The Meritorious Team Commendation is the second lowest unit award of the United States Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...

. Created in December 1993, the Meritorious Team Commendation is awarded to lower echelon Coast Guard commands who perform exceptional actions that would normally warrant a Commandant's Letter of Commendation. To qualify for the award, a unit must also display cohesion and teamwork noticeable to upper echelon commanders.

Additional awards of the Meritorious Team Commendation are denoted by award stars with the award authorized to all Team Coast Guard units. For those Coast Guard commands who are awarded the Meritorious Team Commendation under field operating conditions, the Operational Distinguishing Device

Operational Distinguishing Device

The Operational Distinguishing Device is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which may be awarded as an attachment to certain personal and unit awards. The device is awarded as a silver "O" device, either centered on the award ribbon or to the middle-right if there are an even number of...

 is authorized.

See also: Awards and decorations of the United States military

Awards and decorations of the United States military

Awards and decorations of the United States Military are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces...