Regarding the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, how many years of my service would apply to it?

CAPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:53:28 -0400

You'd think it would be pretty straight forward but perhaps not so much. See, when I was commissioned in 2000, I was commissioned into the reserve component (for those that understand Navy Officer designators, the last number of my designator was a 5 (1105, 1175, 1125). At the time, they were commissioning all new officers, even those going on Active Duty, into the Reserves and then after a certain period of time (5-6 years) "augmenting" them into the Active Component. Well, it was around the time I would have augmented that I left active duty and became a drilling reservist. My designator stayed the same (1125) and I have drilled continuously ever since. So, right now I'm either at 18 years of reserve service or 12 years of reserve service depending on when you start counting. Does that first 6 years of being on active duty but in the Reserve component count or not count. Either way, I'm wearing a bronze hourglass right now. But do I go up to silver in 2 years or 8 years?

Here is what Executive Order 10163 says about the matter...

"3. The Armed Forces Reserve Medal may be awarded to members or former members of the reserve components of the armed forces of the United States, including the Coast Guard Reserve and the Marine Corps Reserve, who complete or have completed a total of ten years of honorable service in one or more of such reserve components, including annual active-duty and inactive-duty training as required by appropriate regulations: Provided (1) that such ten years of service is, or has been, performed within a period of twelve consecutive years, (2) that such service shall not include service in a regular component of the armed forces, including the Coast Guard, but (a) service in a reserve component which is concurrent, in whole or in part, with service in a regular component of the armed forces shall be included in computing the required ten years of reserve service, and (b) any period of time during which reserve service is interrupted by service in a regular component of the armed forces shall be excluded in computing, and shall not be considered a break in, the said period of twelve consecutive years, and (3) that such service shall not include service for which the Naval Reserve Medal or the Marine Corps Reserve Medal has been, or may be, awarded: And provided further, that any medal awarded hereunder shall be of the design distinctive of the reserve component in which the person to whom it is awarded is serving at the time of the award or in which such person last served."

It says that service in an active component is excluded however it also says. "but (a) service in a reserve component which is concurrent, in whole or in part, with service in a regular component of the armed forces shall be included in computing the required ten years of reserve service"

So, was I in an active component? Was I in a reserve component? Was it concurrent? Seems to me it is but I'm unclear on the interpretation here.

Response by SGT Larry Stacey made Jun 28 at 2018 5:50 PM

SGT Larry Stacey — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 17:50:44 -0400

Sorry guys, this one is way over my head.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 28 at 2018 7:54 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 19:54:17 -0400

As I recall the "block of time that counts" is 10 years reserve during a 12 year period. The first 6 of AD doesn't count. Doesn't matter if you were USNR. We didn't augment until the board at the 8 year mark anyways. That's when I dumped the USNR for USN after the rank. I wound up with a bronze only because 5 years reserve, 10 years active, and 17 years reserve. None of the 5/10 applies. Wasn't going to martyr myself for an upgrade. If I'm wrong, don't worry about telling me I'm entitled to silver. Have enough of that on my head.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2018 8:45 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 20:45:14 -0400

The Colonel is correct, it is good for 10 years of service in the reserves, now if you were mobilized you can add a M device if I remember correctly.

Response by MSgt Nathan Krawitz made Jun 22 at 2020 6:05 AM

MSgt Nathan Krawitz — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 06:05:05 -0400

If you were a reservist at the time of commissioning, and you have active duty time as part of your training, it should count as Reserve time. If you were active upon commissioning, typically academy grads, then your reserve clock doesn't start until your active duty part ends.

You would be amazed at how many officers do an entire active career as reservists, especially when going from war to war, then into leading Reserve centers.

A typical officer starts out as a reservist, then needs to request transfer to the regular component. You want to wear stars? That's your best bet.

For enlisted folks, it's straightforward. Your contract says it all. Active duty with or without Reserve obligation. Should you reenlist beyond the reserve obligation, you're done when you're done. You then choose to join the Reserves.

In any case, the medal is presented for merely getting activated or making 10 years. I was activated for the Afghanistan Surge in 2010. It used to be plain ribbon for 10 years, then an hourglass after, with a mobilization "M" for activation. Activation for initial training, annual tour, training tours don't count.

So you have the weirdest set up possible.

Mobilized < 10 years, centered M
Mobilized again < 10 years, centered M, roman numeral to the viewer's right for total number of mobilizations.
10 years, bronze hourglass centered
20 years, silver hourglass centered
30 years, gold hourglass centered
40 years, gold then bronze hourglass evenly placed.
50 years, gold then silver hourglass, who are you?
60 years, seriously?
One mobilization > 10 years, M is centered, hourglass to viewer's left.
Multiply mobilizations > 10 years, M centered, etc.
Multiple hourglasses, think of 4 positions with M in 3rd spot. Multiple deployments, the roman numeral in the 4th spot.

If somehow you need a 5th attachment, which is rare, you will need an additional ribbon. 10 activations would be rare and how the hell would someone have 70 years of reserve time? Senator John Tower was past 50 years when he finally retired, not sure if it all counted toward this award.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Apr 18 at 2021 1:25 PM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 13:25:28 -0400

That is the medal that replaced the Naval Reserve Medal, AD time tolls the Reserve time. My Dad was a Naval Aviator USNR and remained so throughout his career. The time tolled while on AD for WWII, got 6 years before Korean Police Action, then got 7 years before Cuban Missile Crisis, got 8 years before retired in 1970. So he got the reserve Medal sometime between Korea and Cuba. However, the medal was changed to the AFRM. I think BUPERS gave him credit for those 10 years on his AFRM. After that he got more than 10 years credit so had over 20 when he retired.

It appears that the rules have changed, since he got credit for the time when it was NRM. He removed the NRM from his cabbage patch and replaced it with the AFRM.