Take time to honor retiring civilian employees Published Jan. 17, 2012 By Air Force District of Washignton Public Affairs AIR FORCE DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON -- Retirement is a momentous event in an employee's life. Just as there are numerous ways to commemorate the retirement of a military member from active duty, there are several recognition options available to present to Federal Civil Service employees who retire. Once the current round of VERA/VSIP is finalized many additional employees will be eligible for retirement. There are numerous ways to recognize their retiring employees. Civilian employees are eligible for one of two medals: The Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award and the Meritorious Civilian Service Award. The Civilian Career medal recognizes outstanding career service meriting recognition at the time of retirement. All Air Force civilian employees who demonstrated significant accomplishments, leadership, unusual competence, and significant impact upon the Air Force mission throughout their career are eligible. The Meritorious Civilian Service Award recognizes outstanding service to the Air Force in the performance of duties in an exemplary manner with command-wide impact. All Air Force civilian employees who performed their assigned duties for at least one year in an exemplary manner, setting a record of individual achievement and serving as an incentive to others to improve the quality and quantity of their work performance or exercise unusual initiative in devising new and improved work methods and procedures that resulted in a substantial savings in manpower, time, materials, or other items of expense or improved safety or health of employees or improved morale of workers in a unit which resulted in improvement of work performance and esprit de corps. For both medals, supervisors prepare a AF Form 1768 (Staff Summary Sheet) that includes the employee's full name, grade, duty title, organization, social security number, years of service, and any other information considered appropriate or useful, such as planned presentation date (if applicable). Justification should briefly outline highlights of the employee's career and clearly demonstrate eligibility for the award. Preparation of a citation is optional; however, a citation may be desired if a presentation ceremony will be held. Other items that may be prepared and/or ordered through Civilian Personnel for a civilian retirement include: Retirement Certificate: AF Form 342 Certificate of Appreciation for the Spouse: AF Form 342A Retirement Letter Retiree Lapel Button: Stock number 8445-01-345-2768 Aviation of the United States of America Flag Retirement letter signed by the President for those retirees with 30 years or more of service Retirement certificates and other items must be ordered. For more information on obtaining certificates and/or medals, contact the following AFDW/A1: Alicia Clement (240) 612-6608; Denise Tice (240) 612-5864.