Awards Program

The INGOA Awards Program recognizes outstanding Citizen-Warriors of the Iowa National Guard, as well as individuals and organizations outside of the Guard, who have made significant efforts to help advance INGOA and its mission. You play an important role in helping us identify and honor deserving people through our nomination process.

NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY !

Suspense for INGOA Awards is 15 January and 1 April for NGAUS Awards

(Award description can be found at the bottom of the page)

INGOA Award Nomination Fillable Form 2021 (right click save as)

NGAUS Award Nomination Fillable Form 2021 (right click save as)

THE INGOA AWARDS COMMITTEE:

The Awards Committee is responsible for coordinating the annual call for nominations, reviewing said nominations (both INGOA and NGAUS), and makes final recommendations on selections (or submissions – NGAUS Awards) to the Executive Committee of the INGOA Board of Directors.

They are charged with ensuring that the INGOA Awards Program is administered properly and effectively. The committee should consist of both Army and Air Representatives, although, a single service may represent the committee during a service seat vacancy.

INGOA AWARDS DESCRIPTIONS:

MAJOR GENERAL WARREN G. LAWSON LEADERSHIP AWARD

Purpose: Recognize those individuals that demonstrate the ideals and values for which the Iowa National Guard represents. Integrity, professionalism and loyalty are key elements of this award. Individuals must have made sustained contributions of an exceptional and far-reaching magnitude to the United States, the Department of Defense and the Iowa National Guard in a manner worthy of recognition at the State Headquarters level.

Criteria: Must be a member or retired member of the Iowa National Guard.

Description: Minuteman on a walnut pedestal with inscription, and color engraved Air National Guard and Army National Guard emblems on brass plate.

Limitation: Maximum one (1) award per year

—————-

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Purpose: To recognize an individual who has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service in a position of great responsibility.

Criteria:

– May be a member or retired member of the Iowa National Guard or civilian.

– Includes any person who served, or is currently serving, the State of Iowa or the Iowa National Guard in any capacity

– The performance must be such as to merit recognition for service, which is clearly exceptional.

– Exceptional performance of assigned duties will not alone justify award.

– The term “position of great responsibility” requires evidence of conspicuously significant achievement. However, justification of this award may accrue by virtue of exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of high positions of great importance.

Description: U.S. flag flown in front of Joint Force Headquarters-Iowa, presented in a triangle walnut case with inscription, and color Air National Guard and Army National Guard emblems on brass plate.

Limitation: Maximum one (1) award per year.

—————-

CW4 BRUCE A. SMITH AWARD FOR SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT

Purpose: To recognize an active or retired member of the Iowa National Guard who has demonstrated exceptional achievement in the Iowa National Guard. Achievements within INGOA are not a requirement for this award.

Criteria:

– Must be either a current or retired member of the Iowa Army or Iowa Air National Guard. Must either be a Non-Commissioned Officer, Warrant Officer, Commissioned Officer, or Retiree.

– Must be an active or retired member of the either INGOA or EANGUS or NGAUS

– Must have proven leadership excellence (command time and staff time are not necessarily an indicator of proven leadership excellence).

Description: Cherrywood Plaque with Eagle Head, looking over Award Recipient and INGOA Emblem. Embossed with the NGAUS logo.

Limitation: Maximum one (1) Army and one (1) Air award per year. The INGOA Executive Board has the option of awarding two (2) awards per year (either Air or Army), if either the Army or Air National Guard do not submit a deserving recommendation.

—————-

OUTSTANDING CORPORATE SUPPORT AWARD

Purpose: To recognize a corporation, business, organization, company, or other industrial related groups who have made noteworthy contributions to the Iowa National Guard Officer’s Association and demonstrated support to the INGOA over several years of service.

Criteria: Must be an organization involved with the Iowa National Guard over several years.

Description: Walnut plaque cut to the shape of the State of Iowa with the INGOA symbol displayed appropriately, and laser engraved with the NGAUS logo.

Limitation: Maximum two (2) awards per year.

—————-

OUTSTANDING SUPPORT AWARD

Purpose: To recognize a member (active or retired) of the Iowa National Guard, family members, individual citizen(s) or group of citizens who have made noteworthy contributions to the Iowa National Guard Officer’s Association.

Criteria: May be a member or retired member of the Iowa National Guard, other active or retired military member, or civilian.

Description: Walnut plaque cut to the shape of the State of Iowa with the INGOA symbol displayed appropriately, and laser engraved with the NGAUS logo.

Limitation: Maximum five (5) awards per year.

—————-

JUNIOR OFFICER AWARD

Purpose: To recognize a company grade officer who, while a member of the Iowa National Guard, is distinguished by exceptionally meritorious service who, by unselfish and untiring efforts, renders a distinctive service in furthering the interests of the Iowa National Guard Officer’s Association and the Iowa National Guard.

Criteria:

– Army or Air National Guard officers in the grade of Lieutenant or Captain (company grade officer), or WO1 or CW2 are eligible.

– Current member of the INGOA and NGAUS.

– Nominee must have been an active member of the Iowa National Guard one-year prior to being considered for the award.

– Must have constructive attendance at annual training and all UTAs.

– Must have proven leadership excellence (command time is not necessarily an indicator of proven leadership excellence).

Description: Flying Eagle Statue with engraving. The Air National Guard (ANG) award will have a color engraved ANG emblem, and the Army National Guard (ARNG) award will have a color engraved ARNG emblem on the base.

Limitation: One (1) Army and One (1) Air award per year. Two awards from the same service may be awarded, if no other qualifying nominations are received from the other service. This must be approved by the INGOA Executive Committee.

—————-

OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL (OCS) AWARD

Purpose: To recognize an Iowa National Guard Officer Candidate who, while a member of the Iowa National Guard and OCS Program, who distinguished themselves by demonstrating exceptional achievement while serving as an Officer Candidate.

Criteria:

– Army Officer Candidate in either phase 2 or 3 of the program.

– Nominee must be an active member of the Iowa National Guard.

– Must have constructive attendance at annual training and all UTAs.

– Must have proven leadership excellence.

Description: 8” Bronze Eagle Head Statue with the INGOA symbol and NGAUS logo.

Limitation: One (1) award per year. The award will be presented at the OCS graduation ceremony and the award recipient will also be recognized at the annual business meeting. The award recipient will also receive a stipend for the recognition dinner for themselves and one guest so that they may attend the Adjutant General’s recognition dinner; stipend and schedule to be coordinated by the INGOA Secretary.

—————-

WARRANT OFFICER CANDIDATE AWARD

Purpose: To recognize an Iowa National Guard Warrant Officer Candidate who, while a member of the Iowa National Guard and WOC Program, who distinguished themselves by demonstrating exceptional achievement while serving as a Warrant Officer Candidate.

Criteria:

– Army Warrant Officer Candidate in the final phase of the program.

– Nominee must be an active member of the Iowa National Guard.

– Must have constructive attendance at annual training and all UTAs.

– Must have proven leadership excellence.

Description: 8” Bronze Eagle Head Statue with the INGOA symbol and NGAUS logo.

Limitation: One (1) award per year. The award will be presented at the WOC graduation ceremony and the award recipient will also be recognized at the annual business meeting. The award recipient will also receive a stipend for the recognition dinner for themselves and one guest so that they may attend the Adjutant General’s recognition dinner; stipend and schedule to be coordinated by the INGOA Secretary.

—————-

RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS SMP AWARD

Purpose: To recognize an Iowa National Guard SMP Cadet who, while a member of the Iowa National Guard and ROTC Program, who distinguished themselves by demonstrating exceptional achievement while serving as a SMP Cadet.

Criteria:

– Army SMP Cadet in their MS4 year.

– Nominee must be an active member of the Iowa National Guard.

– Must have constructive attendance at annual training and all UTAs.

– Must have proven leadership excellence.

-Must be a SMP Cadet serving in the Iowa National Guard and contracted to commission into the Iowa National Guard.

Description: 8” Bronze Eagle Head Statue with the INGOA symbol and NGAUS Logo.

Limitation: One (1) award per year. The award will be presented at the annual business meeting and the award recipient will also receive a stipend for the recognition dinner for themselves and one guest so that they may attend the Adjutant General’s recognition dinner; stipend and schedule to be coordinated by the INGOA Secretary.

—————-

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON NGAUS AWARDS VISIT:

http://ngaus.org/united-voice-national-guard/ngaus-awards-program

NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR A NGAUS AWARD TODAY!

NGAUS Award Nomination Fillable Form