§ 578.24 - Antarctica Service Medal.

(a) Criteria. The Antarctica Service Medal (ASM) was established by Public Law 86-600 (DA Bulletin. 3, 1960). It is awarded to any person who, after January 2, 1946 and before a date to be announced, meets any of the following qualifications:

(1) Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or civilian citizen, national, or resident alien of the United States who, is a member of a direct support or exploratory operation in Antarctica.

(2) Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or civilian citizen, national, or resident alien of the United States who participates in or has participated in a foreign Antarctic expedition in Antarctica in coordination with a United States expedition and who is or was under the sponsorship and approval of competent U.S. Government authority.

(3) Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who participates in or has participated in flights as a member of the crew of an aircraft flying to or from the Antarctic continent in support of operations in Antarctica.

(4) Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or civilian citizen, national, or resident alien of the United States who serves or has served on a U.S. ship operating south of latitude 60 degrees S. in support of U.S. programs in Antarctica.

(5) Any person, including citizens of foreign nations, not fulfilling any above qualification, but who participates in or has participated in a United States expedition in Antarctica at the invitation of a participating United States Agency. In such case, the award will be made by the Secretary of the Department under whose cognizance the expedition falls provided the commander of the military support force as senior U.S. representative in Antarctica considers that the individual has performed outstanding and exceptional service and shared the hardship and hazards of the expedition.

(b) Personnel who remain on the Antarctic Continent during the winter months will be eligible to wear a clasp or a disc as described below:

(1) A clasp with the words “Wintered Over” on the suspension ribbon of the medal:

(2) A 5/16 inch diameter disc with an outline of the Antarctic continent inscribed thereon fastened to the bar ribbon representing the medal.

(3) The appurtenances in paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section are awarded in bronze for the first winter, in gold for the second winter and in silver for personnel who “winter over” three or more times.

(c) Subsequent to June 1, 1973, minimum time limits for the award are 30 days under competent orders to duty at sea or ashore, south of latitude 60 degrees S. Each day of duty under competent orders at any outlying station on the Antarctic continent will count as 2 days when determining award eligibility. Effective July 1, 1987, flight crews of aircraft providing logistics support from outside the Antarctic area may qualify for the award after 15 missions (one flight in and out during any 24-hour period equals one mission). Days need not be consecutive.

(d) No person is authorized to receive more than one award of the ASM. Not more than one clasp or disc will be worn on the ribbon. Antarctica is defined as the area south of latitude 60 degrees S. The ASM takes precedence immediately after the Korean Service Medal.

(e) Description. The medal is bronze, 11/4 inches in diameter, with a view of a polar landscape and the standing figure in Antarctica clothing facing to the front between the horizontally placed words “ANTARCTICA” on the figure's right and “SERVICE” on the figure's left. On the reverse is a polar projection with geodesic lines of the continent of Antarctica across which are the horizontally placed words “COURAGE”, “SACRIFICE”, and “DEVOTION”, all within a circular decorative border of penguins and marine life. The Suspension Ribbon Clasp: On a metal clasp, 11/4 inches in width and 1/4 inch in height, inscribed with the words “WINTERED OVER” in raised letters within a 1/32 inch rim. The metal color of the clasp is Bronze for the first winter, Gold for the second winter and Silver for the third winter. The Service Ribbon Attachment: On a metal disc, 5/16 inch in diameter, a superimposed delineation of the Antarctica continent. The metal color of the ribbon attachment is Bronze for the first winter, Gold for the second winter and Silver for the third winter. The ribbon is 13/8 inches wide and consists of a 3/16 inch Black stripe on each edge and graded from a White stripe in the center to a Pale Blue, Light Blue, Greenish Blue, and Medium Blue.