National Defense Service Medal - NDSM
National Defense Service Medal (NDSM)
Instituted: 1953
Qualifying Dates: 1950-54 (Korean War period), 1961-74 (Vietnam War
Period) , 1990-95 (Persian Gulf War Period), 2001-TBD (War on Terror
period)
Criteria: 120 consecutive days of service participating in, or any honorable active
duty service during any of the above periods
Devices: Bronze Star, Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Notes: Re-instituted in 1966, 1991 and 2001 for Vietnam, Southwest Asia (Gulf War) and Iraq/Afghanistan actions respectively
Overview and History
The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) was initially
authorized by executive order on April 22, 1953. It is awarded to
members of the U.S. Armed Forces for any honorable active federal
service during the Korean War (June 27, 1950 - July 27, 1954), Vietnam
War (January 1, 1961- August 14, 1974), Desert Shield/Desert Storm
(August 2, 1990 - November 30, 1995) and/or Operations Iraqi Freedom and
Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) (September 11, 2001 to a date TBD).
President Bush issued an Executive Order 12776 on October 8, 1991
authorizing award of the medal to all members of the Reserve forces
whether or not on active duty during the designated period of the Gulf
War. The latest award of the medal was promulgated in a memo, dated
April 2, 2002, from the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Mr.
Paul Wolfowitz who authorized the award to all U.S. Service Members on
duty on or after September 11, 2001 to a date TBD. Today, there are
probably more people authorized this medal than any other award in U.S.
history. Circumstances not qualifying as active duty for the purpose of
this medal include: (1) Members of the Guard and Reserve on short
tours of active duty to fulfill training obligations; (2) Service
members on active duty to serve on boards, courts, commissions, and
like organizations; (3) Service members on active duty for the sole
purpose of undergoing a physical examination; and (4) Service members
on active duty for purposes other than extended active duty. Reserve
personnel who have received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the
Vietnam Service Medal are eligible for this medal. The National
Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is also authorized to those individuals
serving as cadets or midshipmen at the Air Force, Army or Naval
Academies.
The front of the medal shows the American bald eagle with inverted
wings standing on a sword and palm branch and contains the words,
“NATIONAL DEFENSE”; the reverse has the United States shield amidst an
oak leaf and laurel spray. Symbolically, the eagle is the national
emblem of the United States, the sword represents the Armed Forces and
the palm is symbolic of victory. The reverse contains the shield from
the great seal of the United States flanked by a wreath of laurel and
oak representing achievement and strength. The ribbon has a broad
center stripe of yellow representing high ideals. The red, white and
blue stripes represent the national flag. Red for hardiness and valor,
white for purity of purpose and blue for perseverance and justice. No
more than one medal is awarded to a single individual, but a
three-sixteenth inch diameter bronze star denotes an additional award of
the medal.