Posted on Mar 28, 2019
Is the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal to be worn after the award of Humanitarian Service Ribbon?
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In AR 600-8-22, 2-23 e (6) according to regulation is the MOVSM is to be worn immediately after HSM? Is this saying if you receive the HSM it is automatic? Your thoughts.
2–23. Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
a. The MOVSM was established by EO 12830, 9 January 1993, as amended by EO 13286, 28 February 2003. It
may be awarded to Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States and their RCs who, subsequent to 31
December 1992, perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct, and consequential nature.
b. To qualify for award of the MOVSM a Servicemember’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 Army and DOD.
(4) Be of a sustained and direct nature.
c. There is no specific time period to qualify for award of the MOVSM; however, volunteer service must exceed 3
years and/or 500 hours of service. Approval authorities will 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) serving in the rank of
AR 600–8–22 • 25 June 2015 41
lieutenant colonel (LTC/O–5) 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. The rules for processing award of the MOVSM are as follows:
(1) Recommendations for award of the MOVSM will be submitted through official military channels using memorandum format. The MOVSM template is available at https://www.hrc.army.mil//tagd/awards/%20AND%20Decorations%20Templates.
(2) The Soldier’s commander will certify that the eligibility requirements have been met and that the service was
honorable throughout the award period.
(3) When contemplating award of the MOVSM, the following issues should be taken into consideration:
(a) Service member must be performing services on a voluntary basis, not detailed or tasked.
(b) Services performed may not be part of any military mission (for example a unit project), and may not result in
any personal gain for the Service member.
(4) No more than one MOVSM will be awarded to any Service member. For subsequent periods of community
service justifying award of the medal, a bronze service star will be worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the
medal (see para 6–8 for further information on the bronze service star).
(5) The MOVSM may be awarded posthumously.
(6) The MOVSM will be worn immediately after the HSM.
(7) The MOVSM is categorized as a service medal and, as such, no orders are issued to announce its approval. In
addition, there is no award certificate for the MOVSM.
(8) The MOVSM is not authorized for foreign personnel.
2–23. Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
a. The MOVSM was established by EO 12830, 9 January 1993, as amended by EO 13286, 28 February 2003. It
may be awarded to Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States and their RCs who, subsequent to 31
December 1992, perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct, and consequential nature.
b. To qualify for award of the MOVSM a Servicemember’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 Army and DOD.
(4) Be of a sustained and direct nature.
c. There is no specific time period to qualify for award of the MOVSM; however, volunteer service must exceed 3
years and/or 500 hours of service. Approval authorities will 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) serving in the rank of
AR 600–8–22 • 25 June 2015 41
lieutenant colonel (LTC/O–5) 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. The rules for processing award of the MOVSM are as follows:
(1) Recommendations for award of the MOVSM will be submitted through official military channels using memorandum format. The MOVSM template is available at https://www.hrc.army.mil//tagd/awards/%20AND%20Decorations%20Templates.
(2) The Soldier’s commander will certify that the eligibility requirements have been met and that the service was
honorable throughout the award period.
(3) When contemplating award of the MOVSM, the following issues should be taken into consideration:
(a) Service member must be performing services on a voluntary basis, not detailed or tasked.
(b) Services performed may not be part of any military mission (for example a unit project), and may not result in
any personal gain for the Service member.
(4) No more than one MOVSM will be awarded to any Service member. For subsequent periods of community
service justifying award of the medal, a bronze service star will be worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the
medal (see para 6–8 for further information on the bronze service star).
(5) The MOVSM may be awarded posthumously.
(6) The MOVSM will be worn immediately after the HSM.
(7) The MOVSM is categorized as a service medal and, as such, no orders are issued to announce its approval. In
addition, there is no award certificate for the MOVSM.
(8) The MOVSM is not authorized for foreign personnel.
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
Absolutely not automatic if you earn the HSM, and it would be unlikely that you would earn a MOVSM during a humanitarian mission, because you were ordered to be there and are doing your duty to support a mission as directed by military authority. You may have volunteered to go, but you are still operating under military direction.
The regulation is talking about order of precedence, not an if this, then that situation.
Typically, MOVSM are earned by doing volunteer work in the military community or the nearby off-post community not as part of your normal military duties. It is meant to recognize Soldiers that do above and beyond things to make their community a better place for others.
Things like a boy scout leader or volunteering to clean up a park or a youth sports coach might earn an MOVSM. Things like Family Support Group Liaison are appointed duties and would not earn one.
The regulation is talking about order of precedence, not an if this, then that situation.
Typically, MOVSM are earned by doing volunteer work in the military community or the nearby off-post community not as part of your normal military duties. It is meant to recognize Soldiers that do above and beyond things to make their community a better place for others.
Things like a boy scout leader or volunteering to clean up a park or a youth sports coach might earn an MOVSM. Things like Family Support Group Liaison are appointed duties and would not earn one.
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