Brig. Gen. Michael L. Cunniff, left, The Adjutant General

Brig. Gen. Michael L. Cunniff, left, The Adjutant General of New Jersey, presents the Humanitarian Service Medal to a New Jersey Army National Guard Soldier during the award ceremony at the National Guard Armory in Lawrenceville, N.J., May 3, 2016. More than 80 New Jersey Army and Air Guard members received the Humanitarian Service Medal for their assistance in the Superstorm Sandy rescue, recovery, and rebuilding efforts. More than 2,200 Soldiers and Airmen who took part in the largest domestic mobilization in the New Jersey National Guard’s history will receive the medal in the coming weeks. New Jersey National Guard troops rescued more than 7,000 residents and their pets in the days after the storm made landfall. The troops remained on duty following the storm, assisting civil authorities with security, transportation, logistics, and reconstructing efforts, delivering more than 10,000 meals and hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel. The federal military award is normally reserved for personnel who are serving on federal active duty when mobilized for a humanitarian relief operation. But the hurdles were cleared to allow presentation of the award to National Guard troops – who mobilized for domestic emergency under orders issued by their state – through the intervention of U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-3rd Dist.). MacArthur and one of his staffers, Kyle Melander, began work to obtain Pentagon approval last year. The Humanitarian Service Medal was authorized by Executive Order 11965, Jan. 19, 1977. It was established to honor personnel of the Armed Forces of the United States who distinguished themselves by meritorious direct participation in a significant military act or operation of a humanitarian nature, or have rendered a service to mankind. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released)

ceremony awards guard photo medal service new jersey air national guard humanitarian new jersey army national guard military air force united states air force award usaf usa recognition humanitarian aid army national guard army national guard humanitarian service medal humanitarian service njang njarng brig gen michael l cunniff the adjutant general of new jersey hurricane sandy superstorm sandy hsm new jersey lt gov kim guadagno humanitarian nature service to mankind executive order 11965 jan 19 1977 united states military medals united states military awards u s rep tom macarthur new jersey 3rd congressional district may 3 2016 photo by master sgt mark c olsen master sgt mark olsen new jersey national guard lawrenceville nj humanitarian service medal awarded to new jersey guardsmen dvids ultra high resolution high resolution us army war in afghanistan 2001 2021 us air national guard

03/05/2016

Defense Visual Information Distribution Service

https://www.dvidshub.net/

Public Domain Dedication. Public Use Notice of Limitations: https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright