Navy Commendation Medal Citation
Ref: SECNAVINST 1650.1H, Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual
A proposed citation, condensed from the Summary of Action, must accompany the recommendation. Although a citation is laudatory and formalized, it must be factual and contain no classified information.
The proposed citation shall be prepared in double space, upper and lower case type, and without acronyms. Non-combat citations are limited to 7 ½ lines. A citation consists of three parts:
(1) Opening Sentence. The citation begins with a standard phrase describing the degree of meritorious or heroic service as specified for each award, duty assignment of the individual, inclusive dates of service on which the recommendation is based, and if desired, a description of operations of the unit to which the individual is attached. The following opening phrase is used for the Navy Commendation Medal:
"For meritorious service (or meritorious achievement)(or heroic service)(or heroic achievement) while serving as..."
(2) Statement of Heroic/Meritorious Achievement or Service. The second part of the citation identifies the recipient by name, describes specific duty assignments, his/her accomplishments and the outstanding personal attributes displayed. The description of the individual's achievements must show clearly that they were sufficient to justify the award recommended. Value of results of achievements may also be included. If duty was performed in actual combat, the citation should so state.
(3) Commendatory Remarks. The third part of the citation states that the outstanding attributes, mentioned or implied in the second part, "reflected great credit upon him/her and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." (or "of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service." for Marines)
Note: The attributes listed in the last sentence of the example citation (noteworthy accomplishments, perseverance, and devotion to duty) are not mandatory. They are merely listed as an example. Attributes appropriate for the individual being recommended should be used.
There are two options for the format of the last sentence. Use whichever sounds best:
(1) Beginning with the individual's name: "Petty Officer Doe's bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
OR
(2) Beginning with the three attributes: 'By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty, Petty Officer Doe reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY HAS AWARDED THE
NAVY AND MARINE CORPS COMMENDATION MEDAL
(GOLD STAR IN LIEU OF SECOND AWARD / WITH COMBAT DISTINGUISHING DEVICE)
TO
HOSPITAL CORPSMAN FIRST CLASS JANE T. DOE, UNITED STATES NAVY
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AS TRANSPLANTATION TECHNICIAN AT NAVAL HOSPITAL, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA FROM JANUARY 1993 TO MARCH 1997. PETTY OFFICER DOE DESIGNED A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK FOR THE COLLECTION OF HUMAN TISSUE AND ORGANS, TRAINED TRANSPLANT TECHNICIANS, AND DEVELOPED A MACHINE TO PRODUCE ALLOGRAFT MATERIAL OF A UNIFORM SIZE AND HIGH QUALITY. HER INNOVATIVE ACTIONS IN NUMEROUS AREAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENHANCEMENT OF MILITARY HEALTH CARE DELIVERY AND PATIENT CARE. BY HER NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PERSEVERANCE, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY, PETTY OFFICER DOE REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HERSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY HAS AWARDED THE
NAVY AND MARINE CORPS COMMENDATION MEDAL
(GOLD STAR IN LIEU OF THE SECOND AWARD WITH COMBAT "V")
TO
HOSPITAL CORPSMAN THIRD CLASS JOHN D. DOE, UNITED STATES NAVY
FOR
HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS A CORPSMAN FOR 2D SQUAD, WEAPONS PLATOON, COMPANY B, 4TH BATTALION, 99M MARWES, lST MARINE DIVISION, I MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, U.S. MARINE CORPS FORCES, CENTRAL IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM ON 14 FEBRUARY 2005. WHILE ON PATROL, PETTY OFFICER DOE LEARNED AN IRAQI CIVILIAN HAD BEEN SHOT AND LEFT IN A CAR RIGGED WITH AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE (IED). DISREGARDING HIS OWN SAFETY, HE RAN TO THE CAR AND EXTRACTED THE CIVILIAN. SUDDENLY, THE IED DETONATED, WOUNDING PETTY OFFICER DOE. UNDAUNTED, HE CONTINUED TO SAFETY, SAVING THE CIVILIAN'S LIFE. BY HIS UNSWERVING DETERMINATION, WISE JUDGMENT, AND COMPLETE DEDICATION TO DUTY, PETTY OFFICER DOE REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
Notes: Gold Star or Combat "V" may be added if applicable above "To" line.
Citations for the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals shall be prepared in all upper case letters in Courier New, size 10, and are limited to 7 1/2 typewritten lines with margins of one inch.
For combat awards, replace "meritorious service" with "heroic achievement".