NAVY AND MARINE CORPS COMMENDATION MEDAL
After the First World War, the Department of the Navy authorized the Navy Commendation Star, a ribbon device to be placed on the World War I Victory Medal. The 3⁄16 inch silver star was identical to the Army Citation Star, but not comparable, as the later recognized "gallantry in action", while the Navy Commendation Star denoted those who had been cited and commended for performance of duty by the Secretary of the Navy.
An independent Navy Commendation Ribbon was established in November 1943. On March 22, 1950 a metal pendant (of the same design as the pendant of the Army Commendation Medal) was authorized and the Commendation Ribbon was renamed the Navy Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant. This award was re-designated as the Navy Commendation Medal in September 1960, and renamed the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal in 1994. This decoration was previously awarded only by flag rank operational commanders, requiring the signature of an admiral or general officer in the grade of O-7, allowing interpretation of the criteria for which the medal may be awarded. Authority to award this decoration was later expanded to captains and colonels in the grade of O-6 currently holding operational command as a commodore, carrier air wing commander or commanding officer.
In contrast to the Army and the Air Force, in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal has historically considered its commendation medal to be a higher level and less frequently awarded decoration. Outside of those instances where it has been awarded for combat action with a Combat "V", it has typically been reserved for Department Head level officers at the O-4 level, senior Navy Chief Petty Officers (CPO) and Marine Corps Staff Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCO) at the E-8 and E-9 level as an "end of tour" award in a given command/organization/unit, and, following a full career, as a retirement award for enlisted personnel between pay grades E-6 and E-9. For more junior personnel, it has occasionally been awarded as an "impact award" for a significant contribution of service, to include those instances of combat service where it has included the Combat "V". In contrast, the awarding of the Army Commendation Medal in the U.S. Army and the Air Force Commendation Medal in the U.S. Air Force, is not limited to senior service members, and can be awarded to junior NCOs in the grade of E-6 and below (with some recipients as low as E-3) and junior officers in the grade O-3 and below. However, since the early 2000s, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal has been observed as being increasingly awarded to junior USN officers in pay grade O-3 as an "end of tour" award in a given command/unit/organization in a manner similar to that employed by the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force since the late 1960s.
Recipient members of the U.S. Marine Corps have always been issued the Navy's commendation medal and there is not a separate commendation medal intended only for Marines. This lack of difference was recognized on August 19, 1994 when Secretary of the Navy John Howard Dalton changed the name of the Navy Commendation Medal to the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
SURNAME
Willink
FORENAME
John Gretton "Jocko"
UNIT
Seal Team 3
RANK
Lieutenant Commander
NUMBER
AWARD
Silver Star, Bronze Star
PLACE
Iraq
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 08.09.1971, Torrington, Connecticut, USA
graduated BUDs class 177
retired 10.2010 (20 years service)
co-author...
SURNAME
Clairmont
FORENAME
Joseph
UNIT
Marine Special Operations Advisor Group (U.S.N.,attached)
RANK
Chief Hospital Corpsman
NUMBER
AWARD
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with V device
PLACE
Afghanistan 2008
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SURNAME
Creasey
FORENAME
Denver N.
UNIT
Marine Special Operations Regiment (2 Marine S.O. Bn) (G Company)
RANK
Lance Corporal
NUMBER
AWARD
Navy and Marine Corps Medal
PLACE
Afghanistan 2011
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Goochland County,Virginia
SURNAME
Krissoff
FORENAME
Nathan M.
UNIT
3 Recon Bn (3 MarDiv) (HQ and Service Company)
RANK
First Lieutenant
NUMBER
AWARD
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with V device
PLACE
Iraq 2006
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
Zimmerman
FORENAME
Christopher Michael
UNIT
2 Recon Bn (2 MarDiv) (B Company)
RANK
Staff Sergeant
NUMBER
AWARD
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with V device
PLACE
Iraq 2006
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour
SURNAME
Clark
FORENAME
William Martin
UNIT
1 Recon Bn (1 MarDiv) (1 Force Recon Company,attached)
RANK
Lance Corporal
NUMBER
480668886
AWARD
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
PLACE
South Vietnam 1970
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour