ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Legion of Merit was established by Act of Congress (Public Law 671, 77th Congress) approved July 20, 1942, and by Executive Order 9260 signed on October 29, 1942, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. EFFECTIVE DATES Award of the Legion of Merit is retroactive to September 8, 1939. CRITERIA The Legion of Merit […]
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Service During a Period of National Emergency Historically military service in peacetime has been quite different from service during time of war. During peacetime personal risk, family separation, and other hardships are reduced, and military service is essentially a matter of training and preparation for war. Once war has been declared the major […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal was established when Secretary of the Navy Fred A. Korth approved National Naval Policy Board (1960) Report, promulgated by BUPERS Notice 1650 of June 25, 1962. Originally only a ribbon, the medal was authorized by Secretary of the Navy Paul H. Nitze on June 22, 1964. EFFECTIVE […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Navy Good Conduct Medal was established on April 26, 1869, by Secretary of the Navy A.E. Borie. EFFECTIVE DATES The original Navy Good Conduct Medal was in effect from 1870 to 1884. CRITERIA The first style Navy Good Conduct Medal was issued to any honorably discharged sailor who was recommended by his […]
MEDALS FOR RESERVE SERVICE (Index Page) ©2007, Foxfall Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved Members of the Reserve forces occupy a time-honored place in the American military tradition. They are unique because they typically straddle both civilian status and military service. In many cases members of the Reserve components serve for prolonged periods of time in […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Naval Reserve Medal was established by Secretary of the Navy James K. Paulding on September 12, 1938. EFFECTIVE DATES The Naval Reserve Medal was worn for qualifying service between September 12, 1938 and September 12, 1958. CRITERIA The Naval Reserve Medal was awarded to commissioned officers and enlisted members of the Naval […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal was established by Secretary of the Army Stanley R. Resor on March 3, 1971, and was implemented by Department of the Army General Orders Number 30 (1971). EFFECTIVE DATES The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal has been awarded for qualifying service from March 3, 1972 to the […]
Background Information War is extremely disruptive: the areas of combat operations typically experience servere damage to economic and agricultural resources as well as the collapse of economic and educational institutions. Indeed, the very fabric of society almost always suffers from severe damage and social disruption. This is why is not enough to win the war; […]
Background Information One of the most persistent problems in the development of the medals and ribbons since the end of the Second World War has been the absence of clear rules or principles that govern what should (or should not) be established. The medals listed in this section are clear examples of medals that should […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal was established by Rear Admiral William F. Reynolds, Commandant of the Coast Guard, on May 18, 1921. EFFECTIVE DATES The Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal has been awarded for qualifying service to enlisted members of the Coast Guard from May 17, 1920, to the present. CRITERIA The […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal was established by Secretary of the Navy Paul K. Spaulding on February 19, 1939 as the Fleet Marine Reserve Medal but was subsequently redesignated as the Organized Marine Corps Reserve Medal to conform to the provisions of the Naval Reserve Act of July 1, 1938, which changed […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal was established by Secretary of the Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert on April 1, 1964 as a ribbon award. It was converted to a medal on November 2, 1971 by Secretary of the Air Force Robert C. Seamans, Jr. EFFECTIVE DATES Award of the Air Reserve […]
ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY The Navy Good Conduct Medal was established on April 26, 1869, by Secretary of the Navy A.E. Borie. The transitional design of the Navy Good Conduct Medal followed from the original establishment of the Good Conduct Medal by the Secretary of the Navy in 1884, and the current Navy Good Conduct Medal evolved […]
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Over time the custom of wearing full-sized medals on everyday uniforms has largely ended. Today they are only worn on formal occasions. Instead of wearing full-sized medals, ribbon bars are worn in their place. These ribbons are usually worn over the left pocket and are mounted on bars in a specific order of […]
