FSH 6109.13 - PERFORMANCE, TRAINING, AND AWARDS HANDBOOK
6/88 R-1 SUPPLEMENT 2
CHAPTER 30 - INCENTIVE AWARDS
31- TYPES OF AWARDS
31.14 - Forest Service Awards
Regional Forester's Awards Program
The Regional Forester has established a series of special awards to recognize exceptional
performance or outstanding contributions and accomplishments to improve the efficiency and
quality of Forest Service administrative and resource programs in Region 1. The Regional
Foerster's Awards Program includes the following Awards:
1. Regional Forester's Honor Award
2. Regional Forester's Civil Rights/EEO Award
3. Regional Forester's Special Act or Service Award
4. Regional Forester's Citizens' Public Service Award.
Specific criteria for each award is as follows:
Regional Forester's Honor Award
Annually, the Regional Forester will present one or more special awards to Region 1 employees
or groups for exceptional contribution and accomplishment to improve the efficiency and quality
of Forest Service administrative and resource programs in Regional 1, including but not limited
to such areas as:
1. Environmental Protection.
2. Management Effectiveness and Improvement.
3. Safety and Health.
4. Heroic Action.
5. Support Personnel.
6. Unit Achievements.
7. Service Concept.
8. Resource Management.
FSH 6109.13 - PERFORMANCE, TRAINING, AND AWARDS HANDBOOK
6/88 R-1 SUPPLEMENT 2
Regional Forester's Civil Rights/EEO Award
Annually, the Regional Forester will present one or more special awards to Region 1 employees
or groups for exceptional contribution and accomplishment in the area of Civil Rights and Equal
Employment Opportunity within the Region, including, but not limited to such areas as:
1. Civil Rights compliance activities
2. Support of Equal Employment Opportunities
3. Affirmative Action achievements
4. Career development
5. Cooperative education
6. Federal Equal Opportunity Recruitment Program (FEORP)
7. Federal Women's Program
8. Handicapped Programs and Veterans Programs
9. Junior Fellowship Program
10. Native American/Hispanic Programs
11. Upward Mobility
12. Minority Business Contracting
13. Minority and Handicapped use of Forest Service facilities
14. Awareness Education
15. Public Involvement and Outreach Programs
The Honor Award and Civil Rights/EEO Award winners will normally be submitted as
candidates to the USDA Honor Awards Program.
Regional Forester's Special Act or Service Award
The Regional Forester will present Special Act or Service Awards to recognize the Region's top
managers and staff for excellence in contributing to outstanding management of the Region's
resources. These may include such awards as "Outstanding Forest Supervisor," "Outstanding
Ranger," Outstanding Staff," and Unit awards, such as "Land Ethic Award," "Best Safety
Record," and various other awards for special achievement.
Criteria for these awards include, but is not limited to:
1. An outstanding special act or service, contributing to the development, management,
and/or protection of the Region's resources, including human resources, soil productivity,
water quality, long term timber productivity, range, conditions, fisheries and wildlife
resources, fire hazard reduction, wilderness and recreational resources, and/or reduction in
insect and disease hazards.
2. Demonstrated concern for service to the Public as evidenced by outstanding external
relations.
3. Demonstrated exceptional flexibility in dealing with changing priorities and emerging
issues.
FSH 6109.13 - PERFORMANCE, TRAINING, AND AWARDS HANDBOOK
6/88 R-1 SUPPLEMENT 2
FSH 6109.13 - PERFORMANCE, TRAINING, AND AWARDS HANDBOOK
6/88 R-1 SUPPLEMENT 2
Regional Forester's Public Service Award
Annually, the Regional Forester will recognize one or more citizens or private organizations who
have worked diligently in support of Forest Service land management practices, often silently or
without appropriate recognition. Citizens and private organizations who have made a significant
contribution to the Forest Service multiple-use land management, administration, and protection
efforts should be considered for nomination.
Eligibility For Awards
All Region 1 employees in any grade, group, or Unit are eligible for the Regional Forester's
Honor Award, the Regional Forester's Civil Rights/EEO Award, and the Regional Forester's
Special Act or Service Awards.
Supervisor's, managers, EEO officers, EEO counselors, Federal Women's Program managers,
Hispanic Employment Program managers, and EEO managers are also eligible for the Civil
Rights/EEO Award if their contributions resulted in outstanding improvements.
Nominating and Selection Process
Nominations for the Regional Forester's Honor Award and Civil Rights/EEO Awards are due by
August 1, annually, in the Regional Office, Personnel Management. An Ad Hoc Committee will
be established by the Regional Forester to screen and recommend nominees for approval from
the nominations received.
Nominations for the Honor Award and the Civil Rights/EEO Awards are submitted on Form
AD-495, "Honor Award Nomination." These awards may be submitted for an individual, team,
task force, or working unit. Persons contributing to the same project need not be headquartered at
the same location.
Local Unit recognition of he employee's accomplishment does not preclude nomination for the
Regional Forester's Awards. Such local recognition if, in fact, encouraged prior to submission of
the nomination for these Awards. A nominee not selected for the Regional Forester's Honor
Award or the Civil Rights/EEO Award should be considered for recognition locally.
Nominations for the Regional Forester's Special Act or Service Awards will be made when
requested by the Regional Forester. Selection of recipients for the Regional Forester's Special
Act or Nominations should summarize the contribution or special achievement, highlighting the
environment or situation that makes this act or service uniquely outstanding.
Nominations for the Citizens Public Service Award may be made any time to the Regional
Forester. These nominations may be made by documenting in detail the outstanding
accomplishments/contributions of the citizen or private organization in outline format. A cover
letter signed by the Forest Supervisor or Staff Director, conveying support of the nomination,
should accompany the documentation.
FSH 6109.13 - PERFORMANCE, TRAINING, AND AWARDS HANDBOOK
6/88 R-1 SUPPLEMENT 2
Nominees will be evaluated and selected by the Regional Forester's Office.
Award Presentation Ceremonies
Awards will be presented by the Regional Forester in an appropriate ceremony. Recognition of
employees will consist of a plaque and a cash award. The amount of the award will be
commensurate with the value of the achievement. Unit awards will consist of a plaque.
Persons or organizations selected to receive the Public Service Award will receive a plaque in
recognition of their cooperative service.
Relationship to the USDA Honor Awards Program
The winners of the Regional Forester's Honor and Civil Rights/EEO Awards will normally be
included in the Region's nominations to the USDA Honor Awards Program each October.