Posted on Oct 14, 2016
How are recruits receiving the NDSM without being assigned overseas?
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The NDSM is awarded for serviing in the armed forces during a time of war.
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Well, I received mine right out of basic training in 1967, so it is an ongoing thing.
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Sounds pretty self-explanatory to me... I was in '82-'85, (no official conflict), so I don't have one; had I stayed in past 2Aug1990, I would... simple.
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My question is if they signed up to defend this great nation then why not? I earned two the hard way. Still they signed that same check for up and including their life. Pin it on them.
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Well because it has nothing to do with being overseas.... The NDSM is for enlisting or serving during a time of War. You're thinking of the overseas service ribbon.
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PFC Zanie Young
I understand the difference between the overseas service ribbon and the NDSM, since I have both and the Army Service Ribbon. What confused me is someone who graduated basic training received the medal? The requirements were different when I was in. I didn't receive mine until I was on my way out of the Army after the ceasefire.
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I never saw it actually issued to anyone. We were simply told to get one and wear it when we were processing in at the reception station. In the old days it was sometimes the only medal that a person got.
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I'm asking this because I have a nephew in the regular army who doesn't think he received this yet, but I also have a niece who is in the Army Reserve who has one but has not been deployed as of yet.
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SPC (Join to see)
LTC Jason Mackay - I think I can understand why Sir, to an individual the cost isn't much. The ribbon itself I think is 80 cents and I got the ribbon/medal set for $7 or $8. However if the Army were to spend $8 per every new recruit and physically issue each one the medal the cost would be up there.
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LTC Jason Mackay
This should resolve the speculation. From AR 600-8-22
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.
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.
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LTC Jason Mackay
SPC (Join to see) - don't think it's really cost. They usually just don't. It is the least expensive of all the medals.
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CW4 (Join to see)
I left basic training with an Army Service medal (Feb 97). When I was a DS (AIT) from 04-06 all of our privates came from BCT with GWOT-S, NDSM, and Army service medal. All three should still be awarded after basic at this time. Your nephew and neice need to get on AKO, look up their ERB and OMPF and verify what awards they have listed there.
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For those who misread my question, the keyword is recruits, as someone in basic training. An update: My nephew, who is now a veteran, took the time to explain it to me. The requirements were different when I served, since I was already on active duty when I learned I received it. I didn't understand the current requirements until it was explained to me by my nephew. For those who answered my question satisfactorily, I thank you for explaining it to old soldier like me.
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