Craig w1msg is incorrect. As a member of the USCG Aux myself, the auxiliary members are awarded certain active duty medals by local active duty commanders. The list he posted are auxiliary specific but doesn't list the active duty awards. Auxiliary members don't qualify for every active duty award; only some. He should read the regulation governing it before speaking. But I guess army guys only read picture books.
In my post I'm trying to ask if anyone knows of a regulation or program that covers it...sometimes there are obscure regs out there that are forgotten; such as, AF MARS members are granted access to MWR services on base. I know because I found through significant research the forgotten DoD Instruction and forgotten AF Instruction (which are still active) and used them to gain access to MWR services on base and at military recreation sites across the country.
As an active member of the AZ Highway Patrol (see my club on QRZ.com for K7DPS) I would not suggest impersonating and I don't want to give out an award if there isn't a regulation or program covering it. As the current AF State MARS director for AZ, I have members with over 40 years of service and who operated Goldwater's station during Vietnam; for which they were never recognized. One guy is 91 now and I don't expect time to be on his side. I do like the idea presented of an AF-issued Goldwater award for service for our veteran MARS members, like a specially designed lapel pin. I'm not a fan of paper certificates.
Overall, I was wondering if there was an award or recognition they would qualify for similar to the USCG where some active duty medals are awarded to auxiliary members. Membership in MARS has turned over greatly in the last few decades and institutional knowledge has left with them. As a result, when you ask questions you don't get answers and so you seek out answers yourself. Asking questions is a part of my research phase.
And while we're here, AF MARS still does provide a service. The AF MARS Phone Patch net is still operating 24/7/365 and is still providing several thousand air-to-ground phone patches for active duty, reserve, guard and other federal aircraft yearly. Yes it is a sit in front of the radio type job even with a graveyard shift. Is it a top secret or dangerous job, no. But those aircraft are using us as they have no other means to get their message through. In my job with the AZ Highway Patrol, our 911/Radio Dispatchers are equally and highly respected by myself and everyone in the field and we would never put them down as a group who "just sit in front of a radio" as the guys in the field would never be able to do their job without them.
As a side note: AF MARS members are eligible to join the Air Force Communicators and Air Traffic Controllers Association. http://www.afcommatc.org/ This is an organization similar to the AF Sergeants Assoc. or AF Officers Assoc, VFW etc. I found this out while doing research on another subject. Yes, I'm a member now. From their webpage:
"Our association is comprised of about 2,000 members (Communicators, Data Automation, Information/Cyber, Space Operations, Air Traffic Controllers, Air Field Managers, Maintenance, Engineering and Installation and related support personnel) who have served or are serving in any communications or air traffic control unit. (This includes those who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps) or hold or held a communications, data automation, information/cyber, air traffic control, maintenance, engineering and installation or related support skill set."