Award Nominations

NOMINATION & APPROVAL PROCESS

The Call To Honor Awards & Recognition Program is designed to ensure that EMS and public safety professionals receive recognition in a manner that is fair, objective, and reflective of the highest standards of valor, service, and excellence. To maintain integrity and consistency, the nomination and approval process follows a structured framework similar to military award review procedures, ensuring that each nomination is thoroughly vetted and appropriately awarded.

STEP 1: NOMINATION

Any individual or organization may submit a nomination for an award. Nominations can be made by:

EMS personnel, fire departments, law enforcement, or public safety agencies.
Supervisors, medical directors, or leadership within EMS and fire services.
Community members who

A complete nomination must include:

Nominee’s full name, agency, and role.
Award category being nominated for.
A detailed account of the actions, achievements, or contributions that justify the nomination.
Supporting documentation (if applicable), such as dispatch logs, patient care reports, testimonials, or media coverage.
Contact information of the nominator for follow-up.

Nominations must be submitted via the online RECOMMENDATION FOR AWARD form or official nomination packet (MCA Form 700) to the Awards Committee by the designated deadline each year.

SUBMIT A NOMINATION NOW

STEP 2: INITIAL REVIEW & VALIDATION

Upon submission, the MCA Awards Committee will:

Verify the accuracy and validity of the nomination details.
Cross-check EMS records, patient care reports, or dispatch logs where applicable.
Contact the nominator or other relevant individuals for additional information or clarification.

For CPR Save Awards and Stork Awards, recipients will be automatically identified through dispatch logs and patient care reports. If a recipient is not identified through this method but is believed to be eligible, they may submit a nomination following the standard process.

STEP 3: COMMITTEE REVIEW & VOTING

The MCA Awards Committee, composed of medical directors, EMS leadership, and senior public safety officials, will:

Review all validated nominations and assess them against established award criteria.
Evaluate the merit of each nomination, ensuring the actions meet the standard of the proposed award.
Vote on award approval or adjustment to ensure recognition is consistent, fair, and reflective of established precedent.

Award Adjustments & Downgrades

If a nominee’s actions meet award criteria but do not rise to the level of the submitted award, the committee reserves the right to downgrade the award to a lesser distinction.
This ensures that awards of higher distinction (e.g., Medal of Valor, Distinguished EMS Cross) are only conferred in truly exceptional circumstances, maintaining the integrity of each recognition level.
Nominators will be notified if an award downgrade occurs and will have the opportunity to appeal the decision with additional supporting documentation if desired.

Awards that are rarely given (such as the Medal of Valor or Distinguished EMS Cross) will undergo an additional level of review to ensure the actions meet the extraordinary nature of these recognitions.

STEP 4: FINAL APPROVAL & AWARD ISSUANCE

Once recipients are approved, the Medical Director will provide final authorization for award issuance.

Award citations will be drafted to formally document the recipient’s actions and service.
Recipients will be notified of their selection, and arrangements will be made for formal award presentations.

For MCA Challenge Coins and informal recognitions, MCA leadership retains discretionary authority to issue coins at their own judgment, independent of the formal award process.

STEP 4: PRESENTATION & PUBLIC RECOGNITION

Awards will be presented at appropriate venues such as:

An annual EMS awards ceremony
Departmental or agency meetings
Community events or county commission meetings
Special circumstances where immediate recognition is warranted.

Recipients may also receive media acknowledgment, certificates, or press releases depending on the award level.

APPEALS PROCESS

If a nomination is denied or is downgraded, nominators may or request reconsideration for the following year.
Awards are not guaranteed to be given each year - if no deserving nominee meets the criteria, an award may not be issued to preserve the distinction of each recognition.

This process ensures that all awards are vetted with rigor and fairness, maintaining the highest level of integrity and prestige.

RECOMENDATION FOR AWARD

RECOMMENDATION FOR AWARD

MCA FORM 701

AUTHORITY: Michigan Public Health Code, Part 209; Muskegon County Medical Control Authority Bylaws; and the Call to Honor Awards Program, as adopted by the MCMCA Board.

PURPOSE: To consider individual or team nominations for recognition under the Call to Honor Awards Program; record final action; and maintain a permanent record of award recipients.

ROUTINE USES: Information provided may be used for award verification, publication of award recipients, or internal quality assurance review by the Awards Committee. Limited identifying information may be shared with affiliated agencies of the media for the purpose of recognizing honorees.

DISCLOSURE: Submission of personally identifiable information is voluntary; however, incomplete information may delay or prevent processing of the nomination.

PART I - NOMINEE INFORMATION

Instructions: Enter the nominee's full name, agency, license level, and any previous awards. This information identifies the individual or team being nominated. Please verify spelling and agency name exactly as it should. If the award is to nominate an agency, please include the agency operations director or equivalent as the nominee.

AGENCY NAME

DATE OF SUBMISSION

LAST NAME

FIRST NAME

LICENSE LEVEL

IF OTHER, PLEASE SPECIFY

PREVIOUS AWARDS

PART II - RECOMMENDER INFORMATION

Instructions: Provide your contact details so the Awards Committee may verify or clarify the nomination. Include your rank or position, organization, and a valid email address.

LAST NAME

FIRST NAME

ORGANIZATION

POSITION / RANK

E-MAIL

PHONE

PART III - RECOMMENDED AWARD (CHOOSE ONLY ONE)

Instructions: Select the award category that best fits the nominee's achievement. Review award descriptions on the Call to Honor website before choosing. Only one category may be selected per submission.

The Awards Committee will review all nominations for accuracy, completeness, and appropriate classification. The committee reserves the authority to approve, downgrade, upgrade, or disapprove any recommendation submitted. Recommendations may be reassigned to a more appropriate award level or declided if they do not meet established criteria. This process ensures fairness, consistency, and the integrity of the Call to Honor Awards Program.

Individual Medals for Valor

Medals for Valor

Individual Medals for Merit

Medals for Merit

Civilian and Allied Force Medals

Civilian and Allied Force Medals

Annual Provider and Agency Awards

Annual Provider and Agency Awards

Incident Specific Recognitions

Incident Specific Recognition

PART IV - JUSTIFICATION

Instructions: Please provide a detailed description of the incident, actions, and outcomes that justify the nomination. Include specific dates, events, and measurable impacts. Attach any supporting documentation (e.g., patient care reports, dispatch logs, witness statements, media coverage).

Use Clear, factual language. Avoid abbreviations unless commonly understood in EMS.

INCIDENT DATE

INCIDENT # (IF APPLICABLE)

ACHIEVEMENT #1

ACHIEVEMENT #2

ACHIEVEMENT #3

ACHIEVEMENT #4

PART V - PROPOSED CITATION

Instructions: Provide a clear, concise, and dignified summary of the nominee's actions or service that led to this award. The proposed citation should be written in formal language suitable for inclusion on the official award certificate and for public reading during the ceremony.

The citation should typically consist of one to three sentences, beginning with a phrase such as "For distinguished service..." or "For demonstrating exceptional courage and dedication..." Avoid excessive detail or technical language; focus on the essence of the achievement, its impact, and the values it represents.

The Awards Committee reserves the right to edit or refine the citation to ensure consistency, accuracy, and appropriateness for formal presentation.

PROPOSED CITATION

PART VI - SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Instructions: Check all documents types included and upload relevant files. Supporting documentation strengthens the nomination and may include reports, statements, or media verifying the nominee's actions.

UPLOAD ANY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, AFFIDAVITS OR PROOF OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

PART VII - NOMINATION CERTIFICATION

By signing below, I certify that the information provided is accurate and truthful to the best of my knowledge, I understand that the Call to Honor Awards Committee may verify the details submitted and adjust the nomination as needed to ensure fairness and consistency in award distribution.

Signature

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