Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
TypeDistinguished service medal
Awarded forDistinguished and exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility.
Presented byUnited States Department of Homeland Security
EligibilityUnited States Coast Guardsmen
StatusCurrently awarded
Established4 August 1949
First awarded1961
Service ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher)Department of Defense: Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Department of Homeland Security: Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
EquivalentArmy: Distinguished Service Medal
Naval Service: Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Air and Space Forces: Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Next (lower)Silver Star Medal

The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal (CGDSM) is a military decoration of the United States Coast Guard that was established 4 August 1949 and is presented to coast guardsmen for "Exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility."[1][2] Prior to this date, members of the Coast Guard were eligible to receive the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. The Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal, which replaced the Transportation Distinguished Service Medal in 2002, is another higher precedence Distinguished Service Medal that may be awarded to Coast Guardsmen.[3] The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is equivalent to the Army's Army Distinguished Service Medal, Naval Service's Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and the Air and Space Forces' Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.

Criteria

The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to coast guardsmen who distinguish themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility. The medal may also be awarded to members of the uniformed services of the United States who distinguish themselves while working with the U.S. Coast Guard. The exceptional performance of duty must be clearly above what is normally expected and must have contributed materially to the success of a major command or project. The decoration is typically awarded to senior flag officers, such as the Commandant of the Coast Guard. However, this does not preclude the award of the medal to any person who meets the eligibility requirements.[3]

The bestowing authority of the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is the Secretary of Homeland Security. Prior to 2003, the award was authorized by the Secretary of Transportation, and prior to 1967, it was authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury.

Devices

Additional awards of the CGDSM are denoted by 5⁄16 inch gold stars.

Notable recipients

See also

References

  1. ^ Armed Forces Information Service (1992). Armed Forces Decorations and Awards (PDF). Department of Defense. p. 6.
  2. ^ 14 U.S.C. § 2736
  3. ^ a b United States Coast Guard (15 August 2016). "Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual COMDTINST M1650.25E" (PDF). Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Eric A. "Rick" Trent". Military Times. Gannett. Retrieved 19 January 2013.


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