DCMA-MAN 4201-25, June 4, 2020
Section 5: Honorary Awards (Non-Monetary Awards) 13
SECTION 5: HONORARY AWARDS (NON-MONETARY AWARDS)
5.1. DCMA HONORARY AWARDS. A variety of honorary awards are available to
recognize the achievements and contributions of DCMA personnel, to include achievements and
contributions in a deployed contingency environment. These awards may be granted
independently of, or in addition to, cash awards. Honorary awards do not, however, serve as
substitutes for cash awards. Honorary awards are symbolic, formal recognition of individual or
team achievement that contributes to meeting organizational goals or improving the efficiency,
effectiveness, and economy of the Government or otherwise in the public interest. To ensure
timely presentation, honorary awards should be requested at least 6 weeks prior to the anticipated
presentation date.
a. With the exception of the DoD Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the President’s
Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service, and Career Service Awards, only one
honorary award may be given for a single act or achievement. However, if circumstances
warrant, an employee may be granted an honorary award in recognition of the contribution for
which a cash award has been granted. To be considered for honorary awards, nominations for
DCMA awards will normally be submitted within 60 days of the act or achievement on which
the nomination is based. A recipient of a DoD or DCMA honorary award does not automatically
become ineligible for a future grant of the same award, provided any subsequent consideration is
based on a different achievement or service performed. Subsequent grants of the DoD Medal for
Distinguished Civilian Service Award or the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious
Civilian Service are recognized successively by the issuance of a bronze, silver or gold leaf
ribbon attachment to the original medal.
b. The acknowledgement of exceptional service, achievement, and accomplishment is an
effective means of motivating employees to perform to their highest capability. To maintain the
credibility and the integrity of the Agency’s honorary awards program, it is important that these
awards not be viewed as “end-of-tour” or retirement awards. To retain the prestige and honor
associated with these awards, nominations at retirement or separation from the Agency should be
a rare occurrence. This is especially applicable for the DCMA Distinguished and Meritorious
Civilian Service Awards. Nominations for these awards at retirement, resignation, or
reassignment will be justified by significant accomplishments.
5.2. DCMA DISTINGUISHED CIVILIAN SERVICE AWARD. DCMA Distinguished
Civilian Service is the Agency’s highest honorary award. The award consists of a gold medal,
ribbon bar, lapel pin, and certificate. The Director, DCMA, bestows this award on those civilian
employees whose exceptional service or contributions had Agency-level or beyond impact. This
award may also be presented to deployed civilian employees whose achievements, whether or
not under hostile fire, were incontestably exceptional, or of a magnitude that clearly placed the
individual above their peers, and resulted in theater-wide or Agency-wide impact.
a. This award may be awarded for contributions such as, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Accomplishment of assigned duties in such manner as to have been clearly
exceptional among all persons who have performed like or similar duties.