UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 211709Z AUG 20 MID200000002992U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 235/20 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/DNS/AUG// SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF APPROVAL OF HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL (HSM) AND ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL (AFSM) FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CORONAVIRUS (COVID 19) OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES// REF/A/DOC/UNSECDEF (P&R)/30JUN2020// REF/B/DOC/DOD/20JUN19// REF/C/DOC/SECNAV/16AUG2019// NARR/ REF A ANNOUNCES APPROVAL OF THE HSM AND AFSM FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES. REF B IS DOD 1348.33M VOL2, SECDEF MANUAL OF MILITARY DECORATIONS AND AWARDS. REF C IS SECNAV M-1650.1, NAVY AND MARINE AWARDS MANUAL..// RMKS/1. As required by reference (a), the following guidance is provided for award of the HSM and AFSM. 2. HSM Eligibility Criteria: a. Per references (b) and (c), the HSM is an individual service medal awarded to members who, after 1 April 1975 distinguished themselves as individuals or members of U.S. military unit by meritorious, direct non- routine participation in a significant military act or operation of a humanitarian nature. b. The recipient must meet ALL of the following criteria to be eligible for the HSM: (1) Have been physically present, and (2) Directly participated in, and influenced CoronaVirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) operations or activities that had a direct and immediate on-site effect on humanitarian assistance and relief efforts for at least one day. c. The HSM is not authorized for any humanitarian relief missions incident to operations for which another campaign, expeditionary, or service medal is already authorized. d. The HSM is intended for front-line Service Members, such as healthcare facilities, doctors, nurses, scientists, remote food distribution or healthcare sites, and Service Members preparing or serving food, transporting COVID-19 patients, or providing COVID-19 Security. The following types of military acts qualify for award of the HSM: The deployment of the USNS COMFORT and USNS MERCY. Medical personnel that actively treated COVID-19 patients. Medical personnel that provided COVID-19 testing. Units that assisted in constructing a field hospital. e. For members who perform COVID-19 volunteer service, the appropriate recognition is the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal as long as all criterion has been met. 3. AFSM Eligibility Criteria: a. Per references (b) and (c), the AFSM is a deployed service medal awarded to members who, after 1 June 1992 participate or have participated, as members of U.S. military units, in a designated U.S. military operation deemed to be a significant activity and encountered no foreign armed opposition or imminent hostile action. b. For COVID-19, the deployment requirement is waived. c. To be eligible for the AFSM, Service Members must have been re- assigned from their normal duties to primarily perform duties related to COVID-19 operations or activities for at least 30 days (consecutive or non- consecutive). In addition, award of the AFSM is authorized for one day of qualifying service, if that service resulted in the member contracting COVID- 19. d. This medal is intended for members providing direct support. The following types of military acts qualify for award of the AFSM: Members who may have assisted in ensuring critical supplies were delivered where needed. Member of a COVID Task Force or Operations Center. 4. Area of Eligibility and period of award: a. There are no designated areas of eligibility for the HSM and AFSM for COVID-19. Inclusive dates are January 31, 2020 to a future to be determined termination date. b. Under no circumstances will a member receive both the HSM and AFSM based on the same activities, deployment and/or period of service. 5. Awarding Authority: a. Active/Reserve personnel. Determination for personnel is delegated to the command level of O-6/civilian equivalent or above. Awarding authorities must confirm individual participation by verifying assignment via orders, evaluations/fitness reports, or other official documentation which verifies participation in the COVID-19 relief actions. Once verified, commands should submit the appropriate service record documentation via their personnel office. b. Navy veterans. Navy personnel honorably discharged or retired before announced approval of these awards and who meet the criterion above may submit a written request for consideration for award of the HSM or AFSM. Written request must indicate the qualifying unit and dates assigned, a copy of the Service Members unredacted DD-214, and any supporting documentation (evaluation, fitness report, TAD or PCS orders) showing serving with the qualifying unit or individual participation. Requests may be mailed to: Navy Personnel Command (PERS 312), 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055. c. Only one award of the HSM and AFSM may be received for participation in the COVID-19 relief operations. 6. Participating Units and Personnel: a. As required by reference (c), Commanding Officers whose units meet the criteria for award of the HSM or AFSM must submit a completed OPNAV Form 1650/14 which should include a list of qualified personnel via cno_awards.fct@navy.mil. These units will be entered into the awards database. This is to facilitate documentation only and does not imply unit- wide approval. Individual service record documentation continues to be a command responsibility. b. Navy personnel attached to DoD, Joint or other non-Navy commands who meet the criteria outlined above should have their DoD or Joint command confirm eligibility and submit the appropriate service record documentation. 7. Released by Andrew S. Haeuptle, Director, Navy Staff.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//