THE AWARD FOR VALOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04718A000500010016-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2002
• Sequence Number: 16
• Content Type: PAPER

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THE AWARD VALOR
1. The recognition of valorous deeds is traditional in both official
and private endeavors in the United States. The esteem in tthich the mine
tary services hold the Congressional Medal of Honor and other awards for
valor is well known, while in civilian life the Carnegie medals enjoy
much the same prestige* This principle is not without precedent in
business e the Bell Telephone Company .of Pennsylvania, for instance,.
Uses the Vail Medal to recognio outstanding acts of valor performed by
its personnel.
2. TheCentre]. Intellieence Agency is not in the business of
performing brave deeds; nonetheless, deeds reeuiring a hIgh order of
persomal courage have been and will be performed in support of United
States imtellieence. However, to measure degrees of valor outside the
usual military type of situation would be difficult, if not impossible.
The clandestine nature of the events usually involved suggests that it
would be appropriate to detereiee only that a significant act of valor
has been performed. Therefere? a single valor award is proposed for
presentation to CIA personnel or others who perform valorous acts in
support of United States intelligence. This decoration will be known as
the National Security Cross for Valor.
3* Although this decoration is intended to serve aa recognition
for Agency personnel, and as such could be established under Agency authority,
much of its value will stem from its availability to all associated with the
United States intelligence effort. Hence, military persona and others
detailed to, assigned to, or associated with CIA will have equal opportunity
to qualify. For this reason, establishment of the Cross for Valor should
be by executive Order of the President, which undoubtedly will enhance the
prestige of the decoration and make it of greater esteem to those not
employed by CIA. This, too, will do much to overcome the security implicate
tion that recipients of the Cross for Valor are perforce CIA Personnel.
I. It is recommended thatt
a* A valor decoration be established by Executive Order for
ward to CIA personnel or other persons who perform
valorous deeds in behalf of United States intelligence.
Authorizatior for wear on the military uniform should be
included in t.executive Order,
The decoration be known as the National security Cross
for Valor and that it be provided with a distinctive sus
pension ribbon, ribbon bar, and lapel button consistent
with present practice for other United States decorations.
Security I liformation
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e. The Heraldic Branch, Office of the Quartermaster General,
V, $. Army,. be requested to prepare appropriate deetTe
and models for the above.
d. The Honor Awnrda Board prepare and promulgate regUlatione
Warning tha award of the National Security Orono for
Velar.
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THE AWARDS
The principle of recognizing outstanding performance of a
ue nature is deeply imbedded in the structure of American
and Qovernment. In business life,. it freqpently finds ite
expression in added remunerations increased responsibility, testimonials,
scrolls, and the like. Security and other considerations in many oases
make it impossible to apply these types of recognition to persons
aesociated with intelligence. Purthermore, the type of performance which
CIA will recognize is not readily measured in terms of do,lars.
2. The anonymity demanded by our profession militates against overt
forms of recognition but the effects of this anonymity should be offset by
some internal means of indicating to the individual that hir performance
hae met with the approbation of his superiors and his colleagues. The
establiehment of a series of graded honor awards to recegnize achievement
and merit seems to be the best method of meeting the problem.
3. It is therefore eroposed that a series of medals be created
for presentation to CIA personnel, or other persons associated with CIA
whose achievement merits special recognition. The opportunities for con-
tributing outstanding performance are present at All levels and in all
areas, Hence* an award of three separate grades is believed the most
fitting aerates. Implicit in the establishment of such a series of nedels
is their availability to all associated with the United States intelligence
effort so that military persons and others detailed to, assigned to or
associated with CIA will have equal opportunity to qualify.
k. As in the case of the award for valor, the awards for exemplary
achievement can be used to recognize CIA individuals as well as persons
not employed by CIA who have made ineocrtant contributions to the national
intelligence effort. /n order to enhance the prestige of the awards, their
establishment should also be by Serecutive Order of the President. Again,
security is improved in that possesaion of the award does not necessarily
identify recipients as CIA personnel.
Se The three medals, each with appropriate identifying ribbon,
ribbon bar and lapel button, will be known eel
a. Nati. $ecuritdal for flistiniahedThis
nd used by
Armed Forces and mouldawarded for the hidtest degree
of contribution to the natibnal intelligence effort.
TAB C
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mar d to e of the tited States rxned :.
ax4 'would imp performance of high order but not o
sufficient stature to warrant presentation of the National
SeaMmity Nedal for Distinguished Achievement0
d to those Whose pe orianoe while out-
normal expectation does not warrant
of eithcs a, or b. above.
It is recommended that:
a. A series of decorations or exemplary achieve
established by Executive order of the
to CIA personnel or to others 'whom per orman
required standards. Authorisation for wear on
'uniform Should be included in the Executive Order
award
h4 The decorations be known as4
(1) The National Security medal fnr
ingui,shed Achievement.
) The National Security Medal for Exceptional Achicv ment.
The National security medal for Meritorieue Achievement
and that each be provided with a distinctive suspension ribbon,
bon tetra and lapel button consistent with present practice
for other United States decorations.
The Feraldic Branc Office of the quart
p. a. Arley, be requested to prepare approp
modals for the above.
al*
and
The Uonor Awards Board prepare and promulcate regulations
governing the award of the three medals proposed above.
ecurity Information
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THE AWARD FOR LONGEVITY
1. Di Carrying out the principles of wage administration as
established throughout the Federal Service by the Congress and the Civil
Bert/co COMMi$81048 the CIA recognizes longevity or length of service by
granting in.grade salary increeses such as are available to all persons
mho come under the Classification Act of 19494 Such recognition is
wholly monetary, -wholly automatic, . provided performance has not been
declared untatisfactorb . and without public expression.
2. There is very wide use by industry and Government of systems
for recognition of longevity that eatisfy the universal heed persons have
to receive the approbation of their fellows. Some of these are the hash
marts of the Armed Forces, the overseas service Chevron and bar of world
Were I and 13, the gold watch of the Eastman Kodak Company, the certificates
of the Department of State and the longevity lapel emblems for the civilians
of the Navy Department.
3. Because of security problems raised by the use of unclassified
and uncontrolled recoenition? emblems or devices, the following criteria
must be applied to a CIA longevity award:
a. It must be capable of wide publicity within the Agency and
must identify the individual to his immediate circle of
collelgue0 and associates.
b. It must be Wholly controlled within the premises of the
Agency and not exploitable outside the Agency.
There must be tangible, physical evidence of its exi
4. Unclassified letters of appreciation and certificates of
recognition, emblems such as watch charms., bar pins or lapel buttons,
monetary awards, etc., all fail to conform in one way or another vith the
*boy* criteria. A practical system that does fulfill the requirement of
being controlled at all times is as follower
a. A classified CIA Notice listing persons who have achieved
stated length of service, and
b. A device that 1_ zlns Agency property until the individual
separates frox 4,-LE ,:ency, and
0. Suits ri lacogniticn of the individual's service at a
class4 Ai quarterly orientation Program.
vigor
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A device,
a. That is associated with the work of the recipient;
b. That is an object of value to the recipient; and
0, that already has "status" value,
would be desirable. such a device is a singleepen? black, onYmebase pen
set of the type classified as Cleat, "Re Executive Furniehings (3-N8075)
with a plaque containing the Agency seal, appropriate numerals indicating
years of service and the engraved name of the recipient. This fulfills
ail the criteria stated above. (The list price to the public of such a
Sheafferis pen pet, without the plaque, is 320, plus tax. In quantities
to the Governments the cost mould be considerably less per unit.).
6. When the recipient of such an award permanently leaves the
Agency, he would be entitled to teke with him as a souvenir of his service
with CIA the pen set that had been issued to him. Such a practice is
similar to the gift to former members of the Presidentts Cabinet of the
Chairs that they used at Cabinet meetings, This would require, from a
technical point of vieme the writine off of the accountability of the
pen eet and its certification as expendable. After separation, the
possession by an individual of this "documentation" of long employment
by CIA is not believed to have any adverse security significance.
7. The compilation of records and the verification of names of
parsons mho have been on duty a stated time imposes a work load on the
operating Offices and the Personnel Office. This can be most efficiently
handled once a year, The lists should therefore be revised as of 30 June.
The nuMber of years nest usuanY used for longevity recognition is 10 and
therefore recognition should be accorded to personnel with 10, 20, 30
years aggregate military or civilian service vith CIA or its predecessor
organizations, e 00/, OSS, SSU and CIO, e whether by emploement or by
detail.
8. Persons who, for security reasons, are not in a position to
have their names published in a classified CIA Notice or to be issued the
inscribed pen set will be privately notified and full recognition will
be accorded them when security restrictions no longer apply.
9. It is resommended that:
The above system for longevity awards and the described
device be approved.
b. The DIVA be authorized to imp this program.
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Branch, Office of the. Quartermaster General,
be requested to prepare appropriate designs
dels for the plaque referred to above.
ongovity award, including publication of Agency
ea recognition at the next Orientation Program and
e of pen set be made as soon as practicable to the
persons listed in the proposed Agency Notice (See Tab Os
oil of whom had completed ten years' service with CIA as
of 30 June 1952,
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National Security Cross for Valor,
eeurity Medal for Diatinguished Aehievement
curity Medal for Exceptional Achievement, and
Security Medal for Meritorious Achievement
virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United
State and as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States
it is ordered as fellow:
There are hereby established medals to be known as the National
Cross for Valor, the National Security Medal for Distinguished
nt, the National Security Medal for Exceptional Achievement and
al Security Medal for Meritorious Achievement with accompanying
bloc= and appurtenances. These medals and their appurtenances shall
be of appropriate design, approved by the Director of Central Intelligence.
National Security Cross for Valor may be awarded to any
out regard to nationality, including a member of the Armed
e United States, Who, on or after 26 Jay 1947, has performed
service displaying conspicuous heroism in support of the
nationalntelligence effort.
3: Any person, without regard to nationality, including a member
of the Armed Forces of the United States, Who, on or after 26 duly l9A7
a. Has performed distinguished service to the national
intelligence effort maybe awarded the National Security
Medal for Distinguished Achievement.
b. His performed exceptional service to the national
intelligence efforts but not a service of sufficient stature
to warrant the presentation of the National Security Medal
for Distinguished AChievements may be awarded the National
Security Medal for Exceptional Achievement.
oo
Has performed meritorious service to the national intelligence
effoOtl, but not a service of sufficient stature to
the Presentation of the National Security Medal for Dist
Athievement or the National ecurity Medal for Exceptiona
Adhievement, may be awarded the National Security medal for
Meritorious Achievement.
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The decorations established by this order shall be awarded
by the Director of Central intelligence or by sea officer
ao he may designate. Awards shall be made under regulation*
prescribed by the Director of Central Intelligence.
Under epecial circumstances the decorations established by
this order may also be awarded by, or at the direction of,
the President to any porton performing eervices to the
national intelligence effort of the requisite nature.
than one National Security Cross for Valor National
or Distinguished Achievement, National SecuLty Medal for
ievement or National Security Medal for Meritorious Adhieve-
I be awarded to any one person, but for subsequent services justi..
n award, a suitable device may be awarded to be worn with the medal.
6. Members of the Armed Farces of the United States who are
recipient* of any decaration eetablisted by this order are authorized to
wear an appropriate ribbon, symbolic of the award, in accordance with
applicable uniform regulations.
7, The decorations established, by this order may be awarded
posthumously.
- HARR ? TRUMAN
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=TEAL INTELLI DICE AGENCY
Washington, D. C.
Ten.-year Service Personnel
ipperience Which can come only from long service is essential
opment of true competence in all of the many and varied
eery for uceee sful fulfillment of our mission. It is
fundamental to the growth of our Career Service that we give recognition
to those Who have served long and faithfully.,
to Ae of 30 June 1952 those CIA people named below had completed
at east ten years of Service with the Central Intelligence Agency and
ts predecessor agencies. During this period each of them has made a
direct and personal contribution in the service of his oountry which has
required constant effort, frequent personal inconveniences and unremitting
adherence to the highest standards of personal integrity and loyalty to
the Dated States of America.
$6 AO Director of Central Intelligence it is my personal privilege
to commend them for the Wholehearted manner in Which they have served in
the past and to urge that they continue to provide an example for those
Mho have followed them in Choosing a career in intelligence.
s
ocurilliMration
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