CSP PAO Accuracy And EOT Awards

I was reading the article on the SubPac website on the USS Bremerton (SSN 698) change of command, and realizing that pretty soon, my peers are going to start showing up as the new COs. Anyway, as I was skimming the article, I was surprised to see that the outgoing CO was awarded a "Meritorious Achievement Medal". This apparently new medal was mentioned not only in the body of the story, but also in the blurb attached to the accompanying picture.

I was a little surprised that the outgoing CO of a submarine would be getting a Department of Transportation medal given to Coast Guard civilians, but figured that it must be a new Homeland Security initiative or something. However, as I examined the picture more closely, I saw that the award was actually of a more mundane Meritorious Service Medal. It was just a sloppy job of editing by the CSP Public Affairs Office.

Regarding "End Of Tour" awards: While official Navy guidance is that EOT awards are not "an integral part of the awards system", in actuality they are. (The PDF version of the previous link is here.) I'm pretty sure I remember seeing a Sub Force official-type document someplace wherein they discussed the guidance for EOT awards. For enlisted guys leaving their first boat, it said something like half should get NAMs, and the other half would rate Letters of Commendation. For JOs, it was something like 90% NAMs, 10% NCMs; DHs, I think, were all supposed to get NCMs, as were most XOs (some small percentage could get MSMs). For COs, the standard award was a Meritorious Service Medal, but something like 10% could get a Legion of Merit.

So, if you see a story about a CO getting a LOM for his non-integral End of Tour award, you know he done good.

Going deep...

Update 2328 15 Dec: They fixed the "Meritorious Achievement Medal" part...