Posted on Oct 13, 2020
CPL Small Arms/Artillery Repairer
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I've been doing as much community service as I can to get enough hours for an MOVSM but I'm being told by multiple people that it is 500hours, but at the same time I was told that it was changed to 200 hours for the ribbon. Does anyone know what the required hours of community service for this award is?
Posted in these groups: Ribbons logo Ribbons0a0a02f4 Community Service
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CW2 Bde Ew Tech
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from AR 600-8-22 para 2-25
d. The overall level of volunteer participation and impact of an individual’s community service is key to determining
whether award of the MOVSM is justified. Although sustained community service is not defined by a specific time period
or number of volunteer hours (for example, 36 months encompassing 500 hours of direct volunteer service), approval
authorities will ensure the service to be honored merits the special recognition afforded by this medal.
e. The MOVSM recognizes service provided to a community over time; therefore, multiple awards of the MOVSM
during a single assignment or tour of duty are not authorized.
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
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CPL (Join to see) Not a requirement, but for a time, Commanders relied on Army Community Service tracking of volunteer hours to put some validation into this. I think as the award matured (adopted 1992 I believe) and Commanders became more comfortable with the decoration, I think they have drifted away from this, but do require some documentation, like a letter from the civilian head of the volunteer organization, or the beneficiary organization of the volunteer work.

Best bet is for the recommender to go see the S1 and ensure they understand how the O5 approval authority will consider it so it is documented and written for a first time go.
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CPT Advisor
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It's completely up to the approval authority. AR 600-8-22 specifically leaves the requirements vague and subjective so the approval authority can view the totality of the impact of the volunteer service to determine if it meets their standards. I've seen as low as 100 hours be approved, and I've seen 300 hours be rejected (told to resubmit when the volunteer hours reached 500). If your contribution has made a positive impact, write up the award and pass it up to your FLL. If they submit and it is approved, great! If it is denied, you should get some indication of when you can resubmit.
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SSG Operations Nco
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The regs requirements is very vague. For instance, I did over 600 hours to receive mine and I knew someone in a different command receive theirs for one specific event.
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