Foreign Awards Processing - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The S-1 chief processes the foreign award acceptance request to CMC (MMMA) per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 1 paragraph 4.a. The S-1 officer signs the acceptance request letter. The awards clerk gathers required documentation. CMC (MMMA) responds with acceptance authorization and display direction. MMSB receives the submission copy for OMPF inclusion.

Source documents flow from the foreign government award notification, the citation and certificate, the translation when applicable, and the photograph of the award. Foreign award actions route through CMC (MMMA) per Enclosure 1 Section 1 paragraph 4.a. Outputs include the CMC (MMMA) acceptance response, the OMPF entry, the MCTFS award documentation, and the display authorization.

Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 1 paragraph 4.a, Marines presented with awards by foreign governments must submit a request to CMC (MMMA) to accept and retain the award. The request must include citation copy, certificate copy, translation if not in English, and color photograph of the award on a neutral background next to a Naval Service award for scale.

Trigger events

• Marine receives foreign government award during overseas service.
• Allied joint operation results in foreign award nomination.
• Foreign government presents award at ceremony.
• Marine assigned to 5th or 6th Marine Regiment for French Fourragere wear per Enclosure 1 Section 1 paragraph 4.b.
• Historical award presentation requires retroactive acceptance request.
• Foreign award appears on Marine's record without acceptance documentation.
• CMC (MMMA) responds to acceptance request requiring display action.

Processing workflow

1. Receive foreign award notification. Pull the foreign government award documentation from the unit chain.
2. Build the CMC (MMMA) acceptance request letter. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 1 paragraph 4.a, structure the letter to request acceptance and retention.
3. Attach citation and certificate copies. Include all foreign government documentation.
4. Attach translation. Per Enclosure 1 Section 1 paragraph 4.a, attach translation when documentation is not in English.
5. Submit color photograph. Per paragraph 4.a, the photograph shows the award on a neutral background next to a Naval Service award for scale.
6. Route to CMC (MMMA). Submit through the chain to CMC (MMMA) per paragraph 4.a.
7. Coordinate French Fourragere wear when applicable. Per Enclosure 1 Section 1 paragraph 4.b, the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments hold authorization for the Fourragere from World War I citations.
8. Update OMPF. Per paragraph 4.a, MMSB receives a copy for OMPF inclusion.
9. Document in MCTFS. Cut the award transaction in UD-MIPS per MCTFSPRIUM.
10. File the foreign award packet. Stage in the OMPF Field Folder awards tab.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• CMC (MMMA). HQMC Awards Branch processes foreign award acceptance.
• MMSB. Receives OMPF inclusion copy per paragraph 4.a.
• MCTFS. Holds awards entries on OMPF inclusion.
• OMPF. Final record of foreign awards.

Forms

• CMC (MMMA) Acceptance Request Letter. Per Enclosure 1 Section 1 paragraph 4.a.
• Foreign Award Citation Copy. From the foreign government.
• Foreign Award Certificate Copy. From the foreign government.
• Translation. Required when documentation is not in English.
• Color Photograph of Award. Per paragraph 4.a requirements.

Common pitfalls

• Acceptance request submitted without translation. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 1 paragraph 4.a, translation is required for non-English documentation.
• Photograph submitted without Naval Service award for scale. Per paragraph 4.a, the photo requires a Naval Service award next to the foreign award.
• Marine wears foreign award without CMC (MMMA) acceptance. Wear authorization requires acceptance response per paragraph 4.a.
• French Fourragere worn outside 5th or 6th Marine Regiment assignment without authorization. Per paragraph 4.b, the units cited in World War I hold the authorization. Confirm current assignment.
• MMSB copy not routed. Per paragraph 4.a, MMSB requires a copy for OMPF. Route at submission.

Decision points

• Acceptance routing. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 1 paragraph 4.a, the request routes to CMC (MMMA). The S-1 officer signs the letter.
• French Fourragere authorization. Per Enclosure 1 Section 1 paragraph 4.b, the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments hold authorization. Validate current assignment.
• Foreign award display. Per paragraph 4.a, CMC (MMMA) provides display instruction in the response. Wait for response before display direction.

Authority

This sub-page sits under MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 1 paragraph 4 (Foreign Awards). Paragraph 4.a covers acceptance request procedure. Paragraph 4.b covers French Fourragere. SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 7 (Foreign Awards to DON Military Personnel) provides the authoritative DON policy on Marines receiving foreign awards. SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 6 (DON Awards to Foreign Military Personnel) covers the reverse direction. SECNAVINST 1650.1JSECNAVINST 1650.1J provides higher Navy policy. MARADMIN 398/10MARADMIN 398/10 addresses awarding combat distinguishing device (Combat V) to foreign military personnel. S-1 responsibilities sit at MCO 5000.14DMCO 5000.14D MCAP enclosure 4. The processing workflow maps to NAVMC 3500.3E T-R event 0102-GENA-1007.

Related references

• MCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 1 paragraph 4. Authoritative foreign awards rules.
• SECNAVINST 1650.1 Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual. Higher policy.
• MCO 5000.14D Marine Corps Administrative Procedures. S-1 awards responsibilities.
• MCO P1070.12K Individual Records Administration Manual. OMPF documentation.
• NAVMC 3500.3E Manpower and Administration T-R Manual. Event 0102-GENA-1007.