Here's some information about Awards, Medals and citations that your Marine may receive during their enlistment.  If you have any information to add, please send it to webmaster@mcfscoh.org for inclusion--this page is a work in progress!



NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL (NAM)


CRITERIA
The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces in the grades of lieutenant commander (or major) and below. It is awarded for meritorious service or achievement in either combat or noncombat based on sustained performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature but which does not warrant a Navy Commendation Medal or higher. It may not be awarded for service involving participation in aerial flight after January 1, 1969.

When Awarded For Professional Achievement
The act or service must clearly exceed that which is normally required or expected, considering the individual's grade or rate, training, and experience; and it must be an important contribution of benefit to the United States and the naval service.
 
When Awarded For Leadership Achievement
The act or service must be noteworthy; it must be sufficiently sustained to demonstrate a high state of development (if for a specific achievement, it must be of such merit as to earn singular recognition); and, it must reflect most creditably on the efforts of the individual towards the accomplishment of the unit mission.
 

This award was authorized by the Secretary of Navy on 1 May 1961 but was originally a ribbon-only award.  The medal was added in 1967 and it assumed its current name in 1994.  This is for both junior officers and enlisted and given for both professional and leadership achievement in either a combat or non-combat situation.  This must be based on sustained performance or specific achievement which clearly goes above and beyond what would be routinely expected of an individual of that grade.  In order of precedence on the uniform, this medal is 18th. 

 This medal will be accompanied by a declaration issued by a senior officer in the name of the Secretary of Navy.  The declaration will describe the specific actions through which this Marine earned this honor.  Typically the declaration will end “[Marine’s name]’s maturity and steadfast devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”

 

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal

The Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal was authorized by the Secretary of the Navy on 11 January 1944 and may be awarded to anyone who was serving with the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps on or after 7 December 1941.  Like the Achievement Medal, this award was also initially ribbon-only.  The medal was added in 1950 and it assumed its present name in 1994. This is earned by heroic or meritorious achievement accomplished or performed in a manner which is above that normally expected, and which is sufficient to distinguish that individual above those performing similar services but less than expected for a Bronze Star (when combat is involved) or the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (when combat is not involved).  In order of precedence, this medal is 16th.

 The bronze V on this medal indicates this award was made for achievement in combat, and represents an acknowledged Act of Heroism. 

 The NCM is also accompanied by a declaration given in the name of the Secretary of Navy and most often signed by a higher ranking officer than is the NAM.  The specific actions of the Marine which merit the NCM will be detailed.  This detail can at times be very lengthy.  This declaration will also close similar to the NAM affirming that the individual’s actions reflected high credit upon the Marine and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.