Description: Canon UEE valor decoration for extraordinary bravery.
Condition: Conspicuous courage under extreme risk with decisive mission or life-saving impact.
Awarded by: Fleet HQ (173rd submits nomination package; CO endorsement).
Eligibility: All ranks.
Difficulty: Near impossible.

Description: The 173rd’s highest unit citation for command judgment under fire.
Condition: Decisive leadership that preserved lives or mission when failure was likely.
Awarded by: Commanding Officer (Vice Admiral Jett), on XO/OIC recommendation.
Eligibility: All ranks in command roles (acting or appointed).
Difficulty: Very hard.

Description: Credit for high-risk precision actions (boarding, denial, rescue).
Condition: Successful special task with tight timelines and close contact.
Awarded by: Commanding Officer, on mission OIC recommendation.
Eligibility: All ranks.
Difficulty: Hard.

Description: Kept the mission alive through damage, outages, or heavy stress.
Condition: Completed objectives despite significant system degradation.
Awarded by: Commanding Officer, on engineering/CIC corroboration.
Eligibility: All ranks.
Difficulty: Hard.

Description: Planned or led effective multi-unit or inter-agency operations.
Condition: Demonstrated coordination across fleets/partners to mission success.
Awarded by: Commanding Officer (or designated OpCdr) post-operation.
Eligibility: All ranks in planning/lead roles.
Difficulty: Moderate–Hard.

Description: Defense of 173rd assets or civilians under direct threat.
Condition: Repelled attack on convoy, port, or ship with disciplined fires.
Awarded by: Commanding Officer, on AAR and evidence review.
Eligibility: All ranks.
Difficulty: Moderate–Hard.

Description: Sustained, reliable performance over a long deployment.
Condition: Consistent contribution across months of operations.
Awarded by: Commanding Officer, on OIC/XO review.
Eligibility: All ranks.
Difficulty: Moderate.

Description: Two-year honorable, productive service in good standing.
Condition: 24 months recorded service with positive lead/peer inputs.
Awarded by: Commanding Officer (administrative verification).
Eligibility: All ranks.
Difficulty: Moderate (tenure).

Description: One-year honorable, productive service in good standing.
Condition: 12 months recorded service with positive lead/peer inputs.
Awarded by: Commanding Officer (administrative verification).
Eligibility: All ranks.
Difficulty: Moderate (tenure).

Description: Six-month service milestone toward Meritorious Service.
Condition: 6 months honorable service with satisfactory conduct.
Awarded by: Commanding Officer (administrative verification).
Eligibility: All ranks.
Difficulty: Easy–Moderate (tenure).