DAF Form 1310A: Exceptional Civilian Service Certificate

DAF Form 1310A: Exceptional Civilian Service Certificate – The Department of the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service stands as the highest honorary award granted by the Secretary of the Air Force to civilian employees. It recognizes exceptionally meritorious service of major significance to the Department of the Air Force (DAF), including both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.

DAF Form 1310A serves as the official certificate for this prestigious decoration when two signature lines are required (typically for presentations involving senior DAF leadership). The standard DAF Form 1310 is used for the single-signature version. Both forms accompany the medal, ribbon, and lapel emblem.

What Is the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service?

This top-tier civilian award honors individuals (or groups) whose sustained contributions demonstrate profound, DAF-wide impact. Examples include developing improved methods or procedures, initiating revolutionary ideas, or delivering unprecedented achievements or benefits to the government. It typically requires at least one year of exceptional performance that clearly exceeds what others in similar roles accomplish.

The award often follows prior recognition, such as the Meritorious Civilian Service Award (DAF Form 1166), though exceptions may apply with strong justification. It underscores the critical role of DAF civilians in advancing mission success across scientific, technical, administrative, operational, and other fields.

Physical components of the award:

  • Gold-colored medal with the DAF coat of arms encircled by a laurel wreath.
  • Ribbon in dark blue with golden-orange accents.
  • Citation certificate (DAF Form 1310 or 1310A).
  • Optional lapel emblem (with ruby or diamond embellishments for subsequent awards).

The citation often includes a standard closing statement, such as: “The distinctive accomplishments of [Name] reflect the highest credit upon himself/herself and the Department of the Air Force.”

Who Is Eligible for DAF Form 1310A?

Eligibility is limited to current or former career DAF civilian employees (including U.S. Space Force civilians) as defined under 5 U.S.C. § 2105. Nominees must not be under investigation, have substantiated misconduct, or fall into excluded categories such as:

  • Political appointees
  • Non-career Senior Executive Service (SES) members
  • Schedule C employees
  • Contractors

Posthumous awards are permitted if the exceptional service occurred during employment, with the citation written in the past tense. Foreign nationals paid with U.S. funds may qualify for the non-monetary version. Group nominations are allowed when individual contributions are clearly distinguishable.

Note: This award is not typically given at retirement; the Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award (DAF Form 2856) is more appropriate for long-term career recognition upon separation.

How to Nominate Someone for the Award? (DAF Form 1310A Certificate)

Nominations follow guidance in DAFI 36-1004, Civilian Recognition Program (18 December 2023), which aligns with DoDI 1400.25, Volume 451.

Key steps in the nomination process:

  1. Initiation — A supervisor, commander, or any DoD civilian/military member with direct knowledge prepares the package. Self-nominations or endorsements by non-DoD personnel are not accepted.
  2. Package Contents:
    • AF Form 1768 (Staff Summary Sheet) or electronic equivalent.
    • One-page narrative justification (bullet format) detailing specific, measurable accomplishments with DAF-wide or national-level impact.
    • Proposed citation (Times New Roman, landscape, max 9 lines / 120 characters per line, no acronyms or quotations).
  3. Routing — Route through the chain of command for endorsements, typically to the MAJCOM/Field Command/DRU/FOA level, then electronically to AFPC/DP1SP for processing and validation.
  4. Approval — The Secretary of the Air Force holds final approval authority (with recommendations from the Secretary of the Air Force Decorations Board or Executive Resources Board for SES/political appointees). Nominations should be submitted within six months of the desired presentation date.
  5. Issuance — Upon approval, AFPC coordinates the medal, certificate (DAF Form 1310 or 1310A), and records update in the Defense Civilian Personnel Data System. Copies go to the servicing Civilian Personnel Office for MyBiz+ updates.

The two-signature-line version (DAF Form 1310A) is used when protocol requires signatures from two senior officials (e.g., Secretary and another leader).

Download official DAF Form 1310A:

These links provide access to the certificate template stocked and issued through official DAF channels (often via AF/A1S). Always use the most current version from e-Publishing.af.mil for compliance.

Presentation and Benefits

Approved awards are presented in formal ceremonies, often by senior leaders. The decoration motivates the civilian workforce, recognizes exceptional devotion to duty, and can be combined with monetary awards or time-off (up to applicable limits) as long as there is no duplication of recognition.

Records of the award are maintained in official personnel files, enhancing career progression and serving as a lasting testament to the recipient’s contributions to Air Force and Space Force missions.

The DAF civilian recognition program includes a tiered structure:

  • Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service (highest, DAF Form 1310/1310A)
  • Meritorious Civilian Service Award (DAF Form 1166)
  • Exemplary Civilian Service Award (DAF Form 3517)
  • Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award (DAF Form 2856)
  • Various valor, achievement, and length-of-service certificates

For full details, consult the latest DAFI 36-1004 available on the official Air Force e-Publishing site.

Why This Award Matters?

In an era of complex national security challenges, DAF civilians play indispensable roles in innovation, efficiency, and mission support. The Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service—documented on DAF Form 1310A when two signatures are needed—publicly affirms the highest standards of service and inspires others to strive for excellence.

For supervisors and HR professionals: Ensure nominations highlight quantifiable impacts and follow exact formatting and routing requirements to maximize approval chances.

If you are preparing a nomination package or need the official certificate for an approved award, download DAF Form 1310A directly from the provided links and coordinate with your local Civilian Personnel Section or AFPC for processing support.

This article is for informational purposes and is based on official Department of the Air Force publications as of the latest available guidance (DAFI 36-1004, December 2023). Always verify current procedures through official channels at e-publishing.af.mil or your servicing civilian personnel office.