MARADMIN 074/21 - Commandant of the Marine Corps Delegation of Awarding Authority for Military Awards

Scope

MARADMIN 074/21 publishes the updated Commandant of the Marine Corps delegation of awarding authority for military awards. The MARADMIN cancels six prior delegation messages (CMC MSG dated 09-2009, 07-2012 twice, 07-2015 twice, 12-2017). The MARADMIN sets the grade floors for non-combat and non-valor awards, identifies the two commanders with combat and valor awarding authority, and lists the awards retained by SECNAV or CMC. Applicability is the Marine Corps Total Force.

Audience

• Marine Force commanders at grade O-9 and above. Legion of Merit in retirement cases. Distinguished Flying Cross.
• Marine commanders at O-7 and above. Meritorious Service Medal (with or without Remote Impact R device). Air Medal Individual for non-valor or non-combat heroism.
• Marine commanders at O-6 and above. Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with or without Remote Impact R device). Unit Certificate of Commendation where the end date of action is within the last 3 years.
• Marine commanders at O-5 and above. Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with or without Remote Impact R device). Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Individual Certificate of Commendation where the end date of action is within the last 3 years.
• Marine commanders at O-3 and above. Meritorious Mast for actions during the tenure in command.
• General Officers. Authorized to award Individual Certificate of Commendation and Meritorious Mast to Marines in grades E-1 to O-6.
• Commander, US Marine Corps Forces Central Command (MARFORCENT). Combat and valor awarding authority.
• Commander, US Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARFORSOC). Combat and valor awarding authority.
• HQMC MMMA. Receives sub-delegation notifications via naval letter. Receives Assumption of Command (AoC) letters for IAPS grant of awarding authority.

Combat and valor sub-delegation

The two combat and valor awarding authorities (MARFORCENT, MARFORSOC) sub-delegate within the following limits.

• O-8 and above. Bronze Star Medal (with or without Valor V device). Air Medal with Valor V device.
• O-7 and above. Air Medal with Combat Conditions C device. Air Medal Strike/Flight. Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor V device. Combat Action Ribbon for actions within the last 3 years.
• O-6 and above. Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Conditions C device. Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Conditions C device.

The Purple Heart (PH) is reserved to the named commanders for wounds received within the last 3 years. Sub-delegation of the Purple Heart is barred. The Legion of Merit with Combat Conditions C device (L1) sits only with MARFORCENT and only in retirement cases. Sub-delegation of L1 is barred.

Commanders without delegated valor and combat awarding authority submit recommendations through the chain of command to CMC or higher.

Awards processing rules

• Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service (CE&S) medals or ribbons enter into a Marine record when the eligibility requirements in SECNAV M-1650.1 are met using official source documents or personnel records, and the appropriate awarding authority recommends approval. Excludes the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, which process through IAPS.
• Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM). The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff designates qualifying operations involving personnel from multiple Military Departments. CMC determines Marine Corps service criteria and endorsement requirements. CMC publishes guidance via MARADMIN.
• Letters of Appreciation and Certificates of Appreciation. No statute or directive. No restriction on awarding authority. Reporting senior discretion on whether they count as commendatory material.

Frocking and acting commanders

• Frocked commanders. Awarding authority granted commensurate with the grade selected for. The frocking authorization letter goes to CMC MMMA for the IAPS grant.
• Acting commanders. Granted authority commensurate with their own grade and the awarding authority limits in this MARADMIN. IAPS authorization runs only when the absence of the appointed or slated commander exceeds 30 days.

Notification and IAPS provisioning

• CMC (MMMA) notification of sub-delegation. The named combat and valor commanders notify CMC MMMA via naval letter. The AoC directive or letter for each sub-delegated commander attaches.
• IAPS provisioning. Each command provides the Assumption of Command letter or directive to CMC MMMA with full name, rank, EDIPI, unit name, and IAPS UIC. Email the AoC as a PDF to SMB_HQMC_Pers_Awards@usmc.mil.

Action items

1. Match the unit commander grade to the appropriate award levels in paragraph 3.
2. Submit the Assumption of Command letter to CMC MMMA at the email above for the IAPS grant.
3. For wartime or operational deployments under MARFORCENT or MARFORSOC, confirm sub-delegation notification ran through MMMA.
4. Route any non-listed award recommendation through the chain of command to CMC or higher.
5. Pull SECNAVINST 1650.1J and SECNAV M-1650.1 for the master eligibility tables.

Connection to higher policy

• SECNAVINST 1650.1J. DON Military Awards Policy, signed 2019-05-29.
• SECNAV M-1650.1. Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, signed 2019-08-16.
• CMC Memorandum dated 2020-06-19. Delegation of Military Award Authority (Non-Combat).
• CMC Memorandum dated 2020-06-19. Delegation of Awarding Authority for Valor and Combat Military Awards.

Connection to Marine Corps doctrine

• MCO 1650.19J w/CH-1. Administrative and Issue Procedures for Decorations, Medals, and Awards. The delegation folds in at the next revision.
• MARADMIN 665/17. Additional Marine Corps Guidance on New Devices Authorized for Wear on Certain Military Medals and Ribbons.
• MARADMIN 398/10. Awards Update. Predecessor messaging on awards delegation chain for OEF and OIF.
• Improved Awards Processing System (IAPS). System of record for award nominations.

Cancelled prior messages

• CMC MSG, DTG 161556Z SEP 09. Combat V Delegation to COMUSMARCENT.
• CMC MSG, DTG 231734Z JUL 12. Modification to delegation of war time awarding authority (COMUSMARSOC).
• CMC MSG, DTG 231731Z JUL 12. Modification to delegation of war time awarding authority (COMUSMARCENT).
• CMC MSG, DTG 101642Z JUL 15. Supplemental delegation to COMUSMARCENT for Operation Inherent Resolve.
• CMC MSG, DTG 241428Z JUL 15. Supplemental delegation to COMUSMARSOC for Operation Inherent Resolve.
• CMC MSG, DTG 080731Z DEC 17. Likely a prior MARADMIN-format awards delegation.

Status

Released 2021-02-17, DTG R 162221Z FEB 21. Originator CMC Washington DC MRA MM. Release authorized by Brigadier General Michael J. Borgschulte, Director, Manpower Management Division. Applicability is the Marine Corps Total Force. POC Captain N. D. Hooker at HQMC MMMA, 703-784-9342, SMB_HQMC_PERS_AWARDS@usmc.mil. Active. The delegations will roll into the next revision of MCO 1650.19J.