How are recruits receiving the NDSM without being assigned overseas?

If you serve during a time of war....you get it

PFC Zanie Young There is no requirement to be deployed to earn this service medal. AR 600-8-2 Military Awards states:
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 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.

Sounds like someone needs to start studying for the board. Pretty sure it's covered in the big green book.

I got one of those because my ETS was 5 Aug 1990, three days after Iraq invaded Kuwait. About as useful as the I lived and breathed ribbon I got for completing basic.

1968, we told everyone (Navy) .. the blue was for the sea we never sailed, the red was for the blood I never bleed, and the yellow was for the big ole streak down our back

As a Drill Sergeant in FT. Jackson SC it was an honor for me to help the troops install their NDSM the night before graduation, and to teach them what it stood for and why they were receiving it.I was big on explaining what the step they had taken to become Soldiers really meant, and how serious that commitment was, and to take pride in their decision.

It's simple the Army above all other services like to build our racks of medals for all sorts of things. Finish basic here is a medal, oh other people are fighting a war even though you may not be here is a medal, oh you are moving bases here is a medal. It's part of the dog and pony show of the Army. Give a soldier a medal for anything and they will feel more pride and maybe work harder.

I was in from 1983 to 1992 in the guard, not on my service record. I have 7 months active duty. not deployed. Are you saying I should have one?

The NDSM was awarded even to Reserve recruits that served a minimum of six months on active duty. In the Corps we called it the "Fire watch Ribbon." "Blues for the waters we will never cross, whites for the eyes we will never see, reds for the blood we will never shed and the yellow is the reason why!" I have three, for Viet Nam, Desert Storm and Iraq/Afghanistan.

I retired with two stars on mine also. All it did was to reaffirm everyone's thoughts that the SGM was old.....lol