It is difficult to overestimate the contributions made by long-term members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary serving in positions of authority and leadership. While the Sustained Auxiliary Service Medal recognizes those members who have devoted a substantial number of volunteer hours to helping the Auxiliary carry out its mission, it does not reflect the level of their achievements or the professionalism of their performance.
The Auxiliary Achievement Medal was created specifically to honor Auxiliary members who not only have displayed superior professional performance or noteworthy achievements in their leadership roles, but have also done so over a sustained period. Whether serving in administration or in operations, Auxiliarists who earn the Achievement Medal are daily setting a visible standard of excellence that instills confidence and inspiration in their fellow Auxiliary members.
Auxiliarists who earn the Achievement Medal for their work in operations are authorized to wear the “O” Operational Distinguishing Device on the ribbon, indicating the service which is being recognized was of a “hands-on,” operational nature. In cases where it is unclear if the service falls into that category, the decision ultimately rests with the awarding authority.
Subsequent awards of the Achievement Medal are denoted by large gold stars; a large silver star is worn in lieu of five gold ones. The medal ranks seventh in order of precedence of the personal decorations an Auxiliarist may be presented from the Coast Guard Auxiliary.