CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// 
ROUTINE 
R 221806Z MAY 23 MID120000113350U 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC 
TO NAVADMIN 
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// 
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UNCLAS 
 
NAVADMIN 122/23 
 
MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/DNS/MAY// 
PASS TO OFFICE CODES: 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// 
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// 
 
SUBJ/UPDATE TO CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS DELEGATION OF AWARDING AUTHORITY FOR 
MILITARY AWARDS// 
 
REF/A/MSG/CNO/281601ZAP2022// 
REF/B/DOC/SECNAV/28MARCH2019// 
REF/C/DOC/SECNAV/29MAY2019// 
REF/D/DOC/SECNAV/16AUG2019 
 
NARR/REF A IS CNO MSG, DELEGATION OF AWARDING AUTHORITY FOR MILITARY AWARDS. 
REF B IS SECNAV'S MEMO AUTHORIZING THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, STRIKE/FLIGHT 
AIR MEDAL, AND THE "V", "C", AND "R" DEVICES FOR CERTAIN SPECIAL WARFARE 
OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS. 
REF C IS SECNAVINST 1650.1J, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY MILITARY AWARDS POLICY. 
REF D IS SECNAV M-1650.1, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AWARDS MANUAL. 
 
RMKS/1.  Reference (a) is hereby amended as stated below. 
 
2.  The purpose of this NAVADMIN is to update the Chief of Naval Operations' 
(CNO) delegation of awarding authority for valor and combat awards in 
accordance with references (b) and (c). Additionally, this NAVADMIN updates 
the delegation of military awarding authority for valor and combat medals 
delegated by the CNO to subordinate commanders. 
 
3.  Delegation of military awarding authority (valor and combat awards).  The 
authority to approve valor and combat awards is delegated by CNO to 
subordinate commanders subject to the following limitations. 
    a.  Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; 
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Africa (COMUSNAVEUR 
USNAVAF), and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command 
(COMUSNAVCENT) are delegated authority to approve the "V", "C", AND "R" 
devices for O-6 and below Navy and Marine Corps personnel under their 
command for all authorized operations in support of the Global War on 
Terrorism.  Specific authority is granted to approve: Legion of Merit with 
"C" or "R" device (L1, L2) Bronze Star Medal with "V" device (BV) 
Purple Heart Medal (only for combat related incidents for actions that 
occurred within the most recent three years) Meritorious Service Medal 
with "R" device (M2) Air Medal with "V" or "C" device and on Strike/Flight 
basis (AH, A1, AS) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with "V", "C", 
or "R" device (CV, C1,C2) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with "C" 
or "R" device (N1, N2) Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) (only for actions that 
occurred within the most recent three years). 
    b.   COMUSNAVEUR USNAVAF and COMUSNAVCENT may sub-delegate authority to 
approve the Strike/Flight Air Medal to their subordinate task force 
commanders who are of Flag and General rank.  Sub-delegation is not 
authorized for the Air Medal when awarded for single mission meritorious 
achievement (AF) or heroic achievement (AH), nor for award of the Air Medal 
with the "C" device (A1). 
    c.  Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command is delegated authority 
to approve for O-6 and below Navy and Marine Corps personnel under your 
command all awards listed in subparagraph 3.a with the exception of the 
Legion of Merit. 
    d. Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command (COMNAVSPECWARCOM) is 
delegated authority to approve for O-6 and below Navy and Marine Corps 
personnel under your command all awards listed in subparagraph 3.a with the 
exception of the Legion of Merit and the Strike/Flight Air Medal. 
    e.  Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (COMFLTCYBERCOM) is delegated 
authority to approve for O-6 and below Navy and Marine Corps personnel under 
your command all awards with "R" device listed in subparagraph 3.a with the 
exception of the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Strike/Flight 
Air Medal, and the CAR. 
    f. In addition to the delegation cited above, COMUSNAVEUR USNAVAF, 
COMUSNAVCENT, COMNAVSPECWARCOM, and COMFLTCYBERCOM are authorized to approve 
combat awards commensurate with their authority to qualifying Navy and Marine 
Corps personnel participating in special operations conducted within the U.S. 
Central Command and U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility for those 
operations that do not fall under Operations INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM'S 
SENTINEL, and ENDURING FREEDOM.  This authorization is effective from 23 
December 2016 to a date to be determined. 
        (1) This is not a blanket approval of these awards to all 
participants in these operations.  For each individual case, awarding 
authorities must verify that all criteria for these awards, as contained in 
references (c) and (d) are met. 
All operations covered under this authority constitute a single designated 
operation for purposes of this limitation, i.e. only one CAR may be awarded 
under this authority.  An individual may qualify for a subsequent award of 
the CAR for active participation in combat within a different designated 
operation. 
        (2) Delegated authorities are responsible for keeping record of all 
operations for which combat awards have been authorized.  A quarterly report 
that contains the name of the operation commencement and termination date 
will be submitted to the Chief of Naval Operations (DNS-13) for record 
keeping purposes only. 
These operations will not be included in reference (d). 
 
4.  Awarding Authority Policy: 
    a.  Awarding authorities will ensure eligibility requirements and award 
adjudication are compliant by following the guidelines in references (c) and 
(d). 
    b.  Awarding authority extends only to award nominations that are 
compliant with statutory and regulatory policy, including time limits. 
    c.  Officers exercising delegated awarding authority are not authorized 
to permit awards to be signed by another individual "By direction" of the 
awarding authority. 
    d.  Except as noted in subparagraph 4.b., no further sub-delegation is 
authorized. 
    e.  CNO may revoke awarding authority from Navy Commanders at any time 
for non-compliance with awards regulations. 
 
5.  This delegation of award approval authority remains effective until 
rescinded by future correspondence. 
 
6.  Released by Mr. Andrew S. Haeuptle, Director, Navy Staff.// 
 
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