Unit Awards and Streamers - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The unit commander originates unit award recommendations per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 2 Section 2. The S-1 officer builds the recommendation package and routes through chain to SecNav via CMC (MMMA). The S-1 chief tracks unit award approval and coordinates streamer procurement per Enclosure 2 Section 3. The unit historian or designated NCO maintains the unit streamer display.

Source documents flow from the qualifying unit action, command historical records, witness statements, mission accomplishment evidence, and the chain-of-command endorsement. Unit award actions route through CMC (MMMA) to SecNav per Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 8.b. Outputs include the unit award approval, the procured streamers, the unit history entry, and the individual Marine awards reflecting service during the qualifying period.

Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 8.b, all Navy Unit Commendations (NUC) and all Presidential Unit Citations (PUC) route to SecNav (Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals) via CMC (MMMA). Per Enclosure 2, unit awards include procurement of streamers and command-level historical documentation.

Trigger events

• Unit completes qualifying action warranting unit award nomination.
• Combat operation or contingency triggers unit citation consideration.
• Routine exceptional performance triggers Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) consideration.
• Unit award approval received from SecNav.
• Unit streamer procurement cycle.
• Change of command requires unit awards briefing.
• Inbound Marine joins requiring unit award verification.

Processing workflow

1. Identify qualifying unit action. Pull the action narrative, dates, location, and unit participation per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 2 Section 1 (General Information).
2. Build unit award recommendation. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 2 Section 2 (Recommendations), structure the recommendation per the order rules.
3. Route nomination. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 8.b, NUC and PUC route to SecNav via CMC (MMMA).
4. Track approval status. The S-1 chief tracks through CMC (MMMA) to SecNav.
5. Procure streamers. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 2 Section 3 (Procurement of Streamers), procure streamers per the order rules.
6. Coordinate streamer presentation. Schedule presentation at the unit ceremony.
7. Document unit award in unit history. Capture the action narrative, approval date, and presentation date.
8. Update unit streamer staff display. Add the new streamer to the unit colors.
9. Brief inbound Marines on authorized unit awards. Include in the inbound brief.
10. Verify unit award entry on Marines who served during the qualifying period. Cut MCTFS award transactions for qualifying Marines.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• HQMC APS. Some unit awards process through APS.
• CMC (MMMA). HQMC Awards Branch routes NUC and PUC to SecNav.
• SecNav Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals (NDBDM). Approving authority for NUC and PUC.
• MCTFS. Holds individual award entries for unit award qualifying Marines.
• Unit history file. Local file of unit awards and historical events.

Forms

• Unit Award Recommendation. Per Enclosure 2 Section 2.
• Streamer Procurement Request. Per Enclosure 2 Section 3.
• Unit Action Narrative. Documents the qualifying action.
• Witness Statements. Support unit award nomination.

Common pitfalls

• Unit award nomination routed outside SecNav for NUC or PUC. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 8.b, NUC and PUC route to SecNav via CMC (MMMA).
• Streamer procurement skipped after approval. Per Enclosure 2 Section 3, procure streamers per the order rules.
• Individual Marine award entry skipped for unit award qualifying service. Cut MCTFS transactions for every qualifying Marine.
• Unit history not updated. The unit awards record diverges from the historical narrative. Capture in unit history at approval.
• Inbound Marines not briefed on authorized unit awards. Include in the inbound brief.

Decision points

• Unit award level. Multiple unit awards apply (NUC, PUC, MUC, Battle Streamer). Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 6, the commander selects per the action.
• Streamer procurement timing. Per Enclosure 2 Section 3, procurement aligns with approval. Coordinate with the unit ceremony.
• Individual award entry timing. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 1 paragraph 8 (Verification of Awards), individual entries follow approval. Cut transactions for qualifying Marines.

Authority

This sub-page sits under MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 2 (Unit Awards and Streamers). Section 1 (General Information). Section 2 (Recommendations). Section 3 (Procurement of Streamers). Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 8.b sets the SecNav routing for NUC and PUC. SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 3 (Unit Decorations) provides authoritative DON policy on NUC, PUC, MUC, and JMUA. SECNAVINST 1650.1JSECNAVINST 1650.1J sets DoN-level policy. MARADMIN 398/10MARADMIN 398/10 authorizes specific JMUA unit listings and references NAVMC 2922 Marine Corps Unit Awards Manual. 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 3. Authoritative unit awards and streamers rules.
• MCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 8.b. NUC and PUC routing.
• SECNAVINST 1650.1 Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual. Higher policy.
• MCO 5000.14D Marine Corps Administrative Procedures. S-1 awards responsibilities.
• NAVMC 3500.3E Manpower and Administration T-R Manual. Event 0102-GENA-1007.