SGAUS Awards (In order of precedence)

For Awards Recommendation Form, click here. Presidential Service Medal This award is presented by the outgoing President to the incoming President upon taking the oath of office. The award consists of a round medallion with the SGAUS Logo suspended on a neck ribbon. Distinguished Service Award To be eligible for this award a member must have demonstrated distinguished service to the SGAUS to the degree, and in such a manner, that the service performed made a significant impact upon the SGAUS, and the state or territory, or for an act of valor at the risk of life or personal injury. In addition, at the end of the current SGAUS President's term of office, he/she may be presented with the Distinguished Service Award. The recommendation for this award is submitted to the Awards Committee, and approved by the Executive Committee. If approved, the award or clusters will be conferred by the President at the next annual SGAUS meeting. To denote any successive presentation of this award, a bronze oak leaf cluster will be worn, centered on the award. A silver oak leaf cluster will be worn in lieu of four bronze clusters. Meritorious Service Award To be eligible for this award a member must have demonstrated meritorious service to the SGAUS, and the State or territory, and was performed in such a manner that the mission of the SGAUS was impacted favorably. The service performed may be that of a sustained nature or a single meritorious accomplishment far above the normal call of duty, but that does not qualify for the Distinguished Service Award. The recommendation for this award is through the Awards Committee and approved by the Executive Committee. To denote any successive presentation of this award, a bronze oak leaf cluster will be worn, centered on the award. A silver oak leaf cluster will be worn in lieu of four bronze clusters. If approved, the award or clusters will be conferred by the President at the next annual SGAUS meeting. Commendation Award To be eligible for this award a member must have demonstrated commendable service to the SGAUS, a State or territory that was performed in such a manner that the mission of the SGAUS was impacted favorably. The service performed may be that of a sustained nature or a single commendable accomplishment above the normal call of duty, but that does not qualify for the Meritorious Service Award. The recommendation for this award is through the Awards Committee and approved by the Executive Director. To denote any successive presentation of this award, a bronze oak leaf cluster will be worn, centered on the award. A silver oak leaf cluster will be worn in lieu of four bronze clusters. If approved, the award or clusters will be conferred by the President at the next annual SGAUS meeting. Achievement Award To be eligible for this award a member must have demonstrated exceptional service to the SGAUS, a State, or territory that was performed in such a manner that the mission of the SGAUS was impacted favorably. The service performed may be that of a sustained nature or a single commendable accomplishment above the normal call of duty, but that does not qualify for the Commendation Service Award. The recommendation for this award is through the Awards Committee, and approved by the Executive Director. To denote any successive presentation of this award, a bronze oak leaf cluster will be worn, centered on the award. A silver oak leaf cluster will be worn in lieu of four bronze clusters. If approved, the award or clusters will be conferred by the President at the next annual SGAUS meeting. Recruiting Achievement Award To be eligible for this award a member must have recruited ten new members into the SGAUS. This award will be conferred by the SGAUS Executive Director upon receipt of documentation listing the names of the ten recruits for verification. A silver star will be awarded for every 10 additional new members. SGAUS Service Award To be eligible for this award a member must have held one of the following SGAUS offices for at least one year: president elect, a vice president, secretary, treasurer, member of the executive committee, executive director, a member of the special staff, command sergeant major, or the chair of any committee appointed by the president, the MEMS Commandant, or any MEMS state or regional director, or a state/territory appointed director. The recommendation for this award is through the Executive Director, and approved by the SGAUS President. To denote any successive presentation of this award, a bronze oak leaf cluster will be worn, centered on the award. A silver oak leaf cluster will be worn in lieu of four bronze clusters. Longevity Award To be eligible for this award a member must have continuously paid membership for five years in the SGAUS. The Longevity Award is to honor those members who have kept up continuous membership and to increase esprit-de-corps, and visibility within the SGAUS. A bronze five pointed star is added for each additional five consecutive years of paid membership. A gold star will be worn in lieu of four bronze stars to recognize 25 years of continuous SGAUS membership. The recommendation for this award is approved by the Executive Director, and presented by the SGAUS President at the annual meeting. National Chaplains Staff College Award To be eligible for this award a member must have completed the course of study of the National Chaplains Staff College. The recommendation for this award is through the Executive Director, and approved by the SGAUS President. The award is presented by the SGAUS National Chaplain. A bronze oak leaf cluster is added for each two (2) staff colleges completed. Membership Recognition Award To be eligible for this award a member must be in good standing and a current year dues paid member of the SGAUS. Note: The award has equal stripes of blue and gray, and will be worn with the gray stripe towards the centerline of the wearer. Life members may wear two gold stars on the ribbon. Recommendation for this award is submitted to and approved by the SGAUS Executive Director. Superior Unit Citation To be eligible for this award a unit must have displayed outstanding devotion, and outstanding performance of duty in response to riot, insurrection, natural or manmade disasters, beyond that what is normally expected, either in a sustained period or in a specific set of circumstances. This award is given to foster unit esprit-de-corps by recognizing those units that have demonstrated outstanding performance impacting the mission of the SGAUS, and their State Guard/Defense or Reserve Force. The Superior Unit Citation will be awarded by the President, upon recommendation by the Awards Committee, and approval by the Executive Committee. The circumstances of the service and activities performed must be documented in detail and submitted with a roster of names of the individual SGAUS members who served with the unit during the award period. The unit citation will be awarded to SGAUS members of the unit who actually served during the award period or specific act. Those SGAUS members retain the right to wear the ribbon after transfer from the unit. Members joining the unit at a later time may be issued the ribbon with authorization to wear so long as they remain with that unit and are members of the SGAUS. The Superior Unit Citation is encased in a gold frame, and will be worn on the right side of the uniform. To denote any successive presentation of this award, a bronze oak leaf cluster will be worn, centered on the award. A silver oak leaf cluster will be worn in lieu of four bronze clusters. (Previous award) (New award - available soon) Meritorious Unit Citation To be eligible for this award a unit must have displayed meritorious devotion, and meritorious performance of duty in response to natural or manmade disasters, humanitarian aid missions, or training exercises, beyond that what is normally expected, either in a sustained period or in a specific set of circumstances. This award is given to foster unit esprit-de-corps by recognizing those units that have demonstrated meritorious performance impacting the mission of the SGAUS, and their State Guard/Defense or Reserve Force. The Meritorious Unit Citation will be awarded by the President, upon recommendation by the Awards Committee, and approval by the Executive Committee. The circumstances of the service and activities performed must be documented in detail and submitted with a roster of names of the individual SGAUS members who served with the unit during the award period. The unit citation will be awarded to SGAUS members of the unit who actually served during the award period or specific act. Those SGAUS members retain the right to wear the ribbon after transfer from the unit. Members joining the unit at a later time may be issued the ribbon with authorization to wear so long as they remain with that unit and are members of the SGAUS. The Meritorious Unit Citation is encased in a gold frame, and will be worn on the right side of the uniform. To denote any successive presentation of this award, a bronze oak leaf cluster will be worn, centered on the award. A silver oak leaf cluster will be worn in lieu of four bronze clusters. Basic MEMS Badge To be eligible for the basic skills badge a member must have met the criteria for the SGAUS Military Emergency Management Specialist (MEMS) Academy Basic Qualification. SGAUS members who have received the Basic MEMS Badge credentials are authorized to wear the badge or patch on their uniforms if permitted by their respective state military authority. The Military Emergency Management Specialist Skills Badge depicts the historic United States Civil Defense eagle of World War II rampant on a bound laurel wreath, signifying the ancient symbol for victory. This award is recommended by a State or Region MEMS Academy Director, is approved by the Executive Director, and presented by the SGAUS MEMS Commandant. Senior MEMS Badge To be eligible for this skills badge a member must have met the criteria for the SGAUS Military Emergency Management Specialist (MEMS) Academy Senior Qualification. SGAUS members who have received the Senior MEMS Badge credentials are authorized to wear the badge or patch on their uniforms if permitted by their respective state military authority. The Senior MEMS Skills Badge has a five pointed star added to the top of the eagle. This award is recommended by a State or Region MEMS Academy Director, is approved by the Executive Director, and presented by the SGAUS MEMS Commandant. Master MEMS Badge To be eligible for this skills badge a member must have met the criteria for the SGAUS Military Emergency Management Specialist (MEMS) Academy Master Qualification. SGAUS members who have received the Master MEMS Badge credentials are authorized to wear the badge or patch on their uniforms if permitted by their respective state military authority. The Master MEMS Skills Badge has a five pointed star in a circular laurel wreath added to the top of the eagle. This award is recommended by a MEMS Academy State or Region Director, and is approved by the Executive Director, and presented by the SGAUS MEMS Commandant. MEMS Flash MEMS badge recipients who have earned at a minimum the Basic MEMS Qualification may also earn the MEMS Flash. The MEMS Flash denotes actual emergency management activation and/or mobilization in response to a natural disaster or man made emergency. The MEMS Flash patch has a light blue background with a gray border, denoting the colors of the SGAUS . The appropriate MEMS badge is centered on the flash and generally worn on a dress uniforms. This award is recommended by the commandant MEMS Academy, and approved by the Executive Director. MEMS Academy Tab The MEMS Academy Tab may be worn by MEMS Academy Staff Members, as long as they are active staff members of the Academy. The tab may be worn on military uniforms and comes in a full color and subdued version. Permission to wear the tab on military uniform rests with state or territory military authority. The tab becomes permanent after three years of continued service to the MEMS Academy. The tab is recommended by the Commandant MEMS Academy, and approved by the Executive Director. SGAUS National Chaplains Staff College Badge Officers and members of the National Chaplains Staff College including members of the Steering Committee and Executive Board are authorized to wear the National Chaplains Staff College Badge or Patch when recommended by the National Chaplain, and approved by the Executive Director. The badge is to be worn with an appropriate ecclesiastical or other suitable state insignia. © SGAUS 2008 Updated September 2008 NOTE 1: All SGUAS and/or MEMS Academy proprietary artwork and designs used as and in the various symbols, patches, badges, emblems, and insignias, altered or not, are proprietary to SGAUS and may not be reproduced, used, manufactured or otherwise copied, duplicated, replicated, and otherwise disseminated, distributed or circulated without the express authorization of the SGAUS Executive Committee. Violation of these regulations and policies are prosecutable by state and federal criminal and civil law. NOTE 2: Only members of the SGAUS are eligible for SGAUS awards. Any citizen of the United States or territory may recommend a member for an award.

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