W. Va. Code R. § 141-63-I
Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 141-63-I - GENERAL1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this regulation is to provide the guidance, implementing the West Virginia National Guard Awards and Decorations Program authorized by West Virginia Code, Article 1G, Chapter 15 as amended on 28 March 1988 and became effective on 26 June 1988.2. MILITARY AWARDS BOARD.a. A permanent board of awards to be known as the Military Awards Board of the State of West Virginia win be appointed. The Board will consist of three members, at least two of whom shall be active members of the West Virginia National Guard. The term of office for these members shall be four years, or until their successors are appointed. One of the members will be selected as secretary and assigned the responsibility of maintaining a complete record of all Board proceedings. This record is to be maintained in the Office of the Adjutant General as part of the permanent military records of the State of West Virginia. The Board will review all recommendations for the award of the following: (1) West Virginia Distinguished Service Medal (WVDSM)(2) West Virginia Legion of Merit (WVLOM)b. The affirmative vote of two members of the Board is necessary for submitting recommendations for the WVDSM or the WVLOM to the Governor for final approval/disapproval. Any recommendation failing to receive the Board's recommendation for approval on two separate occasions shall not be acted on again.c. The Board shall design, or have designed, the WVDSM, the WVLOM and other West Virginia awards and decorations that might be approved by the Adjutant Genera] of West Virginia under the provisions of Section II, paragraph 11 of this regulation. Subsequent to agreeing upon the design of these awards and decorations, the Board shall submit the designs and bids, together with its recommendations thereon, to the Governor for final approval.d. In addition to the items mentioned above, the Board has the authority to: (1) Originate recommendations for awards.(2) Disapproval or downgrade recommendations for awards.3. WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD AWARDS BOARDS.a. The Adjutant General will appoint two separate and distinct West Virginia National Guard Awards Boards. They are as follows:(1) West Virginia Army National Guard (WVARNG) Awards Board.(2) West Virginia Air National Guard (WVANG) Awards Board.b. Each of the above mentioned Boards will consist of ten members (i.e., six officers and four enlisted members) assigned to Headquarters, West Virginia State Area Command (HQ WV STARC) and Head quarters, West Virginia Air National Guard (HQ WVANG) respectively.c. The WVARNG and WVANG Awards Boards are responsible for reviewing recommendations for all of the State awards and decorations that have been, or will be, established in accordance with the provisions of Code of West Virginia, Article 1G, Section 4 and paragraph 11, Section II of this regulation. The boards will recommend the approval/disapproval or downgrade of same to the Adjutant General.d. Recommendations for all State awards and decorations will be processed through appropriate military channels to TAG, WV, Attn: Military Personnel Management Officer (MILPO) for WVARNG or TAG, WV, Attn: Executive Support Staff Officer (ESSO) for WVANG. If the recommendation is for the award of the WVDSM or the WVLOM, the MILPO or ESSO will forward the recommendation package to the MiHtar}' Awards Board for necessary action. If the recommendation is for any of the other State awards or decorations listed in paragraph 11, Section II below, the MILPO or ESSO will select any three of the ten individuals who have been appointed to serve on the WVARNG or WVANG Awards Board, respectively, and request that they act on the package. The senior individual selected will act as President and the junior individual will act as Recorder of the Board. Only officers will be selected to serve on an Awards Board considering a recommendation for an award or decoration for an officer. An Awards Board considering an award or decoration for an enlisted member may consist of all officers; one officer and two enlisted personnel; or all enlisted personnel as deemed appropriate by the MILPO or ESSO.e. The WVARNG or WVANG Awards Board will convene at the earliest opportunity after receipt of the recommendation package from the MILPO or ESSO. Three members are necessary to ha ve a quorum. A majority vote will decide all actions of the Board. Decisions of the Board are considered to be recommendations to the Adjutant General, whose decision is final and may not be appealed.4. RECOMMENDING AUTHORITY. It is the responsibility of West Virginia National Guard commanders or any other individual having personal knowledge of an act, achievement, or service believed to fall within the criteria for authorized awards or decorations to submit recommendations for consideration.5. SUBMISSION PROCEDURES.a. WVARNG: All recommendations for a State award or decoration, except for the West Virginia State Service Ribbon and the West Virginia Service Ribbon will be submitted through channels on an AGO Form 638 (Appendix A) to TAG, WV - Attn: MILPO. Separate recommendations for different awards and decorations are required; however, several individuals may be included on an AGO Form 638-1 (Appendix B) for the award of the West Virginia State Service Ribbon, or on an AGO Form 638-2 (Appendix C) for the award of the West Virginia Service Ribbon. The MILPO will forward all recommendations for the WVDSM or the WVLOM to the Military Awards Board for consideration. All other recommendations will be referred to the WVARNG Awards Board.b. WVANG:(1) Recommendations for the WVMSM and the WVLOM will be submitted through channels on an AGO Form 638 (Appendix A) to TAG, WV - Attn: ESSO. The ESSO will forward all such recommendations to the Military Awards Board for consideration.(2) Recommendations for the approval of aU other State awards and decorations (i.e., those established by the Adjutant General in accordance with the provisions of West Virginia Code, Article lG-4, Chapter 15 and paragraph 11, Section II below) will be submitted in military letter format through channels to TAG, WV - Attn: ESSO. Complete justification for the award should be included in the letter (See Appendix D for sample letter).6. METHOD OF ANNOUNCING AWARDS. State awards and decorations that are approved by the Governor, based upon the recommendation of the Military Awcirds Board, or by the Adjutant General, based upon there commendation of the WVARNG or WVANG Awards Board, will be announced on Permanent Orders (for WVARNG personnel) or Special Orders (for WVANG personnel) published by the Adjutant General's Department.7. PRESENTATIONS. Awards and decorations will be presented at an appropriate ceremony. When the Adjutant General or a member of his staff cannot make the presentation, the awards and decorations, to include copies of appropriate orders, will be forwarded to the commander of the recipient for presentation.8. BUDGETING FOR FUNDS. The Adjutant General shall annually submits to the Legislature a request for an appropriation sufficient to cover the cost of all West Virginia awards and decorations established in accordance with the provisions of the West Virginia Code and this Regxilation that are to be procured during the next fiscal year. The MILPO and ESSO are responsible for ensiuing that the Adjutant General is provided with the necessary information to budget for the awards and decorations required each fiscal year for their respective service.9. MAINTENANCE OF INVENTORY. The inventory of awards and decorations purchased by the Adjutant General will be maintained by the MILPO.W. Va. Code R. § 141-63-I