The Department of Transportation (DOT) established the 9-11 Ribbon to recognize the service of individuals within the DOT, Merchant Marines, or other civilians who contributed to recovery from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, force protection in the aftermath of the attacks, or the increased security efforts to protect our nation’s infrastructure between the date of the attacks and September 11, 2002.
This criteria covers a broad swath of civilian workers, but regulations do point out specific personnel for eligibility: Personnel serving on Coast Guard units that shifted from Operation Control to Operations Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, or Protecting Liberty for any length of time between 11 September 2001 and 11 September 2002.
Also eligible are those personnel who patrolled harbors, secured critical infrastructure facilities, carried out boardings of vessels enter the territorial waters of the U.S., and escorted high-interest vessels during that same time frame. To qualify for the ribbon, however, they have spent at least 14 days participating in those operations.
That same 14-day minimum applies to active-duty, Coast Guard Reservists, Coast Guard Auxiliarists, and civilians that manned or augmented command centers of the Coast Guard, Department of Transportation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, or the Department of Defense. Again, the award is for service between the day of the attacks and September 11, 2002.
The DOT 9-11 Ribbon recognizes participation in the response and recovery efforts after the attacks. Individuals who display exception effort, superior dedication, and noteworthy leadership skills and were working in the areas of the crashes may be eligible for the DOT 9-11 Medal.