The Coast Guard Auxiliary Commendation Medal (ACM) is awarded by Coast Guard Commanding Officers at the rank of Commander (0-5) or higher to Auxiliarists who have provided outstanding and exceptional assistance that helps further any activities that are authorized by the Auxiliary except operations. (Outstanding service in operations is awarded with the Medal of Operational Merit).
Designed to acknowledge outstanding administrative achievements, the ACM is the Auxiliary’s equivalent of the Coast Guard Commendation Medal without the Operational Distinguishing Device (“O”). The eligibility requirements for the ACM, found in COMDTINST M16790.1G, make it clear that the decoration is not necessarily earned through good or even highly superior performance: it says that “The achievement must be truly outstanding,” and hammers home the point by stating that “Neither doing a difficult job well nor doing a routine job in an excellent manner will suffice.”
Recipients of some highly prestigious Coast Guard Auxiliary Awards are automatically recommended for the ACM as part of the recognition of their achievements. Awards that carry this perk include Auxiliarist of the Year and the Commodore Charles S. Greanoff Inspirational Leadership Award.