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My Coast Guard
Commentary | Jan. 24, 2022

Last Call for the new Excellence in Customer Service Award Nominations

By Lori Pastro, Communications Specialist, Mission Support Integration Office

The clock is ticking! The Deputy Commandant for Mission Support (DCMS) is looking forward to receiving your nominations for the Excellence in Customer Service Award. DCMS established this new award to recognize responsiveness to customers’ needs that resulted in operational success or measurable improvements to service readiness. 

Nominations could include assistance in the following ways: 

  • Provided timely and responsive support to an emergent need;  

  • Initiated or developed a solution to meet operational requirements;  

  • Accomplished measurable improvements in service quality or speed of delivery;  

  • Enhanced the integration of services across mission support product and service lines. 

Submissions are due no later than 5 p.m. E.S.T., Feb. 28, 2022. Don’t miss this opportunity to express some well-deserved appreciation to those who provided excellent customer service in support of Coast Guard missions in 2021. Although support efforts are sometimes less visible in the public eye than operational activities, they are every bit as essential for Coast Guard mission success.  

Who may be nominated to receive this distinguished award?   

Any Coast Guard unit, active duty member, reservist, or civilian may be nominated; however, the award is designed for those units and individuals assigned to the Coast Guard Mission Support community. Award types will include one large unit, one small unit, and up to five teams or individuals.   

What customer service accomplishments are required to be eligible for this award?   

A significant achievement in at least one of the following areas should be demonstrated: 

  • Outstanding communication skills and initiative while addressing a customer’s needs; 

  • Innovative thinking to develop methods or processes that improve service delivery; or 

  • Superb technical acumen and expertise while delivering a service.   

How should nominations be submitted?  

  • Unit commanders, commanding officers, officers-in-charge, deputy/assistant commandants, and chiefs of headquarters staff elements should route a nomination memorandum through the first flag in their chain of command for approval. 

  • Submit the following documentation to the Mission Support Integration Office (DCMS-5) at DCMSContent@uscg.mil: 

  • The approved memorandum, which must include two or more specific examples and supporting information on how the nominee(s) exemplifies the eligibility criteria. The memo should be single-spaced using Times New Roman, 12-point font, and should not exceed two pages.   

  • Any other documentation (e.g., certificates, photos, etc.) regarding performance that clearly demonstrates outstanding customer service and relevant positive impacts. 

For additional information about this award, see Deputy Commandant for Mission Support Excellence in Customer Service Award ALCOAST 224/21 from June 2021. If you have questions, contact DCMS-5 at DCMSContent@uscg.mil.  

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