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Humanitarian Service Medal

 The Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM) is awarded to military members, including Reserve components, who, after 1 April 1979, distinguished themselves by meritorious direct participation in a significant military act or operation approved for award by the DoD.

 Direct participation is defined as "hands-on" support at the site or sites of the military act or operation. Acts or achievements that exceed the normal day-to-day duties, such as periodic emergency aeromedical evacuation missions may qualify for this award, such as:
  1. Significant assistance in the event of national or international disasters, natural or man-made, such as, but not limited to earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, or conflagrations.
  2. Relief to a starvation area.
  3. Evacuation of personnel from an area threatened by a hostile force.
  4. Support or resettlement of refugees or evacuees.
  5. Other significant military activities, directly related to humanitarian service, as designated in Military Service regulations. These must be above and beyond routine actions (i.e. Search and Rescue (SAR) operations conducted by SAR units).
  6. Acts or operations of a similar nature, as determined by the award approval authority.

 Specifically excluded from eligibility for this medal are personnel assigned to various staff functions at military headquarters geographically separated from the operation (that is, command post, planners, staffers, and so forth). Members whose normal day-to-day duties involve humanitarian services would not usually be eligible for this award.

 Members must have been assigned or attached to and present for duty with a unit serving in the prescribed geographical area established for the award during the designated time period.

 HSM Eligibility: To be eligible for the HSM, the operation must have evidence that the emergency assistance meets the criteria of:
  1. Being requested by the President of the United States for assistance within the United States (such as, Presidential Emergency Declaration or established contingency plans issued under Presidential authority).
  2. Being requested by the Department of State (DoS) for overseas area.

 A complete listing of approved operations for the HSM can be found in DoD 1348.33-M.

 The medal may be awarded posthumously and may be presented to appropriate representatives of the deceased.

 Authorized Device: A bronze service star will be worn to denote a subsequent operation justifying the award.

Category of Award: Pending

Established by: Executive Order 11965, 19 January 1977

Authorized Device(s): Bronze Service Star

References:
AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program, Pages 140 to 142
AR 600-8-22, Army Regulation, Military Awards, Pages 33 to 35
SECNAVINST 1650.1H, Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, Page 4-38 to 4-41
COMDTINST M1650.25E, Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual, Pages 5-22 and 5-25
DoD Manual 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Pages 57 to 60

Page updated June 9, 2017

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