“all glory is fleeting”

Region 9 Award program

This covers the decorations, medals, badges, and unit awards, both Region 9 and USS Europe ( and future ships in Region 9) , that are authorized for wear on the Starfleet uniforms. The term "awards" is an all inclusive term covering any decoration, medal, badge, or ribbon bestowed on an individual or unit. The term "ribbon" is an all inclusive term covering that portion of the suspension ribbon of a service medal or decoration worn instead of the service medal or decoration and made in the form of a ribbon bar.

These decorations are worn on formal dress uniforms. If a medal ( or any other award) is awarded more than once, it is decorated with a design of metal leaves, called a cluster.

 For example, a Petty Officer who had been awarded the Purple Heart twice would have the award referred to as a "Purple Heart with Cluster". A Lieutenant who earned three Starfleet Survival Crosses would have their award referred to as "Starfleet Survival Cross with Clusters". That trend continues beyond the third award with Clusters basically meaning any more than two. It should be noted that few Starfleet personnel ever earn more than five of any particular decoration (save for citations and commendations mentioned below) and almost no one sees more than one of the Occasional awards.

Clusters are small arrowheads of bronze, silver, or gold ( or oak leaves, stars or other devices). Each bronze cluster represents a subsequent award and bronze clusters are the only clusters that take the actual medal into account. In other words, one would get their medal. On a subsequent award of the same decoration, one would get a single bronze cluster. On yet another award of that decoration, another bronze cluster would be awarded. So someone with a decoration with two bronze clusters would actually have been awarded their decoration three times.

Every time a medal is awarded after the first, you get an oak leaf cluster. You can put 4 bronze ones on a ribbon, with five you get a silver one. 20 will grant you a gold one.

It should be noted that certain decorations such as citations and major and minor commendations may be awarded many, many times during a career. In that event, a gold cluster can be worn to represent twenty awards. Once a crewmember earns a gold cluster, they will typically refrain from further clustering until twenty more decorations have been earned, taking then another gold cluster

In Region 9, we have several award levels, ranging from a simple citation, to the highest awards that are only given on special occasions.

Citation

 
Citations are awards from Regional levels and are granted for various achievements to Region 9, or a chapter of Region 9 for which there is no equivalent award or the action is not quite deserving of an existing decoration.

Examples include:

Issuing Authority:  Regional Coordinator

Region 9 Citation of Outstanding Service in the Line of Duty
Special Citation for Astrometrics
Citation for Excellence, Advanced Tactical Training
Citation for Conspicuous Bravery
Citation for Bravery
Citation for Exceptional Command Skill
Citation for Exceptional Ability
Citation of Exemplary Service
Region 9 Citation for Conspicuous Gallantry
Citation for Excellent Department leadership