Awards

MG Horatio Gates Honorary

Purpose:  To recognize the distinguished service and extraordinary achievements of individuals who promote the objectives and purposes of the Adjutant General’s Corps mission as set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association.

Eligibility:  Nominees must meet all of the following:

  • Military Rank or Position: Senior Officers - Lieutenant Colonel and above, Senior Warrant Officers - Chief Warrant Officer Four and above, Senior Noncommissioned Officers - Master Sergeant and above, and Senior Civilians - GS-13 in Supervisory role and above.
  • Nominee is not an AGCRA member.
  • Nominee is not a member of the Adjutant General’s Corps or otherwise affiliated with the AG Corps at the time of nomination.

Nomination Requirements:  To be considered for the MG Horatio Gates Honorary Medal, nominees must:

  • Not have previously received the MG Horatio Gates Honorary Award Medal (award is one‑time only).
  • The recommender’s affiliated Chapter President must endorse the recommendation.

Award Criteria:  The MG Horatio Gates Honorary Award Medal recognizes:

  • Sustained, exceptional service that benefits the Adjutant General’s Corps.
  • Extraordinary achievements that significantly advance the AG missions, programs, or readiness.
  • Meaningful, measurable contributions in support of the AGCRA.

Examples of qualifying distinguished achievement or service contributions include:

  • Advancing HR innovation - Introducing, developing, or significantly supporting new methods, improved techniques, or innovative practices that increase the efficiency, effectiveness, or professional proficiency of the United States Army Adjutant General’s Corps.
  • Strengthening professional dialogue - Creating or enhancing forums for the exchange of ideas, discussion of emerging issues, and dissemination of information relevant to the AG Corps and the HR community.
  • Promoting esprit-de-corps and tradition - Fostering cooperation, professional pride, and the preservation of the Adjutant General’s Corps customs, values, and heritage.
  • Enhancing leadership and readiness - Contributing to leadership development and improving military preparedness in support of the Army’s Adjutant General’s Corps impact on the national defense mission.
  • Improving AG Corps functional domains - Making measurable improvements in personnel, administration, and human resources management, including postal operations, casualty operations, recruiting, retention, talent acquisition, and Army Music.
  • Preserving Corps history - Researching, documenting, and sustaining an understanding of the history, lineage, and legacy of the Adjutant General’s Corps and the Association.

History:  Major General Horatio Gates, the first Adjutant General of the Continental Army, helped establish the administrative discipline and organizational foundations that continue to define the Adjutant General’s Corps. A British‑born officer who cast his lot with the American cause, Gates emerged as a pivotal leader during the Revolutionary War.

Congress awarded him a Gold Medal—one of the earliest such honors in American history - in recognition of his victories at the Battles of Bennington, Fort Stanwix, and Saratoga. These three engagements proved decisive, halting the British advance into the strategic Hudson Valley and preventing the isolation of New England from the other colonies. The triumph at Saratoga in 1777, in particular, marked a turning point in the war and strengthened the unity and resolve of the Continental forces.

A replica of Gates’ original Congressional Gold Medal continues to honor his service, leadership, and enduring influence. Within the Adjutant General’s Corps, he is remembered as the Corps’ earliest exemplar of strategic leadership, organizational discipline, and the essential role of effective human resources stewardship in sustaining the Army’s mission.

Cost: $50.00, paid by the Recommending Authority.

The price includes the full Medal Set and standard shipping (First Class or Priority).

Important Information:

  • Award medals and certificates will not be shipped until the nomination is formally approved by the AGCRA NEC Awards Committee.
  • Before purchasing any AGCRA medal set, the Recommending Authority must confirm award approval by contacting the NEC VP, Awards at Awards@agcra.com.
  • Payment should be made through the AGCRA Sutler Store awards link using a credit or debit card, which is the preferred method.
  • Alternative payment methods may be approved on a case‑by‑case basis.
  • If expedited, Express, or Overnight shipping is required, the Recommending Authority is responsible for the additional cost. For expedited shipping arrangements, contact Awards@agcra.com for details.

You may purchase the Medal Set and Shipping at the following link: MG Horatio Gates Honorary Medal.

Recommending Procedures: Any person having firsthand knowledge of an individual’s achievement and/or service which meets the above criteria can recommend that individual for this award. Using the AGCRA award nomination form (AGCRA Awards Nomination Form), award recommendations will be forwarded by email (preferred method) to the member’s Chapter VP, Awards for processing.  The award recommendation must arrive as soon as possible but no later than 30 days prior to the requested presentation date in order to ensure expeditious and efficient processing. The Chapter will submit the nomination to the AGCRA Awards Team at Awards-Team@agcra.com.

Exceptions apply only to recommendations in deployed locations without an active Chapter.

Approval Process:  The member’s Chapter President will review and endorse all MG Horatio Gates Award Medal recommendations. If there is not an active Chapter in your area, the nearest senior Adjutant General official (Soldier or DA Civilian) will endorse the recommendation. Afterwards, the award recommendation will be forwarded to the NEC VP, Awards for processing and approval consideration.  The NEC Awards Committee will review award recommendations and base their vote on the merits of the achievement(s) and service.  For the approval of the recommendation, a simple majority of the members of the Awards Committee present and voting is required. The AGCRA NEC Awards VP, has disapproval authority for any MG Horatio Gates award recommendation that does not meet eligibility or criteria requirements.

Certificates for approved recommendations will be provided to the President of the Association for authenticating signature.  When signed, the certificate and medal will be mailed to the recommending authority.

Announcement:  Award recipients will be published in “1775″ and on the official AGCRA website.

Presentation:  Presentation of medals and certificates will be made with an appropriate air of formality and at fitting ceremonies such as AG Balls, anniversary celebrations of the Adjutant General’s Corps, or Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association Chapter activations, activities, or retirement ceremonies.

Recording:  All awards will be recorded by entering the recipient’s name, rank, and unit in a database maintained by the Association VP for Awards.  This database will be reviewed as part of the approval process.

Revocation:  In the unlikely event that information becomes known that a fraudulent award has been made, or dishonorable conduct is substantiated, the NEC can revoke this award, annotate the database, and notify the individual of the action.