Joint Meritorious Unit Award Ribbon

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Joint Meritorious
Unit Award Ribbon

The Joint Meritorious Unit Award (JMUA) was originally called the DoD Meritorious Unit Award and was made retroactive to January 23, 1979. It is the only ribbon (no medal) award granted by the DoD. The JMUA ribbon is similar to the DSSM ribbon except the JMUA has a gold frame around it. The service performed is the same for both awards, with the JMUA ribbon awarded to units and joint activities and the DSSM medal awarded to individuals.

The JMUA is only awarded to joint units or activities (a DoD activity consisting of elements of more than one Military Service). To qualify, the joint activity must either report through combatant or combined command channels or pursue a joint mission under the cognizance of the Secretary of Defense; the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the commander of a unified, specified, or combined command that is also a joint command; or the Secretary of a Military Department that has been designated the EA for the Secretary of Defense.

Criteria: All joint units and activities, including JTFs, are eligible for award of the JMUA. Members of Service-unique units assigned and/or attached to joint units, activities, or JTFs are not eligible for the JMUA, but retain eligibility for unit awards from their parent Services. The JMUA is awarded to units in recognition of exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service. However, a unit or activity's outstanding accomplishment of its normally assigned and expected mission is not in and of itself sufficient justification for award approval. Instead, qualifying achievements must be superior to that which is expected under one of the following conditions and should be operational in nature.

(a) During action in combat with an armed enemy of the United States.
(b) In a declared national emergency situation.
(c) Under extraordinary circumstances that involve national interests.

For a listing of DoD Activities awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award see DoD Manual 1348.33-M, September 1996, Appendix 3, Pages 117 to 123.

Category of Award: Defense/Joint Unit Award

Authorized: Established on June 4, 1981, by the Secretary of Defense

Device(s): Oak-Leaf Cluster (bronze and/or silver).

References:
AR 600-8-22, Army Regulation, Military Awards; Page 82.
AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program; Page 235.
SECNAVINST 1650.1H, Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual; Page 1-22.
COMDTINST M1650.25E, Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual, Page 3-2.
DoD Manual 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Pages 35 to 40.
DoD Manual 1348-33, Vol 1, Nov 23, 2010, Change 5, 15 May 2015, Manual of Military Decorations & Awards, General Information, Medal of Honor; Pages 53 to 58, and Page 70.