The other awards are the Meritorious Civilian Service Award, Superior Civilian Service Award, Commander's Award for Civilian Service and Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, said William Fanelli, a spokesman for the assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs. The comparable soldier awards, respectively, are the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal, he said. Additionally, the Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service compares to the Humanitarian Service Medal, a Defense Department-level award authorized for military members. Other DA awards for which both soldiers and DA civilian employees are eligible are the monetary awards for suggestions, and for inventions and scientific achievements, Fanelli said. Civilians can collect cash awards in conjunction with the five honorary awards when the award is given for bravery.
Soldiers receive money for suggestions, inventions or scientific achievements.
The number of civilian suggesters is higher for several reasons, McCarthy said. Among them is the fact that ideas for improving how things operate are largely submitted by engineers and other technical people who compose a large part of the Army's civilian workforce. Civilians contribute immeasurably to the total Army, incentive award officials said. Their resourcefulness and inventiveness continue to keep America's Army a cut above the rest. Ingenious Civilians Mathew Alsman receives the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service from Secretary West.