Air Education and Training Command Awards and Decorations

Air Education and Training Command Awards and Decorations SMSgt Barb Dungan 12 FTW/CAA 4 Sep 02 Integrity - Service - Excellence

OVERVIEW • Purpose • Types of Programs • Formal Awards/Decorations • Award / Decorations Writing • Supervisor Roles • References TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

PURPOSE • Heighten awareness within the junior NCO ranks that recognizing people for what they do produces positive effects in mission accomplishment • Help develop an ability to produce a good write-up that anyone can easily understand • Foster Morale • Provide Incentives • Recognize – Service – Achievement – Meritorious Service – Heroism TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

TYPES OF PROGRAMS • Award: A formal recognition the AF gives to a specific group or person meeting predetermined criteria • Decoration: A formal recognition for personal / unit excellence that requires individual nomination and AF or Do. D approval • Formal – Local recognition Unit u Local organizations u • Informal – Day-to-day-”Atta-boys” – Letters of Appreciation TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

TYPES OF PROGRAMS • Personal – Service • Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal • National Defense Service Medal – Special Trophies/Awards • 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award • Lance P. Sijan Award – Achievement • Air Force Longevity Service Award • Air Force Good Conduct Medal – Decorations TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

UNIT AWARDS • Unit Awards – Air Force Outstanding Unit Award – Air Force Organizational Excellence Award – Joint Meritorious Unit Award • Quarterly/Annual awards -- very important • • Whole person concept • • Reserve for the “best”, most deserving • • Builds a record of “sustained, recognized, excellence” -- sets people apart from peers TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

FORMAL AWARDS/DECORATIONS • Level of Award • Processing Procedures – Unit – Base/Wing – Command • Presentation of Awards/Decorations TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

Award Decoration Writing TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

Award Writing: Getting Started • When? • • Day after close-out of previous award/decoration submission • If you start when you get the message or notification, you’re already a year behind! TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

Award/Decoration Writing : Collecting Information • What? • • Define the job -- discuss with workcenter • • Collect the facts -- doings & results • • Log, folder, organizer, etc • • Activity Reports • • Samples of efforts • • Accolades • • Results are key TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

Award/Decoration Writing: Collecting Information • Review bullets from past EPRs • What to look for • • How troops performed during PME, other schools • • How/what troops did during exercise/contingency TDYs • • Ask customers how they rate the work center’s performance for the year TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

Award/Decoration Writing: Organization • Gather facts • Two column lay out • • What on left • • Results on right • Assign priority • Hints • • Just the facts-- No “flowers”-- Don’t embellish TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

Award/Decoration Writing: Organization • Determine theme of the AF Form 1206 • Bottom up, back-to-front • Categories have changed TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

Helpful Hints • Include only “hard hitting” facts • Ensure a common understanding • Avoid filler • Be consistent in using punctuation • Be aware of space management • Be alive!, sell work center’s /individual’s performance TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

Supervisor’s Roles • Use the Programs! • Know the policies and procedures – Unit – Base/Wing – Command TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

References • AFP 36 -2241, Volume 1, Promotion Fitness Examination • AFI 36 -2803, The Air Force Awards and Decorations • AFPD 36 -28, Awards and Decorations Program • AFI-38 -2805, Special Trophies and Awards • HQ AETC Civilian/Military Awards/Decorations Preparation Guide 1999/12 MSS Guide Sep 2000 TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

Summary • Writing good awards/decorations is critical!!! • • It’s a real heartfelt, “people issue” • Use Integrity -- not all are the best, so don’t say that all are • Write with enthusiasm! -- use action verbs • Leadership and potential are key • Awards make for “discriminators” in records • • Reserve awards for the truly deserving TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

Summary • Recognition Programs • Types of Programs • Formal Awards/Decorations • Award / Decoration Writing • Supervisor Roles • References TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE

Questions? TEAM RANDOLPH NCO ORIENTATION COURSE