LETTER OF COMMENDATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01826R000600210022-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 11, 2000
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: June 9, 1953
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Relel 200 P - 1 200600210022-3
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V(jx C i ans; (.'.IA Career 3ervice bioacd
I'"1)Ntx Cheiran, CIA Honor Awards Board
: tJBJ :T t Getter of Diu*ndation
Io P1DBLE19a To create an honor which can be awarded to a
person in CIA in recognition of meritorious or valorous
service of a stature less than that which is necessary
to gqualj?i~yf~y- him for one of the awards presently avai lable ~,
2O FACTS BFARIM ON THF PROBLEM,
Through the Honor Awards Board,, Agency personnel may
be nominated for the National Sec city Medal or the
Medal of Freed(=,,
bo Both of these medals are national in character and
may be administered or awarded by r;rrups other than
CIA. Responsibility for award of the National Security
Medal is at present covertly delegated to the DCI
although overtly to the Executive Secretary, National
Security Council.
may be considered in recognition of meritorious or val-
orous service
The National Security tied:,]. is the only honor award
which is administered-by the Agency and for which any
person associated with the- national intelligence effort
do The Medal of Freedom is available only to civilian
personnel in recognition of service performed outside
the continental limits of the United Stateso In the
case of CIA personnel it is awarded by the Secretary
of Defense o
Approved For Release 2001/ 00600210022-3
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For Relee 0 ? CIA-RDP80-01886&000600210022-3
Secvey 3~oi~aa?'iort
9. The Incentive Awards Committee administers the
P e ation of a nCertigj"te of Awards which
is
accORMY signed by the Director and presented to
mo
hundred dollara to those individuals who make
suggestions of major import.
3.
DISCUSSION.
a. Criteria for the award of the National Security
Medal prescribe that it be used only to recognise
exceptionally meritorious or valorous acts. The
Medal of Freedom also is limited in its use. Thus,
the Agency has no formal means of granting honor
awards for meritorious service or valorous acts
which are deserving of recognition but are of a
stature less than that which would merit the Nam
tional Security Medal or the Medal of rreedom,
b. The "Certificate of Award" administered
Incentive Awards Committee is only issued inhrec-
ognition of suggestions by CIA personnel which meet
criteria for cash incentive awards related to effim
cienoy and are not, therefore, honor awards within
the framework of the Honor Awards Proms.
14. CONCLTJSION.
a. In addition to the Natior, Security Medal and the
Medal of Freedoms there is need for the establish..
meet of a CIA honor award to be issued by the Director
in recognition of meritorious service or for acts of
valor.
b. Such an award should be administered by the Honor Awards
Board and subject to similar but more liberal standards
than those applied by the Board in connection with the
award of the National Security Medal or the Medal of
Freedom,
T
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C.4_-A_r. 'ea 11
Secuz ty o3'm tion
5, f =,rq NDATION. It is reco amended that a "Letter of Cor'imen0
dati.one for the si -mature of the Director of Central
latell.iaence be estab? ;shed, such an honor award to be
,ad,-ri n etered by tho - CI'1 Honor Awards Board as a third
level of recognition for acts of merit or valor.
25X1A9a
Chas rrr n,, IA Ifonor Awards card
Approved For Release 2001/03/04: CIA-RDP80-01826R000600210022-3