§ 578.23 - National Defense Service Medal.

(a) Criteria. The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) was established by Executive Order 10448, April 22, 1953, as amended by Executive Order 11265, January 11, 1966 and Executive Order 12776, October 18, 1991. It is awarded for honorable active service for any period between June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954, both dates inclusive; between January 1, 1961 and August 14, 1974, both dates inclusive; between August 2, 1990 and November 30, 1995, both dates inclusive; and from September 11, 2001 to a date to be determined.

(1) For the purpose of this award, the following persons will not be considered as performing active service:

(i) Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve forces personnel on short tours of duty to fulfill training obligations under an inactive duty training program.

(ii) Any service member on temporary duty or temporary active duty to serve on boards, courts, commissions, and like organizations.

(iii) Any service member on active duty for the sole purpose of undergoing a physical examination.

(2) In addition to the conditions listed above, Executive Order 12776 extended award of the NDSM to all members of the Army National Guard and United States Army Reserve who were part of the selected Reserve in good standing during the period August 2, 1990 to November 30, 1995. During this period, soldiers in the following categories will not be considered eligible:

(i) Any soldier of the Individual Ready Reserve, Inactive National Guard or the standby or retired Reserve whose active duty service was for the sole purpose of undergoing a physical examination.

(ii) Any soldier of the Individual Ready Reserve, Inactive National Guard or the standby or retired reserve whose active duty service was for training only, or to serve on boards, courts, commissions and like organizations.

(3) On March 28, 2003, the President signed an amendment to Executive Order 10448 that extends the eligibility criteria for award of the NDSM to members of the selected Reserve of the Armed Forces of the United States in good standing during the period beginning September 11, 2001 to a date to be determined to be eligible for award of the NDSM.

(4) Any member of the Army National Guard or U.S. Army Reserve who, after December 31, 1960, becomes eligible for the award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Vietnam Service Medal, is also eligible for award of the NDSM. The NDSM may be awarded to members of the Reserve Component who are ordered to Federal active duty regardless of the duration (except for categories listed above).

(5) To signify receipt of a second or subsequent award of the NDSM, a service star will be worn on the service ribbon by U.S. Army personnel so qualified. Second or third award of the NDSM is authorized for soldiers who served in one or more of the three time periods as listed in paragraph (a) of this section. It is not authorized for soldiers who met the criteria in one time period, left active duty and returned during the same period of eligibility. (Service stars are described in § 578.61)

(6) Cadets of the U.S. Military Academy are eligible for the NDSM, during any of the inclusive periods listed above, upon completion of the swearing-in ceremonies as a cadet.

(7) The NDSM may be awarded posthumously.

(b) Description. On a Bronze medal, 11/4 inches in diameter, an eagle displayed with inverted wings standing on a sword and palm branch, all beneath the inscription “NATIONAL DEFENSE”. On the reverse is a shield taken from the Coat of Arms of the United States with an open wreath below it, the right side of oak leaves and the left side of laurel leaves. The ribbon is 13/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 7/16 inch Scarlet 67111; 1/32 inch White 67101; 1/32 inch Old Glory Blue 67178; 1/32 inch White; 1/32 inch Scarlet; center 1/4inch Golden Yellow 67104; 1/32 inch Scarlet; 1/32 inch White; 1/32 inch Old Glory Blue; 1/32 inch White; and 7/16 inch Scarlet.