ASSOCIATION FOR RESCUE AT SEA (AFRAS) GOLD AND SILVER MEDAL AWARD SOLICITATION
ALCOAST 114/06

R 281551Z FEB 06
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-RP//
TO ALCOAST
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UNCLAS //N01650//
ALCOAST 114/06
COMDTNOTE 1650

SUBJ: ASSOCIATION FOR RESCUE AT SEA (AFRAS) GOLD AND SILVER MEDAL AWARD SOLICITATION.

A. MEDALS AND AWARDS MANUAL, COMDTINST M1650.25 (SERIES)

1. THE ASSOCIATION FOR RESCUE AT SEA WAS FORMED IN 1976 TO FOSTER TRADITIONAL MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE VALUES THROUGH SUITABLE RECOGNITION OF DESERVING PERSONNEL TO FACILITATE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN SEARCH AND RESCUE.

2. THE AFRAS GOLD AND SILVER MEDALS ARE THE HIGHEST SEARCH AND RESCUE AWARDS PRESENTED TO A COAST GUARD MEMBER BY A CIVILIAN ORGANIZATION. THE GOLD MEDAL IS AWARDED TO AN ENLISTED MEMBER AND THE SILVER MEDAL IS AWARDED TO AN AUXILIARY MEMBER FOR SAVING A THE SILVER MEDAL IS AWARDED TO AN AUXILIARY MEMBER FOR SAVING A LIFE AT SEA. THESE AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE FALL OF 2006 AT A CEREMONY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THIS CEREMONY IS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AFRAS MEMBERS, THE COMMANDANT OF THE COAST GUARD AND OTHER SENIOR COAST GUARD PERSONNEL. AWARD CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY AFRAS ARE LISTED IN REF (A) AND REPEATED BELOW:

A. NOMINEES FOR THE GOLD MEDAL AWARD MUST BE ENLISTED MEMBERS ON ACTIVE DUTY AT THE TIME OF THE AWARD CEREMONY. NOMINEES FOR THE SILVER MEDAL AWARD MUST BE COAST GUARD AUXILIARISTS AT THE TIME OF THE AWARD CEREMONY.
B. THE EVENT MUST INVOLVE THE RESCUE OF LIFE FROM SEA WHERE THE HEROIC ACTION OF THE PERSON BEING NOMINATED IS UNIQUELY DISTINGUISHED. HOWEVER, CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO ALL RESCUES INVOLVING LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS.
C. THE RESCUE MUST HAVE OCCURRED IN THE 2005 CALENDAR YEAR.

3. EACH DISTRICT AWARDS BOARD FILE SHOULD BE REVIEWED TO CONSIDER PERSONS WHO MEET THE CRITERIA FOR THE GOLD AND SILVER AWARDS OUTLINED ABOVE. SUBORDINATE UNITS SHOULD SUBMIT NOMINATIONS VIA THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. ALL NOMINATIONS SHOULD CONSIST OF A SHORT COVER LETTER INDICATING THE NOMINEES NAME, PAY GRADE (IF APPLICABLE), CURRENT DUTY STATION OR AUXILIARY FLOTILLA, AND EXPIRATION OF ENLISTMENT DATE (IF APPLICABLE). THE RELEVANT COAST GUARD AWARD CITATION AND PERSONNEL AWARD RECOMMENDATION (CG FORM 1650) MUST ACCOMPANY EACH NOMINATION TO ARRIVE AT COMDT (G-RPR-1) NLT 07APR06. FOR CITATION ONLY AWARDS, NOMINATING PERSONNEL MAY ATTACH A SHORT NARRATIVE (1-2 PAGES) TO FULLY DOCUMENT THE EVENT.

4. REF (A) GIVES A DEADLINE OF 1 FEB EACH CALENDAR YEAR. THIS DEADLINE IS EXTENDED TO 07APR06. MAIL COMMAND ENDORSED NOMINATIONS TO: COMMANDANT (G-RPR-1), 2100 2ND ST SW, WASHINGTON, DC 20593, ATTN: AFRAS NOMINATIONS.

5. MORE INFORMATION ON AFRAS AND THE AFRAS AWARDS CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.AFRAS.ORG. QUESTIONS MAY BE DIRECTED TO LTJG E. LEESE (202) 267-1586, COMDT (G-RPR-1). ADVANCE COPIES OF AWARD NOMINATIONS PACKAGES CAN BE FAXED TO G-RPR-1 AT (202) 267-4418.

6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.

7. RDML W. E. JUSTICE, DIRECTOR OF ENFORCEMENT AND INCIDENT MANAGEMENT, SENDS

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