§ 578.36 - Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

(a) Criteria. The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) was established by Executive Order 12830, January 9, 1993. It may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States and their Reserve Components, who subsequent to December 31, 1992, perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature.

(b) To qualify for award of the MOVSM a service member's volunteer service must meet the following requirements:

(1) Be to the civilian community, to include the military family community.

(2) Be significant in nature and produce tangible results.

(3) Reflect favorably on the Military Service and the DOD.

(4) Be of a sustained and direct nature.

(c) While there is no specific time period to qualify for the MOVSM (for example, 500 hours of community service within 24 calendar months), approval authorities shall ensure the service to be honored merits the special recognition afforded by this medal. The MOVSM is intended to recognize exceptional community support over time and not a single act or achievement. Further, it is intended to honor direct support of community activities. For the purpose of this award, attending membership meetings or social events of a community service group is not considered qualifying service, while manning a community crisis action telephone line is considered qualifying service.

(d) Approval authority for award of the MOVSM will be commanders (overseas and CONUS (continental United States)) serving in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or higher. Before the recommendation is forwarded to the award approval authority, the recommender must certify that the service member meets the eligibility criteria for award of the MOVSM. Substantiating documentation, such as record of hours contributed, letters or certificates from activity supervisors, or other proof of the service member's volunteer services may be attached as enclosures to the recommendation.

(e) Description. The medal is Bronze, 13/8 inches in diameter bearing on the obverse, five annulets interlaced enfiled by a star and environed by a wreath of laurel. On the reverse is a sprig of oak between the inscription “OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE” at the top and “UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES” at the bottom. The ribbon is 13/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 1/8 inch Bluebird 67117; 1/8 inch Goldenlight 67107; 3/16 inch Bluebird; 1/16 inch Green 67129; 5/32 inch Goldenlight; center 1/16 inch Green; 5/32 inch Goldenlight; 1/16 inch Green; 3/16 inch Bluebird; 1/8 inch Goldenlight; and 1/8 inch Bluebird.