Editing Operational Distinguishing Device

{{Infobox military award
| name             = Operational Distinguishing Device
| image            = [[File:U.S. Coast Guard Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|border|106px]]<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -63px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Operational Distinguishing Device.png|20px]]</span>
| caption          = Coast Guard Achievement Medal with<br>Operational Distinguishing Device ("O" device) 
| presenter       = the <br> [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]]
| country          = United States of America
| type             = Ribbon device
| eligibility      = Coast Guard personnel
| awarded_for              = Direct participation in missions of an operational "hands on" nature.
| campaign         = 
| status           = 
| description      = 
| motto            = 
| clasps           = 
| post-nominals    = 
| established      = 
| firstawarded      = 
| lastawarded       = 
| total_awarded            = 
| total_awarded_posthumously       = 
| total_recipients       = 
| precedence_label =
| individual       = 
| higher           = 
| same             = 
| lower            = 
| related          = 
| image2           =
| caption2         =
}}
The '''Operational Distinguishing Device ("O" device)''' is a miniature silver {{Frac|5|16}} inch letter "O" that is authorized by the [[United States Coast Guard]] as a [[United States military award devices|ribbon device]]<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134833vol3.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110322212501/http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134833vol3.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 22, 2011|title=Department of Defense Manual 1348.33, Volume 3|date=23 November 2010|publisher=Defense Technical Information Center|pages=1, 1. (2) "service devices"|access-date=16 October 2012}}</ref> which may be authorized for wear on certain [[awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard]].<ref name=":0">[http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/1000-1999/CIM_1020_6F.pdf COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION M1020.6F UNIFORM REGULATIONS MANUAL]</ref>

The "O" device is either centered on the suspension and [[service ribbon]] of the medal or unit award ribbon, or to the middle-right if there are an even number of letter devices on the ribbon. Any authorized gold [[5/16 inch star|{{Frac|5|16}} Inch Stars]] alternate around the "O" device. The first star is placed to the wearer’s right of the "O" device and the second star is placed to wearer's left of the "O" device. Only one "O" device may be worn per ribbon.<ref name=":0" />

Eligibility criteria are based on a member's or unit's direct participation in missions of an operational "hands on" nature.  To qualify for this device on a decoration, both the person's work and unit must be operational in nature.

Such examples include [[search and rescue]], [[fire fighting]], maritime [[Law enforcement agency|law enforcement]], [[disaster relief]], [[oil spill|pollution response]], and [[navigation aid|aids to navigation]] maintenance and operations.

The decision to authorize an Operational Distinguishing Device is made by the award approving authority, giving a wide discretion as to what actions may qualify.

==Authorized awards==
The Operational Distinguishing Device may be authorized for wear on the following awards:<ref>[http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/1000-1999/CIM_1650_25D.pdf COMDTINST M1650.25D, Medals and Awards Manual, Chapter 1, Table 1]</ref>

'''Personal awards'''
*[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]
*[[Commendation Medal|Coast Guard Commendation Medal]]
*[[Achievement Medal|Coast Guard Achievement Medal]]
*[[Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon]]

'''Unit awards'''
*[[Coast Guard Unit Commendation]]
*[[Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation]]
*[[Meritorious Team Commendation|Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation]]

==See also==
*[[Awards and decorations of the United States military]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{USCG decorations}}

[[Category:Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard]]
[[Category:United States military award devices]]