Coast Guard Cross The Coast Guard Cross is a military decoration of the United States Coast Guard . Established by Act of Congress on 15 October 2010 , it is intended to recognize members of the United States Coast Guard for extraordinary heroism in action , while not operating under the Department of the Navy . Coast Guard members serving under the United States Navy would be eligible for the Navy Cross . This medal , though approved , has not been awarded as of the end of 2012 . History . In the past , during times of war , the US Coast Guard has operated under the authority of the US Navy . According to law under , " personnel of the Coast Guard shall be eligible to receive gratuities , medals , and other insignia of honor on the same basis as personnel in the naval service or serving in any capacity with the Navy . " This allows the award of the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism while engaged in combat or armed action . On 4 August 1949 , Public Law 63 - 535 was passed , bringing into force and . This law established the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal and Coast Guard Medal . These awards were intended to parallel the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal , being awarded under the same criteria to Coast Guard personnel when not under the command of the Navy . This began the creation of a separate system of awards and decorations for the US Coast Guard . In 1963 , Public Law 88 - 77 even allowed for the award of the Medal of Honor to a member of the Coast Guard who met the award ' s criteria , without specifically being under the orders of the Navy . On 15 October 2010 , Public Law 111 - 281 was passed establishing the Coast Guard Cross under . Criteria . Statute allows the President to award the Coast Guard Cross , to any person who distinguishes themselves by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of the Medal of Honor , while serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard , when the Coast Guard is not operating under the Department of the Navy , under one of the following conditions : Appearance . The Coast Guard Cross is a four armed cross urdeé . It is made of red brass with a 24 karat gold plated matte finish . The pendant is 2 1 / 4 inches high and 1 3 / 4 inches wide . Surmounting the cross is an integral suspension ring which takes the form of a rope with crossed oars . Between the arms of the cross are anchors . < ref name = MIL - DTL - 3943 / 354 > < / ref > On the obverse , in the center of the cross is a shield similar to that found in the Great Seal of the United States . The stripes of the shield are alternating red and white colored enamel , while the chief is enameled blue with white five - pointed stars . The shield is surrounded by a wreath of twenty - six enameled green leaves . The reverse is identical to the obverse , except the center does not have a shield . In the center is the inscription " FOR " arched above and " VALOR " arched below . The cross is suspended from a 1 3 / 8 inch ribbon of navy blue . In the center is a 5 / 32 inch stripe of scarlet , flanked by 1 / 16 inch stripes of ultramarine blue , bordered in white . The Coast Guard Cross was designed by the United States Army Institute of Heraldry .