CRITERIA FOR INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AWARDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82B00421R000100020033-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 11, 2006
• Sequence Number: 33
• Publication Date: March 15, 1975
• Content Type: MF

~a
o`
O~
 USIB-D-Z. H/9
15 March 1975
Limited Distribution
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
SUBJECT : Criteria for Intelligence Cot-nniunity Awards
REFERENCE: it. DC ID No, I / IS, Effective 12 July 1975
1.). USIB -M-700, 3 November 1975, Item I
1. The attached m emorandum from the Chairman of the Review
Panel for Intelligence Community Awards is circulated for Board con-
sideration. These criteria were developed by the Review Panel for
Intelligence Community Awards in response to USIB direction at its
meeting of 3 November 1975 (reference b. ).
2. It is planned to schedule the attached criteria on a USIB
agenda for Board discussion in executive session at an early date,
probably 1 April 1976.
Executive Secretary
CONFIDENTIAL
 Review ane or Intelligence Community Awards
SUBJECT Criteria for Evaluation of Recommendations
for an Intelligence Community Award
Attachment
tiSII3-D-2,8/9
15 March 1975
Limited Distribution
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
1. The following criteria have been developed by the
Review Panel for Intelligence Community Awards established
for implementation of DCID 1/18, "Recognition of Exceptional.
Service to the Intelligence Community." The function of the
Panel is to screen recommendations submitted on behalf of
award nominees and prepare Panel recommendations to the
Honor and Merit Awards Board, which currently is the i1SIB.
It is proposed that these criteria be used both by the
Review Panel in preparation of its recommendations and by
the Honor and Merit Awards Board in its review of such
recommendations .
2. Two of the basic criteria for guidance of the
Review Panel and the Honor and Merit Awards Board are set
forth in DCID 1/18:
Paragraph 4a: "The Intelligence Community medals
and awards established in this Directive are
intended to enable specific recognition of services
of particular benefit to the United States in the
execution of the Intelligence Community mission, and
do not replace any of the medals and awards for
which provision is made in departmental or agency
regulations . " (underlining added)
Paragraph 4b: "Normally, the same exceptional duty
performance which results in the preparation of an
Intelligence Community medal or award will not be
the basis for a comparable medal or award by the
individual organization to which the person receiving
the award is assigned on a career basis, but such
dual recognition is not precluded," (underlining
added)
 3. The following criteria shall apply to consideration
of a nomination for any of the three Community awards:
a. The Community awards, and particularly the
two medallu, are to be awarded on a highly selective
ba.;i:r - in recognition of "except:i onal s,rrv:1,co to the
Communi ty. "
b. Aceompliohments in, or in direct support of,
Intelligence Community acti.vit:i.es and the Community
concept are of critical importance. Service within a
single organization, devoted to the execution of the
mission of that organization, should be , ecognized by
the parent organization, not the Community. However,
service within a single organization which has strong
Community aspects and which includes a substantive
contribution to the Community could provide basis; for
nomination for a Community award.
c. Close regard must be Given to both the quality
and the Community nature of the service and accomplish-
ments upon which the nomination has been baserl.
d. Only In very rare exceptions will favorable
consideration be given to a nomination for which the
service and accomplishments cited already have been
recognized by a comparable award from the nominee's
parent organization or service.
e. A Community award is not to be a "retirement
entitlement" in recognition of length of service. The
measure of achievement must be the measure of entitlement.
f. A Community award is not to be viewed as a
normal concomitant of completion of a tour of duty on
the DCI's Intelligence Community Staff. In such instances
the degree of achievement is the key measure of qualifica-
tion.
g. Care must be given to assuring that the
nomination for a Community award has not been made
after the nominees parent organization has not favorably
considered a recommendation for a comparable award for
essentially the same performance.
 JI. DCID 1/18 (para. 2a) provides that the National
Intelligence DistiDZui.shed ,Service Medal (NIDSM):
"may be awarded for distinguished meritorious
service or achievement to the United States in a duty
of great responsibility with--in the Intell.igc nr.,e Communi.t,y,
the outstanding accomplishment of which distinctly
benefits the interests of the United States and CCfisti-
tutes a major contribution to the foreign iritr:iligence
mission of the Intelligence Community."
5. In addition to the criteria. cited in Paragraph 3
above, criteria parts cularly applicable to the NIDSM are as
follows:
a. While normally duty of NIDSM quality, when
accomplished solely within arid on behalf of an individual
organization of the Intelligence Community, is more
appropriately recognized by award of the CTA Distinguished
Intelli.gence Medal or other comparable civilian award,
or by the Distinguished Service Medal of one of the
military services, there may be exceptions In cases
where the accomplishments cited are of particular
importance to the effective functioning of the Intelligence
Community as a whole.
b. The "duty of great responsibility" phrase in
the above quotation normally will limit award of the
NTDSM to very senior personnel in terms of duty assignment.
Accomplishments of such a nature as to warrant
awar,-. of the NIDSM normally will not be one-time in
nature. The medal is essentially intended ao recognition
for sustained superior service or achievement in Intelli-
gence Community matters,
d. The level and type of duty, will be given
particular consideration in evaluation of the "Community"
nature of the accomplishments cited.
 6. DCII) 1/18 (para. 2b) provide; that the Nnt.i onal
:Intelligence Medal of Achievement (NIMOA) :
"may be awarded for especially meritori ou:s conduct
in the performance of outstanding service to the lint.ted
Stater as a member of the Intelligence Community. The
National. Intelligence Medal of Achievement rocognire:s
performance of an especially difficult duty in a clearly
exceptional manner. The, service being recognized mur;t,
relate directly to the Intelligence Community's mission
to provide the Intelligence required for nat:tonnl
policies and the national security. "
7. In addition to the criteria cited In Paragraph
above, criteria particularly applicable to the IUIMOA .are
follows:
a. While normally duty of NIMOA quality, when
accomplished solely within and on behalf of rain Individual
organization of the Intelligence Community, more,
appropriately recognized by award of the Department of'
Defense Legion Of Merit, the CIA Intelligence Modal. of
Merit or other comparable civilian award:,, there may b-
exceptions in cases where the accomplishments cited
are of identifiable importance to the effective functioning
of the Intelligence Community as a whole.
b. In general, the Medal of Achievement is
intended as an award for achievement clearly deserving;
of Community recognition, but not considered to warrant
award of the National Intelligence Distinguished Service
Medal.
C. Involvement in Intelligence Community affairs
at high levels normally will be a prerequisite, but it
is recognized there may be exceptions.
d. The duty performance being cited must clearly
be related to matters of importance to the Intelligence
Community as a whole.
e. Sustained achievement over a period of time
rather than a single accomplishment is to be given
major consideration.
 8. 1)(M) 1/18 (pnra . ^c) 7rovicicn thtr t; the
Into l1, tgrn~ tCommunity Certificate of Dir;tinct
"may be awarded for surrtrr.ined rupee' rior performance
of dutf of high value to the Into l]:1 er:ce Community,
or for a signific:'urt :Sirup*,c' notion of npecinl merit;."
9. In additinn to the criteria cited in ParrikIrnph '3
above , the primary criteria for the award of r.i C(,rtif'icatre
of Distinction are the two stated in the above quotation
from DCTI) 1/18. Tn gene. rat, the ('(- rti fi.cr1.te of 1) 1 r-, I.-- 111 (A 10 TI
is intended as an award for contribution to the, Intelligence
Community of a type and level which der crvc.r particular
recognition, but which i not ocnalt1er d ;tiarr' 1f:`: ia lr'c: of
either of the Community medals. Tn : uch ca.-.r,,,,,, the Cortificato
of Distinction is to be considei ed an appropriate rivtarcl,
reg;ardlesr, of the military rank or civilian grade of the
nominee.
10. No nominations for the Certificate of Distincticcr.
have as yet been received, but it is expected that, over
time, the Certificate will be awarded with inorc frequency
than the medals. Experience with the handling of nominations
for award of the Certificate of Distinction may provide
basis for development of more detailed criteria for such
recognition.
11. The Review Panel's recommendation to the Honor and
Merit Awards Board may include proposal for the approval of
a higher (or lower) Intelligence Community award in place of
the one proposed in the original nomination, when the Review
Panel considers this action more appropriat - .
12. All nominations for Intelligence Community awards
considered by the Review, Panel, including those for which
denial is recommended, will he forwarded to the Honor and
Merit Awards Board with a formal Review Panel recommendation.
13, Your approval of the criteria and procedures set
forth in this memorandum is requested.
5
CONFIDENTIAL
 25X1 Approved For Release 2007/03/07: CIA-RDP82B00421 R000100020033-3
Approved For Release 2007/03/07: CIA-RDP82B00421 R000100020033-3