W. Va. Code R. § 141-63-II

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 45, November 8, 2024

Section 141-63-II - STATE AWARDS

10. AWARDS ESTABLISHED BY WEST VIRGINIA CODE:

a. WEST VIRGINIA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL (WVDSM):

(1) DESCRIPTION: The WVDSM is a 14K Gold Cross with the State Seal in the center of the face encircled by the words "Distinguished Service". On the back, the name of the recipient will be engraved with the inscription "For Distinguished Service". The Medal is suspended from a ribbon with a center band of gold flanked by equal bands of blue. The blue bands are flanked by equal bands of gold with blue borders. The ribbon bar is as described for the ribbon above.

(2) CRITERIA FOR AWARD: The WVDSM may be awarded as follows:

(a) To former governors who are now alive, present and future governors of the State of West Virginia as commanders-in-chief of the West Virginia National Guard;

(b) To such officers and enlisted personnel in the West Virginia National Guard as may have, or may hereafter render conspicuous or distinguished service in the line of duty, or who have displayed, or may hereafter display conspicuous courage and gallantry while on duty with the West Virginia National Guard;

(c) To persons serving in the West Virginia National Guard who are holders of Congressional Medals of Honor, United States Distinguished Service Medals, United States Distinguished Service Cross, or equivalent awards of the United States Army; the United States Navy; or the United States Air Force;

(d) To persons of West Virginia who served, or shall hereafter serve in the armed forces of the United States in time of war and who may have rendered or shall hereafter render conspicuous or distinguished service in the line of duty;

(e) To not more than two civilians in any one year who shall have rendered, in the judgment of the military board of the State of West Virginia, conspicuous or distinguished service to the West Virginia National Guard;

(f) The Military Awards Board of the State of West Virginia shall be empowered to recommend the WVDSM posthumously for presentation to the next of kin of any officer or enlisted person entitled thereto under the foregoing paragraphs. No posthvunous award shall be made in the case of a civilian.

(3) ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY: The establishing authority for the WVDSM is West Virginia Code, Article 1G, Section 1, Chapter 15.

b. WEST VIRGINIA LEGION OF MERIT (WVLOM):

(1) DESCRIPTION: The WVLOM is a round, gold colored medal with the words "West Virginia Legion of Merit" along the outside rim. A square is superimposed within the circle and the State Seal is superimposed upon the square. The medal is suspended from a ribbon which is 11/16" in width and consists of a center band of blue flanked by equal bands of gold. The gold bands are flanked by equal bands of blue. The ribbon bar is the same as described above for the ribbon on the medal.

(2) CRITERIA FOR AWARD: The WVLOM may be awarded for exceptional meritorious service, achievement or bravery:

(a) To present or former officers and enlisted members of the West Virginia National Guard;

(b) To present or former members of active military components, national guard members of other states and other reserve components;

(c) To civilians who have rendered conspicuous or distinguished service to the West Virginia National Guard, the State of West Virginia or the United States of America.

(3) ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY: The establishing authority for the WVLOM is West Virginia Code, Article 1G, Section 2, Chapter 15.

c. AWARD APPROVING AUTHORITY: The Governor of West Virginia is the award approving authority for the WVDSM and the WVLOM based upon an affirmative recommendation from the Military Awards Board. If deemed appropriate, the Governor may approve the downgrade of a WVDSM to a WVLOM. The Governor may also downgrade a recommendation for a WVLOM to a West Virginia Meritorious Service Medal.

11. AWARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE ADJUTANT GENERAL:

a. WEST VIRGINIA MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL (WVMSM):

(1) DESCRIPTION: The WVMSM is a round, bronze plated medal with the words "West Virginia Meritorious Service" along the outside rim. A square is superimposed within the circle and the State Seal is superimposed upon the square. The medal is suspended from a ribbon 11/16" in consisting of a centered band of blue flanked by equal narrow bands of gold. The gold bands are flanked by equal bands of blue with borders of gold. The ribbon bar is the same description above for the ribbon.

(2) CRITERIA FOR AWARD: The WVMSM may be awarded to any civilian or member of the West Virginia National Guard or of the Armed Forces of the United States who, on or after 1 July 1990, shall distinguish himself/herself by acts of heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service rendered over a period of time that is of sufficient importance to the State of West Virginia to merit significant recognition, but of a lesser degree than that required for the award of the WVLOM.

(3) ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY: The establishing authority for the WVMSM is WEST VIRGINIA PERMANENT ORDERS (WVARNG WVANG - JOINT SERIES) NUMBER 2, dated 15 October 1990. (APPENDIX E).

b. WEST VIRGINIA COMMENDATION MEDAL:

(1) DESCRIPTION. The WVCM is round, bronze plated medal with the words "West Virginia State Commendation" along the outside with a square superimposed within the circle and the State Seal upon the square. The medal is suspended from a ribbon which is 11/16" in width and consists of a narrow band of gold centered in the middle of the ribbon. This gold band is flanked by a narrow bands of blue which are flanked by a narrow bands of gold. These bands of gold are flanked by narrow bands of blue which are also flanked by narrow bands of gold. These bands of gold are flanked by large bands of blue. The ribbon bar is the same as described above.

(2) CRITERIA FOR AWARD. The WVCM may be awarded to any person who, on or after 15 October 1990, shall distinguish himself herself by performing especially meritorious public service or achievement or display exceptional bravery that is of sufficient importance to the State of West Virginia to merit significant recognition, but of a lesser degree than that required for the award of the WVMSM.

(3) ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY: The establishing authority for the WVCM is WEST VIRGINIA PERMANENT ORDERS (WVARNG WVANG - JOINT SERIES) NUMBER 3, dated 15 October 1990. (APPENDIX?)

c. WEST VIRGINIA ACHIEVEMENT RIBBON (WVAR):

(1) DESCRIPTION. The WVAR has a wide white center, flanked on each side by a narrow red and white band with a wide green band at each end.

(2) CRITERIA FOR AWARD: The WVAR may be awarded to any member of the West Virginia National Guard who shall distinguish himself/herself by service or act(s) that are of sufficient importance to merit significant recognition of a lessor degree than that required for the award of the WVCM.

(3) ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY: The establishing authority for the WVAR is WEST VIRGINIA PERMANENT ORDERS (WVARNG WVANG - JOINT SERIES) NUMBER 4, dated 15 October 1990. (APPENDIX G)

d. WV EMERGENCY SERVICE RIBBON (WVESR):

(1) DESCRIPTION. The WVESR has a center band of yellow flanked by equal bands of blue. The blue bands are flanked by equal bands of white with blue borders.

(2) CRITERIA FOR AWARD. The WVESR may be awarded to any member of the West Virginia National Guard who shall serve in the active military service of the state in the aid of civil authorities in upholding the law and preserving order, protecting lives and property, in the aid and relief of citizens in disaster, or other similar service, duly ordered by the Governor, or who shall honorably serve for thirty days in the armed forces of the United States as a member of the National Guard of this State called or ordered to service therein by the President of the United States, shall, upon recommendation of the West Virginia National Guard Awards Board and approval by The Adjutant General of West Virginia, be awarded the WVESR.

(3) ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY: The establishing authority for the WVESR is WEST VIRGINIA PERMANENT ORDERS (WVARNG WVANG -JOINT SERIES) NUMBER 5, dated 15 October 1990 (APPENDIX H)

e.WEST VIRGINIA STATE SERVICE RIBBON (WVSSR).

(1) DESCRIPTION. The WVSSR is an equally divided yellow and blue ribbon. The yellow will be worn to the wearer's right.

(2) CRITERIA FOR AWARD. The WVSSR shall be presented to all members of the West Virginia National Guard who are ordered to any period of active service of the State pursuant to West Virginia Code, Article 1D, Chapter 5.

(3) ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY: The establishing authority for the WVSSR is WEST VIRGINIA PERMANENT ORDERS (WVARNG WVANG - JOINT SERIES) NUMBER 6, dated 15 October 1990 (APPENDIX I)

f. WEST VIRGINIA SERVICE RIBBON (WVSR).

(1) DESCRIPTION. The WVSR is an equally divided red and black ribbon. The red will be worn to the wearer's right.

(2) CRITERIA FOR AWARD. The WVSM may be awarded to all officers and enlisted personnel and to all former officers and enlisted personnel of the West Virginia National Guard who have five years of honorable service with the West Virginia National Guard. For each succeeding five years of honorable service, there shall be awarded an oak leaf cluster. (See paragraph 12 below)

(3) ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY: The establishing authority for the WVSR is WEST VIRGINIA PERMANENT ORDERS (WVARNG WVANG - JOINT SERIES) NUMBER 8, dated 1 October 1990 (APPENDIX J)

g. WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD MINUTEMAN RIBBON (WVNGMR).

(1) DESCRIPTION. The WVNGMR is solid yellow in color.

(2) CRITERIA FOR AWARD: The WVNGMR will be awarded to any member of the West Virginia National Guard who is solely responsible for the enlistment of five individuals in the West Virginia National Guard (Army or Air) during any consecutive 180-day period. Three of the five enlistees must be non-prior service.

(3) ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY: The establishing authority for the WVNGMR is WEST VIRGINIA PERMANENT ORDERS (WVARNG/WVANG -JOINT SERIES) NUMBER 9, dated 15 October 1990 (Appendix K).

h. WEST VIRGINIA DISTINGUISHED UNIT AWARD (WVDUA):

(1) DESCRIPTION. The WVDUA consists of a streamer and an emblem (i.e., ribbon). The streamer is a ribbon 13/5 inches in width and two feet in length with a shallowtail fly end, and embroidered in gold with the name of the action, if awarded for military operations, or area, if awarded for meritorious service or achievement. The ribbon for the WVDUA is an alternating diagonal purple and white ribbon with a gold frame of wheat design. The frame will be worn with the wheat design in the normal direction in which wheat grows.

(2) CRITERIA FOR AWARD: The WVDUA will be awarded to units or organizations, not larger than squadron/battalion, which have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious achievement or meritorious service in support of military operations (heroism may be involved, but is not essential), or by exceptionally meritorious achievement or service of great state or national significance, not involving combat operations against an enemy. In all instances the achievement or service must be of such a nature as to clearly set the unit or organization above and apart from similar units/organizations. Requirements for the award will parallel those established for the award of the West Virginia Meritorious Service to an individual. Normally, among similar units/organizations, only one unit/organization will be awarded the WVDUA for participation in a specific activity or for a certain achievement or period of service. The WVDUA may also be awarded to any West Virginia National Guard unit or organization serving in an active status with the Armed Forces of the United States.

(3) WEAR OF WVDUA. Soldiers/Airmen may wear the unit award permanently if the individual was assigned to and present for duty with the unit anytime during the period cited or attached by competent orders to and present for duty with the unit during the entire period. Temporary wear of the award is not authorized

(4) ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY:The establishing authority for the WVDUA is WEST VIRGINIA PERMANENT ORDERS (WVARNG WVANG - JOINT SERIES) NUMBER 10, dated 15 October 1990. (APPENDIX L)

i AWARD APPROVING AUTHORITY: The Adjutant General of West Virginia is the Award Approving Authority for all of the awards/decorations listed in paragraphs 11a through 11h above.

12. MULTIPLE AWARDS. In the event any officer or enlisted member of the West Virginia National Guard shall render service or p)erform an act which would entitle him/her for subsequent awards or decorations as described above (i.e., paragraphs 10 or 11 of this regulation) he/she shall wear on the ribbon of the medal and on the ribbon bar a bronze oak leaf cluster denoting ownership of such medal/ribbon. A silver oak leaf cluster will be worn denoting ownership of six awards (i.e., the medal/ribbon for the first; a bronze oak leaf cluster for the second through the fifth award, and a silver oak leaf cluster for the sixth award). For the West Virginia Service Ribbon, the basic ribbon will be issued for five years of service; a bronze oak leaf cluster will then be awarded for each succeeding five year periods representing 10,15,20 and 25 years of service. A silver oak leaf cluster will be awarded as the fifth device representing 30 years of service. A silver oak leaf cluster with 1,2, or 3 bronze oak leaf clusters will represent 35, 40, or 45 years of service reespectively.

13. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE. West Virginia awards and decorations will be worn after or below those awarded by the United States of America and before or above all foreign decorations. They will be worn in the order of precedence as listed on the following page:

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W. Va. Code R. § 141-63-II