the Army awards this decoration to those who provide exceptional service that makes a substantial contribution to the accomplishment of the Army's missions...
  
  
• Outstanding Civilian Service Award
• Commander's Award for Public Service
  Commander's Award for Public Service
  The Commander's Award for Public Service is the fourth highest honor the United States Department of the Army can bestow upon a civilian, ranking directly below the Outstanding Civilian Service Award.-Eligibility:...
  
  
• Certificate of Appreciation

See also

• Awards and decorations of the United States government
  Awards and decorations of the United States government
  Awards and decorations of the United States government are civilian awards of the U.S. federal government which are typically issued for sustained meritorious service, in a civilian capacity, while serving in the U.S. federal government. Certain U.S...