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Joint Service Commendation Medal

  The Joint Service Commendation Medal (JSCM) was the first Defense/Joint decoration and is awarded to Service members assigned to joint activities.

Criteria: The JSCM may be awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who, while assigned to a joint activity after January 1, 1963, distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement or service. Award for meritorious service is generally for a period of time greater than 12 months and encompassing an individual's entire joint assignment, including any extensions. Service members assigned and/or attached to a JTF as individuals (not as members of a Service unit) may also be eligible for the JSCM. Members of Service-unique units assigned and/or attached to a JTF retain eligibility for award of personal decorations from their parent Services. They may not be awarded Defense/Joint decorations.

The JSCM will not be awarded for any period of service for which a Military Department medal is awarded.

Description: The medal is on a device consisting of four conjoined hexagons, two vertically and two horizontally, of green enamel, an eagle with outspread wings charged on its breast with the shield of the U.S. and grasping in its talons three arrows (as depicted on the DoD seal) all in gold. At the top are 13 gold stars and in base a gold stylized heraldic delineation representing land, sea, and air, all within a gold circular laurel wreath bound with gold bands 1 5/8 inches in diameter, and with the areas between the inside of the wreath and the device pierced.
The ribbon is predominately blue with a center green stripe bordered on each side with a white stripe, green stripe and another green stripe of equal size.

Category of Award: Defense/Joint Personal Performance Award

Authorized: By the Secretary of Defense on June 25, 1963

Device(s): Bronze and/or Silver Oak Leaf Cluster(s) and V Device (if applicable)

References:
AR 600-8-22, Army Regulation, Military Awards, Page 20.
DoD Manual 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Pages 104 and 105.
DoD Manual 1348.33, Volume 1, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards: General Information, Medal of Honor, and Defense/Joint Decorations and Awards, Pages 45 to 49.

Page updated May 5, 2017

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