CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// 
ROUTINE 
R 241633Z APR 24 MID600117378955U 
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC 
TO ALNAV 
INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC 
CNO WASHINGTON DC 
CMC WASHINGTON DC 
BT 
UNCLAS 
 
ALNAV 034/24 
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/APR// 
 
SUBJ/AUTHORIZATION OF COMBAT AWARDS AND DEVICES FOR THE RED SEA AREA// 
 
REF/A/MEMO/ASST SECNAV MRA/8 MAR 24/NOTAL// 
REF/B/INST/SECNAVINST 1650.1/16 AUG 19// 
 
NARR/REF A MEMO FROM ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF NAVY FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE 
AFFAIRS "DESIGNATION OF NEW AREA AUTHORIZED FOR COMBAT ACTION AWARDS AND 
DEVICES" DESIGNATED THE RED SEA AND GULF OF ADEN AS NEW AREAS FOR COMBAT 
AWARDS.  REF B IS SECNAV MANUAL 1650.1, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AWARDS 
MANUAL.// 
 
RMKS/1.  Pursuant to reference (a), the geographic area enclosed by the 
latitude and longitude coordinates below, and the air space above, is an area 
within which may be awarded:  the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR); personal 
military decorations that include the "V" and "C" devices (including the 
Bronze Star Medal without devices); and the Air Medal on a Strike/Flight 
basis.  The "R" device may be awarded on personal military decorations that 
recognize direct hands-on impact on combat operations and engagements that 
occur within this geographic area.  This authorization is effective from 
19 October 2023 to a date to be determined.  The designated area is bounded 
by the following coordinates: 
 
       27-00N 032-05E 
       09-38N 043-00E 
       11-49N 051-16E 
       16-39N 053-07E 
       19-10N 051-56E 
       17-30N 043-05E 
       28-40N 035-53E 
 
2.  To qualify for any of these awards and devices, a Service Member must 
meet all the requirements set forth in reference (b). 
    a.  Imminent danger pay is not currently authorized for this geographic 
area.  Therefore, award of the Bronze Star Medal, CAR, and personal 
decorations with the "V" and "C" devices will be limited to instances in 
which the awardee received hostile fire pay for the incident for which the 
award was made, or at some date within the merit dates of the award. 
    b.  A mission involving aerial flight may only be credited toward the 
Strike Flight Air Medal if at least a portion of that mission took place 
within the designated airspace. 
 
3.  Released by the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy.// 
 
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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//