Department of the Army Civilian Awards

The United States Department of the Army offers a variety of awards, decorations and incentive programs to honor and recognize the contribution and efforts of its civilian workforce.

There are three categories of recognition: monetary, honorary, and time-off.

Superior Accomplishment Awards

Special Act or Service Award- A SASA is a cash award given to recognize a meritorious personal effort, act, service, scientific or other achievement accomplished within or outside assigned job responsibilities. All appropriated fund employees are eligible for this award. Cash awards range from $25 to $25,000, depending on the achievement being recognized. (An additional award exceeding $25,000 may be approved at the discretion of the President.)
On-the-Spot Cash Award- The OTS cash award is a small SASA ($25 to $250) which may be given by a supervisor for day to day accomplishments of subordinate employees.
Time Off Award- Employees may be granted up to 80 hours of time off during a leave year without charge to leave or loss of pay as an award for achievements or performance contributing to the Army mission.
Performance Award- A performance award is a monetary award given in recognition of high-level performance for a specific period. This award is used to recognize all appropriated fund employees, except Senior Executive Service (SES) employees. Performance awards will be computed as a percentage of pay with a maximum award of 10 percent of the employee’s base pay.

Honorary Awards

(These awards are listed in hierarchical order from the highest to the lowest):

Secretary of the Army Award for Valor
Exceptional Civilian Service Award
Department of the Army Meritorious Civilian Service Award
Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award
Commander’s Award for Civilian Service
Achievement Medal for Civilian Service
Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service
Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal

Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom
Secretary of the Army Award for Valor
Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
Meritorious Civilian Service Award
Superior Civilian Service Award
Commander's Award for Civilian Service
Achievement Medal for Civilian Service
Certificate of Appreciation for Patriotic Civilian Service
Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service
Certificate of Achievement
Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal

Public Service Awards

These decoration are made to private citizens. Army civilian employees (who are eligible for Army honorary awards in accordance with Chapter 9-1.2 of Army Regulation 672-20), military personnel and Army contractors are ineligible. (These awards are in hierarchical order from the highest to the lowest)