R 201619Z FEB 25 MARADMIN 077/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS' DELEGATION OF AWARDING  AUTHORITY FOR MILITARY AWARDS// REF/A/MSGID: MSG/CMC/DTG: 080731Z DEC 17// REF/B/MSGID: DOC/SECNAV/YMD: 2019AUG16// REF/C/MSGID: DOC/SECNAV/YMD: 2019MAY29// REF/D/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD: 2023OCT24// REF/E/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD: 2024NOV25// REF/F/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD: 2012OCT15// REF/G/MSGID: DOC/SECNAV/YMD: 2023MAY09// NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 074/21, SUBJ:  COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS' DELEGATION OF AWARDING AUTHORITY FOR MILITARY AWARDS. REF B IS SECNAVINST 1650.1J, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY MILITARY AWARDS POLICY.  REF C IS SECNAV M-1650.1, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AWARDS  MANUAL.  REF D IS CMC MEMORANDUM, DELEGATION OF MILITARY AWARD  AUTHORITY (NON-COMBAT).  REF E IS CMC MEMORANDUM, DELEGATION OF AWARDING AUTHORITY FOR VALOR AND COMBAT MILITARY AWARDS.  REF F IS MCO 1650.19J WITH CH1, ADMINISTRATIVE AND ISSUE PROCEDURES FOR  DECORATIONS, MEDALS, AND AWARDS.  REF G IS SECNAV MEMORANDUM,  AUTHORITY TO AWARD DECORATIONS TO CERTAIN FOREIGN MILITARY  PERSONNEL.// POC/A. L. CRUZ/CAPT/HQMC MMPB-3/TEL: 703-784-9342/EMAIL:   [email protected]// POC/HQMC MMPB-3//TEL: 703-784-9342/EMAIL:   [email protected] GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Cancellations.  References (A) is hereby  cancelled. 2.  The purpose of this MARADMIN is to publish the update to the Commandant of the Marine Corps' (CMC) delegation of awarding authority for military awards in accordance with references (B-G). 3.  Delegation of military awarding authority (non-combat).  Per reference (B), the CMC is authorized by the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) to award non-combat and non-combat heroism personal  military decorations of the Legion of Merit (LM) and below to grades E-1 through O-9 and to further delegate awarding authority to subordinate commanders, per applicable laws and regulations. 3.a.  Awards not listed below will continue to be approved by SECNAV or CMC. 3.a.1.  Awarding authority delegated to Marine commanders in grades no lower than O-9: 3.a.1.a.  Legion of Merit (LM) for retirement only 3.a.1.b.  Legion of Merit with Remote Impact “R” device (L2) 3.a.1.c.  Distinguished Flying Cross (DX) 3.a.2.  Awarding authority delegated to Marine commanders in grades no lower than O-7: 3.a.2.a.  Meritorious Service Medal (MM) 3.a.2.b.  Meritorious Service Medal with Remote Impact “R” device (M2) 3.a.2.c.  Air Medal (Individual Action) (AF) for non-valor or non-combat heroism 3.a.3.  Awarding authority delegated to Marine commanders in grades no lower than O-6: 3.a.3.a.  Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (NC) 3.a.3.b.  Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Remote  Impact "R" device (C2) 3.a.3.c.  Unit Certificate of Commendation (CT) for actions in which the end of the action date is within the last three years 3.a.4.  Awarding authority delegated to Marine commanders in grades no lower than O-5: 3.a.4.a.  Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NA). 3.a.4.b.  Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Remote Impact "R" device (N2). 3.a.4.c.  Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal(MOVSM). 3.a.4.d.  Individual Certificate of Commendation (CF) for actions in which the end of action date is within the last three years. 3.a.5.  Awarding authority delegated to Recruiting Station  Commanding Officers and Director, Marine Corps Recruiters School in grades no lower than O-4: 3.a.5.a.  NA 3.a.5.b.  CF for which the end of action date is within the last  three years 3.a.6.  Marine commanders in grades O-3 and above are delegated authority to award the Meritorious Mast (MT) for actions during their tenure in command. 3.b.  Campaign, Expeditionary, & Service (CE&S) medals or ribbons may be entered into a Marine’s record when the criteria and eligibility requirements outlined in reference (C) have been met using official source documents and the appropriate awarding authority recommends approval. 3.c.  The individual CF and MT may be awarded by any General Officer to service members in the grades E-1 to O-6. 3.d.  Policy 3.d.1.  CMC may revoke awarding authority from Marine commanders at any time for non-compliance with awards regulations. 3.d.2.  All awards approved by delegated awarding authorities must be compliant with laws and regulations pertaining to military awards.  All requests for exceptions to policy must be forwarded to CMC for decision or endorsement, if requesting an exception to policy. 3.d.3.  Officers exercising delegated awarding authorities are not authorized to permit awards to be signed by another individual “By direction” of the awarding authority. 4.  Delegation Of Military Awards Authority (Valor and Combat).  In accordance with references (B) and (C), Marine Corps Component Commanders supporting operations within their geographic area of responsibility and meeting the following criteria are authorized to award valor and combat awards: 4.a.  Military operations engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; or 4.b.  Military operations involving conflict with an opposing  foreign force; or  4.c.  Military operations with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. 4.d. Sub-delegation is authorized per references (B) and (C) and the below restrictions: 4.d.1.  Sub-delegation authorized to commanders in grades no lower than O-8: 4.d.1.a.  Bronze Star Medal (BS) 4.d.1.b.  Bronze Star Medal with “V” device (BV) 4.d.1.c.  Air Medal with “V” device (AH) 4.d.2.  Sub-delegation authorized to commanders in grades no lower than O-7: 4.d.2.a.  Air Medal with “C” device (A1) 4.d.2.b.  Air Medal-Strike/Flight (AS) 4.d.2.c.  Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “V” device (CV) 4.d.2.d.  Combat Action Ribbon (CR) 4.d.3.  Sub-delegation authorized to commanders in grades no lower than O-6: 4.d.3.a.  Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “C” device (C1) 4.d.3.b.  Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with “C” device (N1) 4.e.  Sub-delegation Prohibited  4.e.1.  Marine Corps Component Commanders are authorized to award the Purple Heart (PH). 4.e.2.  Retroactive awarding authority for PH and CR 4.e.2.a.  Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command is authorized to approve retroactive PH and CR in excess of previous three years for actions or wounds received from 11 September 2001 to 30 August 2021. 4.e.2.b.  Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command is authorized to approve retroactive PH and CR in excess of previous three years for actions or wounds received from 19 April 2007 to 30 August 2021. 4.e.3.  If the Marine Corps Component Commander mentioned is in the grade of O-9, they are authorized to award the Legion of Merit with “C” device (L1) in cases of retirement only.  Sub-delegation is not authorized. 4.e.4.  Awarding authority for any award to commanders outside respective chains of command or the Department of the Navy, to include the Army, Air Force, Joint, and foreign military commanders. 4.f.  Authority Retained by CMC or Higher Authorities.  The following awarding authority is retained by CMC or above per reference (B). 4.f.1.  Valor awards of the Silver Star Medal and above 4.f.2.  Distinguished Flying Cross with “C” (D1) 4.f.3.  Authority to award valor or combat awards to General  Officers and Flag Officers 4.f.4.  Authority to approve the PH for wounds received in excess of previous three years, except as authorized in paragraph 4.e.2.   Retroactive and reclama requests for mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (mTBI) sustained prior to 15 April 2011 will be retained by CMC 4.f.5.  Authority to approve the CR for actions that occurred in excess of previous three years from the action date, except as authorized in paragraph 4.e.2   4.f.6.  Authority to approve valor and combat awards outside of the time limits  4.f.7.  Authority to approve valor and combat awards for operations not listed in reference (C) 4.f.8.  Authority to approve valor and combat awards for foreign military service members 4.f.9.  Authority to approve L1, except as noted in paragraph 4.e.3. 4.g.  Commanders who have not been delegated authority to approve  combat and valor awards for their personnel may submit award  recommendations to the CMC or higher awarding authority via the  chain of command. 4.h.  Marine Corps Component Commanders meeting the criteria to be delegated valor and combat awarding authority must request improved Awards Processing System (iAPS) permissions in writing to the  Military Awards Section (MMPB-3).  The request must indicate the combat operations under the cognizance of the Component Command. 4.i.  If the Marine Corps Component Commanders sub-delegate combat and valor awarding authority to their respective subordinate  commanders, MMPB-3 must be notified via naval letter.  Upon notification, MMPB-3 will grant appropriate permissions in the  iAPS. 5.  Awards to foreign military personnel.  Per reference (G) SECNAV delegated CMC the authority to approve NC and NA for foreign military personnel.  For NC only O-6 equivalent and below personnel are eligible.  For NA only O-4 equivalent and below personnel are eligible.  There are no changes to the processes or procedures for the submission of award recommendations for foreign military personnel.  CMC retains approval authority for all NC and NA  recommendations to foreign military personnel. 6.  Letter of Appreciation (LA) and Certificate of Appreciation (CE) LA is issued by a commissioned officer or GS-11 senior in rank or billet to recognize an individual's contributions that do not rise to the level of a MT or CF.  Service members in grades E1 to O6 may be awarded the LA. CE is for all other commendatory correspondence not falling into another Marine Corps Specific Recognition category. For example, a letter from a town mayor that commends a Marine for volunteer work. These award types may be put into iAPS by anyone as long as the end date of the meritorious period is within the past  three years. For LA and CE outside of three years please submit to MMPB-3. 7.  Awarding Authority Policy 7.a.  All awards approved by those with delegated awarding authority must be compliant with laws and regulations pertaining to military awards. 7.b.  Awarding authority may be granted to frocked commanders commensurate with the grade to which selected.  The frocking authorization letter must be provided to CMC, MMPB-3 in order to  grant awarding authority in iAPS to approve awards for the frocked grade.  7.c.  No commanders exercising delegated awarding authority are authorized to sub-delegate awarding authority except as outlined in paragraph 4.d above.  7.d.  For Commanders to be granted awarding authority in iAPS, the command must provide the Assumption of Command (AoC) letter or directive to CMC, MMMA with the Commander's full name, rank, EDIPI, Unit Name, and iAPS Unit Identification Code (UIC).  Email the AoC as a PDF to MMPB-3 after the commander has been joined to the iAPS UIC. 7.e.  Officers fulfilling the role of "Acting" commander during the absence of the appointed or slated commander will only be granted awarding authority commensurate with their own grade and the awarding authority grade limitations of the references and this MARADMIN.  Awarding authority permissions for acting commanders will only be granted in iAPS if the period of absence of the appointed or slated commander is greater than 30 days. 8.  Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director, Manpower Management Division.//