Life Saving Medal

[Flying Pig]

A few years ago, I was put in for a CAP Life Saving Medal by the Sq Comm (or at least I saw the form) for an action where I also received the Certificate of Valor and Life Saving Medal from my police department.  I was an active CAP member at the time.  He asked me for the Police Citations and obtained a statement from my Department regarding the incident.  How would I find out what happened?

[Stonewall]

A) Contact that squadron commander or the current personnel officer at the squadron to inquire the status, if known.

B) Contact National Headquarters (not sure exactly who) and have them check to see if any Life Saving Awards were issued during that timeframe that have your name on it.

To my knowledge, there is no list of recipients made public that you can reference.

[Nick]

Have the administrative officer initiate a tracer request.

A) Contact that squadron commander or the current personnel officer at the squadron to inquire the status, if known.

B) Contact National Headquarters (not sure exactly who) and have them check to see if any Life Saving Awards were issued during that timeframe that have your name on it.

Or that.

[DNall]

You can do it the right way & trace the request, which works fine if it's within the last year or so. Or you can do it fast & call HQ to see if they ever got or issued the request. Susie Parker is who you want to talk to there. She's pretty much knows everything you'll ever need from them & is in charge of half of it (the half that matters).

IF it didn't process, then resubmit. It's not that hard to get approved assuming you actually did the deed, and doesn't sound like there's any doubting that.

[Flying Pig]

This occurred in 2001.  I just never thought much about it.  I actually dont even know what he put me in for.  It may have never even left his desk.  I dont even remember the Sq. Cmdrs name.

[DNall]

Whatever, call & check. If it isn't there then resubmit. If he put you in for a bronze/siver medal then that might have gotten stuck in the chain, but lifesaving is almost automatic if you save a life (I said that already right, sorry).

[SarDragon]

IAW CAPR 39-3, para 5.:

All award recommendations must be submitted within 2 years of the termination date of the act, achievement, or service performed.

Emphasis mine. This included resubmissions to overcome black holes, etc.

[JC004]

Wing is the best bet, probably.  Wing issues Lifesaving certificates.  It only took 4 years to have mine in hand, but there's a number of reasons for that.  As if I care anyway...I wore my ribbons at the last wing conference, and before that, the previous wing conference.  Somehow I always get asked about it because it looks kinda like the Spaatz:

[Major Lord]

My son was submitted for a lifesaving medal ( A Spaatz Cadet, now active duty AF) after running out in the street and saving a high school student from being hit by a car. He was struck by the car in the process and sustained minor injuries. The facts were fairly well documented in the police report, but the award never made it through, and was not even downgraded. The filing just went into the paper work blackhole. I wish you luck in finding yours.

Capt. Lord

[Pylon]

My son was submitted for a lifesaving medal ( A Spaatz Cadet, now active duty AF) after running out in the street and saving a high school student from being hit by a car. He was struck by the car in the process and sustained minor injuries. The facts were fairly well documented in the police report, but the award never made it through, and was not even downgraded. The filing just went into the paper work blackhole. I wish you luck in finding yours.

Capt. Lord

Yet another victory for CAP in recognizing its volunteers   

[Major Lord]

The only life saving medals I know about ( there were probably lots more) were awarded to Wing Staff for saving the life of... Wing staff....

Capt. Lord

[ltcmark]

A few years ago, I was put in for a CAP Life Saving Medal by the Sq Comm (or at least I saw the form) for an action where I also received the Certificate of Valor and Life Saving Medal from my police department.  I was an active CAP member at the time.  He asked me for the Police Citations and obtained a statement from my Department regarding the incident.  How would I find out what happened?

If this was done while performing a duty as a paid professional, i.e. EMT, Sheriff, Police, etc.  Then CAP should not issue a Lifesaving Award.  Otherwise, every EMT would have a chest full of awards.  If you saved a life while not on duty, then the award should be approved. 

Wing is the approving authority on Lifesaving Awards.  Contacting NHQ would be a waste of time.  As someone who has worked on the wing awards committee, the recipient or originator needs to follow-up, follow-up, follow-up.  I know some wing personnel officers make decisions "on their own" and the paperwork dies with them and never makes it to the committee.  If an award if not approved then an explanation needs to be given by the disapproving authority. 

If this happened 6 years ago and you now want to get it, then the 24 month time frame comes into play, i.e no award.  A copy of the application and approved/disapproved CAPF 120 should have been put in your personnel file.  If wing keeps copies, they may have it also.  If not, you may be out of luck on this one.

As someone who is waiting on a Silver Medal of Valor, I know how frustrating it can be.  I have seen the Silver Medal of Valor awarded to people directing traffic or holding a fire extinguisher on a smoking tire, but in my case, I ran into a burning restaurant kitchen and lead 8 people out the back door.  I was even in uniform.  Now, a year and a half later, it is still tied up in politics at region and NHQ.  So much for taking care of your people.

[mikeylikey]

Wing is the best bet, probably.  Wing issues Lifesaving certificates.  It only took 4 years to have mine in hand, but there's a number of reasons for that.  As if I care anyway...I wore my ribbons at the last wing conference, and before that, the previous wing conference.  Somehow I always get asked about it because it looks kinda like the Spaatz:

Colgan....what were you chocking on at the time you saved your life?  BS perhaps!  Seriously 4 years wait......thats like "remember 4 years ago when you saved all those cats from that burning house, well heres another ribbon for you"

[Stonewall]

I've never really argued this, but I agree with mashcraft.

Not bragging here, just saying I was doing my job, but even as an 18 year old cadet I was a Volunteer Firefighter as well.  Inside of one year, I played a role in the saving of numerous lives as part of my duties.  I personally went into 3 separate burning structures, initially the were to search for people, then to put the fire out.  Not to mention the countless times I've done CPR to include bringing back 2 people, only for them to die later.

Since then, I've always maintained my EMT certification, yet never belonged to a VFD; just CAP.  In the past 16 years, I've stopped at numerous car accidents or medical emergencies.

In fact, 2 days ago one the way back from the doctor who diagnosed me with friggin pneumonia, I witnessed a car try to avoid a semi truck only to end up ON the guardrail/barrier that prevents cars from going into the marsh.  Her car was litterally teetering.  I removed the one year old baby and talked the mom into coming out through the passenger side.  I'm a police officer and EMT, it didn't cross my mind that I may or may not have been elligible for the Life Saving Award.

[Stonewall]

Does anyone have a write up for a life saving award I could read?  Would like to see how they're written up.

[JC004]

Wing is the best bet, probably.  Wing issues Lifesaving certificates.  It only took 4 years to have mine in hand, but there's a number of reasons for that.  As if I care anyway...I wore my ribbons at the last wing conference, and before that, the previous wing conference.  Somehow I always get asked about it because it looks kinda like the Spaatz:

Colgan....what were you chocking on at the time you saved your life?  BS perhaps!  Seriously 4 years wait......thats like "remember 4 years ago when you saved all those cats from that burning house, well heres another ribbon for you"

Lies.  I was not choking someone.  I was drowning them.  Get it straight.  You know these things.  It was a lot of work to make it look like I wasn't just trying to get a ribbon.  Sheesh.

It wasn't that the certificate was done 4 years later...it was done twice because it was lost by our highly-organized folks.  The second one was approved in 2001 (which is the 120 that I have in my file).  I got the certificate in 2003.  It was actually 3-point-something years, I believe - close to 4. 

[DNall]

I got a giant envelope with a half dozen blank lifesaving certs in it at Sq, I got no idea why, but they're just sitting there. I guess so you can just skip that tedious approval process & print your own.

[Flying Pig]

Its not a big deal, as you can see its 6 years later.  Just curious.  I had about a 3 years absence from CAP and was wondering if it was sitting on a shelf somewhere.

However, I dont think I necessarily agree with being a paid employee exempts you, otherwise Police and Fire wouldn't have medals, it would just be part of your job.  Now, for every time you do CPR? No.  But if your agency takes the first step, then I dont see why CAP couldnt consider it.

[DNall]

However, I dont think I necessarily agree with being a paid employee exempts you, otherwise Police and Fire wouldn't have medals, it would just be part of your job.  Now, for every time you do CPR? No.  But if your agency takes the first step, then I dont see why CAP couldnt consider it.

I would agree with that. I think the bar goes up a bit when it's your job, but saving a life is saving a life & the reg makes no distinction, despite there being fire/police/ems in the org when the award was created & ever since then. If someone ends up with a lifesaving medal stacked in clasps, then good for them.

As for the break, that may explain it. Try contacting your wing administrator or personnel officer to see if they can track it down. I assume it's not on your record in eServices. You can email susie parker like I said & ask her what you need to do to get it sorted out. She's been very helpful with me on my break in service issues & getting personnel records sorted out.

[Johnny Yuma]

The only life saving medals I know about ( there were probably lots more) were awarded to Wing Staff for saving the life of... Wing staff....

Capt. Lord

We had a cadet get one about 3 years ago after he pulled a woman and 3 kids out of a house on fire while he waited on the morning school bus. IMHO he should've been put in for a Silver Medal of Valor but all he got was the LSR.

Johnny Y.