USPHS CITATION

The Public Health Service Citation ranks sixth in the order of precedence of Individual Honor Awards in the Commissioned Officers’ Awards Program established by the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It is intended to recognize an officer’s specific noteworthy achievement, usually (but not necessarily) accomplished in a short period of time. Examples of the type of service that merits the PHD include a clearly discernable contribution toward meeting a program objective or an achievement that reflects a high quality of skill and effort.

Officers can be nominated for the PHS Citation, or CIT, by other members of the Commissioned Corps, their superiors, and fellow workers. Nominations can also come from those outside the Corps who have a good knowledge of the achievements or accomplishment that would make the officer eligible for the award. But like all individual awards, the recommendation for the CIT must come within thirteen months of the achievement that is being recognized.

Operating Divisions or Agencies which have their own Awards Board have the authority to approve the CIT, but those lacking a Board must submit the recommendation for review by the Office of the Surgeon General Awards Board (OSGAB).

In addition to the ribbon and medal, CIT recipients are also presented with a certificate and an oak-and-brass plaque.