Posted on Oct 14, 2016
How are recruits receiving the NDSM without being assigned overseas?
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I'm sorry guys but why is there so much fuss about ribbons and medals? Anyone who served when the Army/Marines/Navy/AirForce were at risk to be in combat. So those who supported the men and women actually there need to be recognized. Those who were in actual combat should accept that they were able to work, fight and survive because of others. It's the same thing about the Bronze Star given to people who merely kept the guys in the field functioning, or maybe trying to keep them alive when they were shipped to field hospitals as needed. The combat troops know actual combat medals with "V" etc. Don't denigrate those who did what they were assigned to do and tried to do their best.
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TSgt (Join to see)
I agree with you about the bronzie. I was witness to an O-6 getting one for just doing his job, never leaving the wire, at Kirkuk (pissed me off). I identified a grounding fault that put $3 million at risk of possible destruction and a forward base going dark (telephone, computer, and satcom) I got nothing for what I did. Not even a, "Job well done." Everything was tied to the lightning arresting ground and I put the equipment onto their own grounding system. Just one lightning stroke and everything would have been fried.
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PFC Zanie Young
With respect, Sir, this is a question about newly graduated basic trainee receiving the medal. Thankfully, I asked my nephew, who is now a veteran, to clarify that for me. When I received mine, I was on my way out.
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The NDSM is awarded to the FORCE during times of conflict. It is not a combat related award. It is a service award and, as such, is awarded to all service members whether in direct combat, or in support either direct or indirect.
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It is awarded for serving during a time of war for which it is authorized. You don't have to be in theater, just in. I enlisted in '72, and we received ours just before boot camp graduation. Had I gone in theater, I would have received the Vietnam Service Medal.
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Well this is just another p.o.s. fancy dollar that you'll have to spend on your dress uniform, it is a fire watch ribbon, given to anyone who serves during a declared conflict. Desert storm for example, or OIF/OEF is one single conflict not 2. So for example I joined the USMC in 1995, but I was one month shy of getting the fire watch ribbon, then I served overseas in 2001 through 2014 multiple deployments a year at a time and therefore I only get 1 NDSR OR FIRE WATCH RIBBON, yet any recruit that attended basic or bootcamp during that time receives the same medal, because they served during that time. A bronze star would mean a separate conflict... For example desert storm vet, then deployed to OIF or OEF. 2 separate conflicts witch is not impossible. Having 2 bronze stars would mean you were in 3 separate conflicts, such would put someone dated back quite a while, meaning about 40 plus years of service and that is impressive. The reality is if you put faith in ribbons and medals, you are probably in the wrong business. It costs 4-6 dollars to buy one these today, so when its time to do the dog and pony, the gov. Ain't exactly caring about how you got them. Here's one more for you. I was young once, and oh was purple heart a big deal listening to the stories of my grandfather and father, etc. The purple heart is not a trophy... It is not something you want to win, it is a sign of "you had a really fucked up shitty day and were less lucky than the Bastard next to you..."
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Seem to recall this and the "Alive in 65" as my only 2 ribbons for many years up until I deployed to Vietnam theater.
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SGT Randall Smith
My son looks at mine sometimes, they are on the wall, and ask why I don't have a lot of ribbons like my dad did. Explain to him that my dad had 4 purple hearts, service in Germany in WW2, and later service in Korea. He was a T-Sgt in Germany and came home from Korea a Capt.
On my Viet Nam Campaign ribbon I have 3 stars and my brother has 2. But he had the CIB and his Flash. Son laughs at my Good Conduct ribbon. he does not know how many did not receive one.
I have about 8 ribbons and all they mean is I did my job and did it well enough to survive and come home.
On my Viet Nam Campaign ribbon I have 3 stars and my brother has 2. But he had the CIB and his Flash. Son laughs at my Good Conduct ribbon. he does not know how many did not receive one.
I have about 8 ribbons and all they mean is I did my job and did it well enough to survive and come home.
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I received the NDSM shortly before taking the formal picture in RTC. Anyone who enlists during a time of conflict is authorized this medal. Should we find ourselves in a time of peace and then return to another conflict, anyone with the NCSM will receive a star in lieu of their second award.
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I was in Korea 81-82 and Germany 86-90, both during times when we weren't at war. Until I served in Desert Storm I wasn't eligible for the NDSM.
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Overseas service has nothing to do with eligibility to receive the NDSM. AR 600-8-22 delineates quite clearly who is/is not authorized the National Defense Service Medal. I quote it here:
2–10. National Defense Service Medal
a. The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) was established by Executive Order (EO) 10448, 22 April 1953, as amended by EO 11265, 11 January 1966; EO 12776, 18 October 1991, as amended by EO 13293, 28 March 2003 and Secretary of Defense Memorandum, dated 26 April 2002; and EO 13293, dated 28 March 2003.
b. It is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954, both dates inclusive; between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974, both dates inclusive; between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995; and from 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. During these periods, service members in the following categories will not be eligible for the NDSM:
(1) Members of the Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve on short tours of duty to fulfill training obligations under an inactive duty training (IDT) program.
(2) Any service member on temporary duty (TDY) or temporary active duty (TAD) to serve on boards, courts, commissions, and like organizations.
(3) Any service member on active duty for the sole purpose of undergoing a physical examination.
c. Honorable service as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States for any period between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995 and 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. Service members on active duty, members of the Selected Reserve in good standing, and members of other than the Selected Reserve who were called to active duty will also be eligible. During these periods, service members in the following categories will not be considered
eligible for the NDSM:
(1) Any service member on active duty for the sole purpose of undergoing a physical examination.
(2) 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.
d. Notwithstanding these limitations, any member of the United States Coast Guard or the Reserve or Guard Forces of the Armed Forces who, between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974, became eligible for award of either the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Vietnam Service Medal or between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995, became eligible for award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal will be eligible for award of the NDSM.
e. 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. A second or third award of the NDSM is authorized for Soldiers who served in one or more of the four time periods listed in a above. 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. (See chap 6 for service stars.)
f. 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.
g. The NDSM may be awarded posthumously.
The regulations are there for a reason, and as an up and coming soldier, it will do you good to familiarize yourself with some of these intimately. I suggest you familiarize yourself intimately with AR's 350-1 (Army Tng and Ldr Dev), 600-25 (Salutes, Honours, and Visits of Courtesy), 600-100 (Army Leadership), 670-1 (Uniforms and Appearance), and later on [should you stay on] 623-205 (NCOER System). It's not important that you be able to spout chapter and verse of these Regs (although you eventually will be able to with some regs), but more that you know where the Regs are and what they cover. AKO has a great portal which gives you access to the most up to date Regs out there. FM's also. The more you're exposed to these now, the better prepared you'll be for when you hit WLC, ALC, and SLC.
Mind you, Army Regs will always provide you the guidance you seek, as they are the distilled and codified experience spanning 200+ years. :)
2–10. National Defense Service Medal
a. The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) was established by Executive Order (EO) 10448, 22 April 1953, as amended by EO 11265, 11 January 1966; EO 12776, 18 October 1991, as amended by EO 13293, 28 March 2003 and Secretary of Defense Memorandum, dated 26 April 2002; and EO 13293, dated 28 March 2003.
b. It is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954, both dates inclusive; between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974, both dates inclusive; between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995; and from 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. During these periods, service members in the following categories will not be eligible for the NDSM:
(1) Members of the Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve on short tours of duty to fulfill training obligations under an inactive duty training (IDT) program.
(2) Any service member on temporary duty (TDY) or temporary active duty (TAD) to serve on boards, courts, commissions, and like organizations.
(3) Any service member on active duty for the sole purpose of undergoing a physical examination.
c. Honorable service as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States for any period between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995 and 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. Service members on active duty, members of the Selected Reserve in good standing, and members of other than the Selected Reserve who were called to active duty will also be eligible. During these periods, service members in the following categories will not be considered
eligible for the NDSM:
(1) Any service member on active duty for the sole purpose of undergoing a physical examination.
(2) 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.
d. Notwithstanding these limitations, any member of the United States Coast Guard or the Reserve or Guard Forces of the Armed Forces who, between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974, became eligible for award of either the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Vietnam Service Medal or between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995, became eligible for award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal will be eligible for award of the NDSM.
e. 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. A second or third award of the NDSM is authorized for Soldiers who served in one or more of the four time periods listed in a above. 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. (See chap 6 for service stars.)
f. 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.
g. The NDSM may be awarded posthumously.
The regulations are there for a reason, and as an up and coming soldier, it will do you good to familiarize yourself with some of these intimately. I suggest you familiarize yourself intimately with AR's 350-1 (Army Tng and Ldr Dev), 600-25 (Salutes, Honours, and Visits of Courtesy), 600-100 (Army Leadership), 670-1 (Uniforms and Appearance), and later on [should you stay on] 623-205 (NCOER System). It's not important that you be able to spout chapter and verse of these Regs (although you eventually will be able to with some regs), but more that you know where the Regs are and what they cover. AKO has a great portal which gives you access to the most up to date Regs out there. FM's also. The more you're exposed to these now, the better prepared you'll be for when you hit WLC, ALC, and SLC.
Mind you, Army Regs will always provide you the guidance you seek, as they are the distilled and codified experience spanning 200+ years. :)
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