Dear Bureaupat,
My husband is a civilian contractor
embedded with an Army Battalion in Iraq and did an exceptional job, which the
Army wants to recognize. The Army
asked his company to fill out an SF-50 so they could submit him for an award, but they refused. If the SF-50 is
for federal employees, why would the Army use that form to award him for a job
well done?
Dear Decorated,
Civilian contractors as well as federal employees can, in fact, receive special decorations and medals
from the armed services. In this
case, your husband is eligible for one of two recognitions:
Army
Outstanding Civilian Service Award Medal which is awarded to U.S.
Army civilian employees by the Secretary of the Army or a Major Army Command
(MACOM) commander for outstanding service that makes a substantial contribution
or is of significance to the MACOM concerned to include: (1) Civilians not
employed by the Army or Army contractors.
(2) Federal Government officials at the policy development level. (3) Technical
personnel who serve the Army in an advisory capacity or as consultants. MACOM
Commanders may re-delegate approval authority for this award to any commander
in the rank of Major General or above.
or the
Army Distinguished Civilian Service Award Medal which is awarded to U.S.
Army employees by the Secretary of the Army to those individuals providing
distinguished service making a substantial contribution to the accomplishment
of the Army's missions including: (a) Civilians not employed by the Army or Army contractors; (b) Federal
Government officials at the policy development level; (c) Technical personnel
who serve the Army in an advisory capacity or as consultants.
Unfortunately, while the
Army Battalion your husband is attached to means well, it appears they really
don't understand the most important aspect of rewarding an individual: paperwork, or who should be submitting it.
The responsibility lies not with your
husband's company, nor is the correct form the SF-50,
Notification of Personnel Action. Rather, the attached unit needs to complete DA Form 1256,
Incentive Award Nomination and Approval.
The key to getting an award through the
approval process is timely submission of a complete and endorsed nomination. It can take up to 30 business days to
process an award.
To be properly processed, an endorsement must be
also signed by the Army Commands, Army Service Component Commands, and Army
Direct Reporting Units Commander before the nomination package is submitted.
The endorsement should summarize the award package and may include the personal
views of the commander. Most importantly it must be
signed and approved before the nomination package is submitted.
All nominations must be submitted at least 30 business
days prior to the proposed presentation date.
You and his company should be very proud of his service, now
we just need to get the paperwork properly filled out.
Yours in Gov,
Bureaupat
Read More Q&A from Bureaupat:
[+] Will the new Air Force fitness program affect me?
[+] Can a non-supervisor boss me around?
[+] Is it true that premiums are increasing for federal long-term care insurance?