A pleasant surprise

[AlphaSigOU]

Earhart #1257 (May 1982). The current numbering dates back to 1979. Earlier Mitchell and Earhart awards were not numbered (and if they were NHQ must have last count somewhere...

[DrKem]

Earhart #1257 (May 1982). The current numbering dates back to 1979. Earlier Mitchell and Earhart awards were not numbered (and if they were NHQ must have last count somewhere...

My Earhart dates from 1966 with the number 1105, however the certificate looks different from the current one. 

[DrKem]

[SarDragon]

Earhart #1257 (May 1982). The current numbering dates back to 1979. Earlier Mitchell and Earhart awards were not numbered (and if they were NHQ must have last count somewhere...

They were not numbered. My Mitchell dates from 1967.

[VNY]

They were not numbered. My Mitchell dates from 1967.

Mine is from 1976, still not numbered.

[DrKem]

I received both the Mitchell and the CoP on the same day.  Both were given for a very short period of time as I had earned the CoP days after the "New System" was unveiled.  My Mitchell award has no number on it and is called a Certificate of Proficiency.  I'll post both certificates.  It was a confusing time. 

[DrKem]

 

[MIKE]

I was wondering how you could have earned the CoP, Mitchell and Earhart.  I thought it was either or.

[DrKem]

I was wondering how you could have earned the CoP, Mitchell and Earhart.  I thought it was either or.

What is stranger, is that Col Paul C Ashworth signed the CoP and Col Joe L. Mason signed the Mitchell, both with the same issuance date.  Col Ashworth was National Commander through early 1964 and Col Mason was National Commander in late 1964.  I have always maintained that I earned the CoP in very early 1964 but that the paperwork was delayed.  Reading the documents from the era, there was a 6 month transition period from Jan-July 1964 from the old to the new awards systems.  That's probably why I am one of the very few to have earned both.