UNCLASSIFIED ROUTINE R 282217Z FEB 18 FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 048/18 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/DNS/FEB// SUBJ/GUIDANCE FOR PROCESSING NEW "V", "C", AND "R" DEVICES AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR ON CERTAIN MILITARY MEDALS AND RIBBONS// REF/A/MSG/SECNAV/211924ZAUG17// REF/B/MSG/CNO121452ZJUN17 REF/C/DOC/CNO/22FEB18// REF/D/MSG/SECNAV/031938ZJUN16// REF/E/DOC/SECNAV/22AUG2006// NARR/REF A IS ALNAV 055/17 ANNOUNCEMENT OF CHANGES TO THE "V" DEVICE AND NEW DEVICES AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR ON CERTAIN MILITARY RIBBONS. REF B IS NAVADMIN 134/17, VALOR AWARDS AND TIMELY RECOGNITION OF VALOR. REF C IS CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS DELEGATION OF COMBAT AWARD APPROVAL AUTHORITY. REF D IS ALNAV 041/16, COMBAT AWARDS AUTHORIZATION FOR CURRENT AND RECENTLY CONCLUDED OPERATIONS. REF E IS SECNAVINST 1650.1H, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AWARDS MANUAL.// RMKS/1. This message publishes temporary procedures for processing awards with the "V", "C", and "R" devices announced by reference (a). Reference (a) is the governing directive for awarding the new devices and should be referenced for all specific eligibility for the Combat Conditions "C" and Remote Impact "R" devices. References (a) and (b) should both be referenced for changes and processing procedures when recognizing valor and for the Valor "V" device. 2. Specific delegation of authority to approve combat awards, including the "V", "C", and "R" devices for O-6 and below for Navy and Marine Corps Personnel, is contained in reference (c). Delegation of authority to approve other awards remains as stated in reference (e). Unless specifically authorized under reference (c), Commanders and Commanding Officers do not have the authority to approve combat awards or the associated "V", "C", and "R" devices. a. Currently, reference (c) authorizes Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Africa; Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and, with limitations, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, approval of combat awards with devices. b. If approving a medal with "R" device for having remote impact on operations occurring within a different Echelon II commander's area of responsibility, the awarding authority will obtain concurrence from the affected Echelon II commander. Individual cases in which there is disagreement as to whether the "R" is appropriate shall be forwarded to Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Awards Branch (DNS-35) for final adjudication. c. Requests for authorization of the "V", "C", and "R" devices for named operations not listed in reference (a) must be submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) via the operational chain of command and CNO. d. All recommendations for Army or Air Force awards that include a "V", "C", and "R" device for Navy personnel shall be submitted to the CNO for concurrence or consideration of an appropriate Navy award. Navy personnel may not accept, retain, or wear combat related awards proffered by the Army or Air Force without Navy concurrence. 3. Retroactive Authorization of Devices. a. A Service Member who, on or after 7 January 2016, received any award that could now be eligible for the "C" or "R" device may request reconsideration. Such requests must first be forwarded to the officer or command which approved the original award, and then to the appropriate Navy Component Commander as listed in subparagraph 2a above. If the component commander approves a change to the original award, the component command is responsible for reissuing the award elements and updating appropriate records and systems in accordance with reference (a). b. Separated or retired personnel, or the Primary Next of Kin of deceased Navy personnel, may submit requests for retroactive award of the "C" or "R" device directly to DNS-35 along with a copy of the previously approved award and other substantiating documentation. 4. Navy Department Awards Web Service (NDAWS) Processing Procedures. a. The fill-in OPNAV Form 1650/3 has not yet been modified to allow selection of the "C" and "R" devices in the Recommended Award dropdown (Blocks 20 and 31). However, all new two-letter award codes have been updated in NDAWS. Until the Form can be updated, originating commands shall choose the basic award code on the Form and indicate within the Summary of Action narrative which device, if any, is recommended. b. Immediately upon uploading the pending award data to NDAWS, the originating command will edit the Recommended Award dropdown within the disposition field in NDAWS corresponding to Block 20 with the appropriate two-letter award code prior to saving the record. Then, before the form is signed and dated, ensure the form's Block 20 is edited to show the correct two-letter award code. c. Lower echelon commanders shall type in the appropriate two-letter award code on the form in their section of Block 31 and update the Recommended Award dropdown within the Endorsements field in NDAWS corresponding to Block 31 with the required information. d. The Navy Personnel Master Award File (MAF) has not yet been updated with the new device codes. In the interim there will be no data file transfer to update the Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System. e. Once the new codes are added to the OPNAV Form 1650/3 and the MAF, DNS-35 will conduct a system data pull and take appropriate action to amend the administrative records. No action should be required by the individual Sailor or by the approving command. 5. DNS will announce when all updates have been completed and when the "C" and "R" devices are available in the supply system. The devices are currently available for purchase directly from commercial medal and ribbon vendors. 6. Commands that do not have access to NDAWS should submit a Standard Authorization Access Request (SAAR) Form to DNS-35 at cno_awards.fct@navy.mil. 7. DNS-35 can be contacted at 202-685-1770, DSN 325, or cno_award.fct@navy.mil. 8. Commands needing to submit a classified award nomination for CNO or Secretary of the Navy approval must contact the Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals at SECNAV_awards@navy.mil or 202-685-6378 for detailed procedures. 9. Except as modified by references (a) and (b), all other provisions of reference (e) remain in effect. Reference (e) will be updated with the next release. 10. Visit the Navy Awards Website https://awards.navy.mil for additional information. 11. Released by Vice Admiral K. M. Donegan, Director, Navy Staff.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//