Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; any tips on how to get your unit to process it?

2016-02-15T02:04:27-05:00

I have over 400 hours of community service with a on post service but when I bring up the medal it gets put on the bottom of the of the to-do list

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 8:55 AM

2016-02-15T08:55:57-05:00

Congratulations on your volunteer service hours.
Does your higher command have a policy on the award?
I've seen commanders say you must give 500 hours in a year.
Have you provided documented hours?
The regulation is subjective. Or maybe no one knows how to process it because it doesn't get done often - Refer to the regulation, processing it is in there.

AR 600-8-2: 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 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.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 9:45 AM

2016-02-15T09:45:56-05:00

I got a memo from the organization I worked with and a proof of hour sheet

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 9:51 AM

2016-02-15T09:51:03-05:00

Write it yourself and provide verification. Have your first line leader sign it and send it up. That's how I got mine.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 9:53 AM

2016-02-15T09:53:40-05:00

According to the AR 600-8-22, 500 hours is needed to qualify for the medal. Maybe they are waiting till you hit the magic mark.

Response by SFC Douglas Duckett made Feb 15 at 2016 10:55 AM

2016-02-15T10:55:40-05:00

It is sad to see the comments "write it yourself and submit it to your supervisors". Is that where the military is going nowadays; a place where supervisors do not recognize the accomplishments of their subordinates? I have no problem bringing the issue up with the supervisor and providing the required documentation, I even suggest you sit down with him/her and fill in the blanks during the memorandum writing. But, to write it yourself demeans and devalues the actual recognition of service.
Part of leadership is recognizing the accomplishments of those you lead. This means the leader must do his or her part in the process. Sit down with your leader during your next counseling session, have your documents ready. Ensure the leader annotates your accomplishments on the counseling statement and mention that you meet the requirements for the award, ask for the supervisor's opinion and support in processing.
Your leader may be unaware of this specific award and the requirements for recommending, processing and procuring it. It the leader is worth his or her salt, and you meet ALL the requirements, he/she should be more than happy to recommend and submit it for you; that is the way it is supposed to work.

Response by TSgt Jackie Jones made Feb 15 at 2016 12:15 PM

2016-02-15T12:15:45-05:00

I was lucky enough that my Leadership put me in for it. It was a total surprise when I was awarded. Others later teased me about it. But I'm still proud. There have been times where I had to 'write my own' packets and such and have the supervisor review it and submit it. I don't know why your leadership wouldn't submit something like this...

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2016 6:36 PM

2016-02-18T18:36:58-05:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member - Send me a private message with your hours sheet, name and contact information of the point of contact from the organization that you volunteered with, the name and email of your Company Commander and S1.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2019 7:53 AM

2019-11-24T07:53:44-05:00

MOVSM Award Criteria AR 600–8–22 • 25 June 2015
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 lieutenant colonel (LTC/O–5) or higher (AR 600–8–22 • 25 June 2015 41)

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 31December 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 lieutenant colonel (LTC/O–5) or higher. Before the recommendation is forwarded to the award approval authority, the recommender must certify that the Servicemember 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 Servicemember’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) Servicemember 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 Servicemember.
(4) No more than one MOVSM will be awarded to any Servicemember. 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 award to foreign personnel.

AR 600–8–22 • 25 June 2015 41

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