Public Health Service Bicentennial Unit Commendation Award
{{short description|Decoration of the U.S. Public Health Service}}
{{use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox award
|name=Public Health Service {{nowrap|Bicentennial Unit Commendation Award}}
|image_size=
|caption=The obverse (left) and reverse sides of the medal.
|presenter=United States Public Health Service
|country=United States
|type=Service award
|eligibility=Members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
|awarded_for= Service during the bicentennial of the U.S. Public Health Service
|status=
|firstawarded=
|lastawarded=
|total_awarded=
|total_awarded_posthumously=
|total_recipients=
|individual=
|higher=Global Health Initiative Service Medal{{cite web|title=Wear of Awards and Badges|url=https://dcp.psc.gov/ccmis/ccis/documents/CCI_512.01.pdf|date=2 July 2020}}
|lower=Regular Corps Ribbon
|related=
|image2=106px
Ribbon of the PHS Bicentennial Unit Commendation Award
|caption2=
}}
The Public Health Service Bicentennial Unit Commendation Award is a decoration of the United States Public Health Service presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. It recognizes service during the bicentennial of the U.S. Public Health Service.
Criteria
The PHS Bicentennial Unit Commendation Award recognizes service during the bicentennial of the founding of the U.S. Public Health Service,[https://dcp.psc.gov/CCMIS/COAP/COAP_award_criteria_m.aspx#12 Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service: Commissioned Officers’ Awards Program Types of Recognition & Awards Criteria Accessed 9 November 2022]{{cite web|title=Commissioned Officers' Awards Program|url=https://dcp.psc.gov/ccmis/ccis/documents/CCI_511.01.pdf#8|publisher=Commissioned Officer Corps of the US Public Health Service|date=28 July 2020}} which the service traces to the creation of the United States Marine Hospital Service in 1798.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2011/01/17/congress-passes-socialized-medicine-and-mandates-health-insurance-in-1798/|title=Congress Passes Socialized Medicine and Mandates Health Insurance – In 1798|last=Ungar|first=Rich|work=Forbes|date=17 January 2011|access-date=25 February 2020}} Any USPHS Commissioned Corps officer who served satisfactorily on active duty for any period between 1 January 1998 and 16 July 1999 qualifies for the award.