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Joint Service Achievement Medal

  The Joint Service Achievement Medal (JSAM): In 1983, the Secretary of Defense established the JSAM for either outstanding achievement or meritorious service in joint activities.

Eligibility Requirements and Criteria:
 1. The JSCM is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to members of the U.S. Armed Forces below the grade of O-6 who, while assigned to a joint activity after August 3, 1983, distinguished themselves by outstanding performance of duty, meritorious achievement or service. Service members assigned and/or attached to a JTF as individuals (not as members of a Service unit) may also be eligible for the JSAM. 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.
 2. The required achievement or service, while of lesser degree than that required for award of the JSCM, must have been accomplished with distinction.
 3. The JSAM may not be awarded for any act or period of service which a Military Department medal was awarded, and it should not be awarded for retirement.
 4. Defense/Joint awards including the JSAM may be awarded posthumously. When so awarded, they may be presented to an appropriate representative of the deceased, as determined by the awarding authority.

Description: The medal is bronze and is 1 7/16 inches in diameter overall consisting of a star of twelve points and superimposed thereon an eagle holding three arrows as adapted on the DoD seal.
The ribbon is predominately blue with a center red stripe. Bordered on each side of the blue field are a white stripe, a green stripe, another white stripe and an edge stripe of dark blue.

Category of Award: Defense/Joint Personal Performance Award

Authorized: By the Secretary of Defense in 1983

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 49 to 53.

Page updated May 5, 2017

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