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Armed Forces Service Medal

 The Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM) is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 1 June 1992 meet the following criteria:

  1. Participate, or have participated, as members of U.S. military units, in a U.S. military operation that is deemed to be a significant activity; and
  2. Encounter no foreign armed opposition or imminent threat of hostile action.

 The AFSM may be authorized for the significant United States military activities for which no other United States campaign or service medal is appropriate, such as:
  1. Peacekeeping operations.
  2. Prolonged humanitarian operations.

 The AFSM may be awarded for United States military operations in direct support of the United Nations (UN) or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and for operations of assistance to friendly foreign nations.

 Service members must be bona fide members of a unit participating in or engaged in direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive days in the area of operations (or for the full period when an operation is less than 30 days duration) or for 60 consecutive days provided this support involves entering the area of operations or meet the following criteria:

  1. While participating as a regularly assigned aircrew member, accumulates 15 days service (consecutive/nonconsecutive) flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area in direct support of the military operations.
  2. One day's service is credited for the first sortie flown on any day. Additional sorties flown on the same day receive no further credit.

 The AFSM provides recognition to participants who deploy to the designated area of eligibility for the qualifying operation. Outstanding or meritorious performance of non-deployed or remotely located support units and individuals is not justification for award of the AFSM. Such performance may be recognized by appropriate unit and/or individual decorations.

 Because the AFSM may be awarded for a prolonged humanitarian operation, distinction between the AFSM and the Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM) must be maintained. The following rules apply:

  1. The HSM is an individual U.S. service medal, presented to individuals who are physically present at the site of immediate relief and who directly contribute to and influence the humanitarian action. The HSM is only awarded for service during the identified "period of immediate relief"; eligibility for the HSM terminates once (if) the humanitarian action evolves into an "established ongoing operation beyond the initial emergency condition."
  2. The AFSM is a theater award, authorized for presentation to all participants who meet the eligibility requirements established for a designated operation.
  3. For operations in which all deployed participants are awarded the HSM and for which the "period of immediate relief" coincides with the duration of significant deployed operations, award of the AFSM is not authorized.
  4. Humanitarian operations for which some (or all) participants are awarded the HSM, which continue beyond the "period of immediate relief," may be recognized by award of the AFSM. The AFSM may be awarded for the entire period of the operation; individuals awarded the HSM for direct participation during the "period of immediate relief" are also eligible for the AFSM if awarded.

 The following limitations apply when determining whether the AFSM should be awarded for a particular mission or operation or when determining eligibility for award to an individual:
  1. The AFSM will be awarded only for operations for which no other U.S. campaign or service medal is approved.
  2. For operations in which personnel for only one Service participates, the AFSM will be awarded only if there is no other suitable award available to that Service.
  3. The military service of the individual on which qualification for the award of the AFSM is based will have been honorable.
  4. Award of the AFSM is not authorized for participation in national or international exercises.
  5. The AFSM will not be awarded for NATO or United Nations operations not involving significant, concurrent U.S. military support operations.

 The CJCS will designate U.S. military operations on or after 1 June 1992 that qualify for the AFSM.

 No more than one medal will be awarded to any one Service member. One bronze service star is worn to denote second and subsequent awards of the AFSM. To be eligible for additional awards, service must be rendered in more than one designated area and period of service. No two awards will be made for service in the same designated area.

Category of Award: Pending

Established by: Executive Order 12985, January 11, 1996, as amended by Executive Order 13286, February 28, 2003

Authorized Device(s): Bronze Service Star

References:
AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program, Pages 136 to 139
AR 600-8-22, Army Regulation, Military Awards, Pages 32 and 33
SECNAVINST 1650.1H, Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, Page 4-34 to 4-38
COMDTINST M1650.25E, Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual, Pages 5-21 and 5-22
DoD Manual 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Pages 53 to 56

Page updated June 9, 2017

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