Organizations that count towards the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 02:51:06 -0500

I am currently deployed and had been looking for ways to kill time in a productive manner; I have already maxed my PT and correspondence courses, am participating in college courses. I found out on our base that there was a newly established USO; problem was they could never really stay open because it received no funding nor volunteers/USO workers. I have since helped run the place and have over 300 hours there in a little over 3 months. I was wondering if the service there would count towards the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, being that in a deployed area the USO is frequented by not just military members but by civilians and contractors as well. I don't mind the work; if it counts and I hit the 500 hours I will still continue to work there, but if it does not count I will still work there as well. Just looking for any sort of guidance in the matter.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Nov 10 at 2015 3:46 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 03:46:08 -0500

Check the unit awards SOP to see what the Commanders guidance is. I am not trying to bash you with this question: Where are you deployed that you have this much extra time?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Nov 10 at 2015 7:59 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 07:59:41 -0500

I back what CSM Michael J. Uhlig said, check with your chain of command. I earned my MOVSM working with the Boy Scout while assigned to Germany and I don't see a reason why your efforts wouldn't count towards the medal. The follow up question I have is would receiving the MOVSM take away from your End of Tour Award? It is my understanding, at least during the time I served, that you can't double dip so anything mentioned in the write up for the MOVSM couldn't be used for your EOT award. Just curious about that. Keep up the great work SGT Private RallyPoint Member!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 9:58 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 09:58:44 -0500

In short, it is a commander's call.
In order to justify award, the volunteerism is supposed to support the military community or reflect positively on the military service. This is entirely subjective, so you'll need to check with your local battalion-level commander.
One requirement a lot of people miss is the need to keep a log of hours and volunteer activities you do, and have it verified by the organization you volunteer for. A letter from them will help greatly with the write-up as well.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 1:39 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 13:39:17 -0500

SGT(P) Shane Grashel, I served as the Awards NCOIC for Operation Outreach for approx. 6 months while deployed to Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan ("The MOVSM is intended to recognize exceptional community support over time, not a single act or achievement. It is intended to honor direct support of community activities.") back during my 2013-2014 tour. Our organization was responsible for providing clothes, fuel nuts, and coats for winter, and Soccer balls for the local GKMA. There was already a set system of accounting for hours/points and several of those that participated were back for their third or fourth medal, because the organization started many years prior and many of the Air Force Airmen were there for the 4th time, but I digress. I assure you there is a point here, anyway, based on your question I believe you may qualify, the only question I would be concerned with is the first prerequisite, below concerning civilian community, but the ultimate approval authority is officers in the ranks of Colonels or higher or LTC’s with court martial authority(like Camp Mayors OCONUS); Must:
• Be to the civilian community, to include the military family community.
• Be significant in nature and produce tangible results.
• Reflect favorably on the service member's Military Department and the Department of Defense.
• Be of a sustained and direct nature.
• Be of a voluntary nature, not detailed or tasked, nor performed as part of a military mission (for example, a unit project).
Paragraph 2-16, Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 23 OCT 2012

Response by SSG(P) Loris Metzinger made Nov 25 at 2018 10:31 AM

SSG(P) Loris Metzinger — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 10:31:44 -0500

Hats off to your effort in volunteering so many hours with the USO while deployed, kudos!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2020 7:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 19:18:57 -0500

Just make sure you log those hours in. There is a specific website that keeps track of it but I just can’t remember the website at the moment.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2022 12:36 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 00:36:40 -0400

You can become a volunteer firefighter in the community that you are at. I did that and was awarded the MOVSM. Than again I did that in 1991-2007.