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Category: Post-WW2 Medals

The Meritorious Service Medal (USA)

The Meritorious Service Medal (or MSM) is a military award presented to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who distinguished themselves.

The Meritorious Service Medal (also known as MSM) is a military award presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969.

The MSM was previously awarded as a decoration for achievement during peacetime, but effective 11 September 2001, this decoration may also be bestowed in lieu of the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in a designated combat theater. Normally, the acts or services rendered must be comparable to that required for the Legion of Merit but in a duty of lesser, though considerable, responsibility. At the Tri-Department Awards Conference (February 5, 1968), there was a discussion on the need for a third meritorious award to provide appropriate recognition for non-combat achievement or service comparable to that of the Bronze Star Medal for combat achievement or service. It was felt that the Legion of Merit‘s prestige was slipping because it was being used with increasing frequency to reward service below the Legion of Merit’s intended standard, but higher than that required for the Commendation Medals of the various military services.

Foreign military personnel in the ranks of NATO OF-5 and below and individuals who have displayed a level of service that warrants an award of such magnitude may also be eligible to be awarded the MSM.

The Meritorious Service Medal Design

The Meritorious Service Medal is a bronze medal, 1.5 inches in diameter overall, consisting of six rays appearing from the upper three points of a five-pointed star with beveled edges and containing two smaller stars defined by incised outlines.

In the obverse, in front of the lower part of the star an eagle with wings upraised standing upon two upward curving branches of laurel tied with a ribbon between the feet of the eagle. The reverse has the encircled inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “MERITORIOUS SERVICE.” The suspension ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 1/8 inch Crimson 67112; 1/4 inch White 67101; center 5/8 inch Crimson; 1/4 inch White; and 1/8 inch Crimson.

Additional awards of the Meritorious Service Medal are denoted by bronze oak leaf clusters in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force and gold 5/16 inch stars in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard. These devices are also authorized for wear on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal.

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The Achievement Medal – Joint Service

The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the Armed Forces for contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel

The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service Medal. Award authority rests with local commanders, granting a broad discretion of when and for what action the Achievement Medal may be awarded.

Each military service issues its own version of the Achievement Medal, with a fifth version authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense for joint military activity.

The Joint Service Achievement Medal was created in 1983. This award was considered a Department of Defense decoration senior to the service department Achievement Medals.

The Achievement Medal Design

The following devices may be authorized to be worn on the following achievement medals suspension ribbon and service ribbon:

  • All Achievement Medals, “C” device, which signifies meritorious performance “under combat conditions”, after January 2016
  • Army Achievement Medal, for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Achievement Medal, for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, for additional awards – 5/16 inch stars
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal, for additional awards – 5/16 inch stars
  • Joint Service Achievement Medal (all service branches), for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal – Operational Distinguishing Device (“O” device)
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal – Combat Distinguishing Device (Combat “V”)

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The Achievement Medal – Air Force

The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the Armed Forces for the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel

The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service Medal. Award authority rests with local commanders, granting a broad discretion of when and for what action the Achievement Medal may be awarded.

Each military service issues its own version of the Achievement Medal, with a fifth version authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense for joint military activity.

The U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force issued their own versions of the award with the Army Achievement Medal in 1981 and Air Force Achievement Medal in 1980. 

The Achievement Medal Design

The following devices may be authorized to be worn on the following achievement medals suspension ribbon and service ribbon:

  • All Achievement Medals, “C” device, which signifies meritorious performance “under combat conditions”, after January 2016
  • Army Achievement Medal, for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Achievement Medal, for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, for additional awards – 5/16 inch stars
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal, for additional awards – 5/16 inch stars
  • Joint Service Achievement Medal (all service branches), for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal – Operational Distinguishing Device (“O” device)
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal – Combat Distinguishing Device (Combat “V”)

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The Achievement Medal – Army

The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the Armed Forces for the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel

The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service Medal. Award authority rests with local commanders, granting a broad discretion of when and for what action the Achievement Medal may be awarded.

Each military service issues its own version of the Achievement Medal, with a fifth version authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense for joint military activity.

The Achievement Medal Eligibility

Eligibility criteria for the Achievement Medal – Army (AM-Army) typically include:

  1. Service: Recipients must be serving in the United States Army, including active duty, reserve, and National Guard components.

  2. Meritorious Service: The medal is awarded for meritorious service or achievement, which may include performance of duties at a level above what is normally expected, completion of a special project or assignment, or significant contributions to the mission of the Army.

  3. Non-Combat Role: The Achievement Medal is typically awarded for achievements or contributions in non-combat roles. It is not awarded for acts of valor or combat-related actions, which would be recognized by higher awards such as the Bronze Star Medal or the Silver Star Medal.

  4. Recommendation: Nominations for the Achievement Medal are usually submitted by the individual’s chain of command, with justification for the award based on specific accomplishments and contributions to the Army’s mission.

  5. Approval: The final approval for the award of the Achievement Medal is typically granted by the individual’s commanding officer or higher authority within the chain of command.

The Achievement Medal Design

The following devices may be authorized to be worn on the following achievement medals suspension ribbon and service ribbon:

  • All Achievement Medals, “C” device, which signifies meritorious performance “under combat conditions”, after January 2016
  • Army Achievement Medal, for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Achievement Medal, for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, for additional awards – 5/16 inch stars
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal, for additional awards – 5/16 inch stars
  • Joint Service Achievement Medal (all service branches), for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal – Operational Distinguishing Device (“O” device)
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal – Combat Distinguishing Device (Combat “V”)

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The Achievement Medal – Navy and Marine Corps

The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the Armed Forces for the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel

The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service Medal. Award authority rests with local commanders, granting a broad discretion of when and for what action the Achievement Medal may be awarded.

Each military service issues its own version of the Achievement Medal, with a fifth version authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense for joint military activity.

The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM), is the United States Navy and U.S. Marine Corps’ version of the Achievement Medal. The U.S. Navy was the first branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to award such a medal, doing so in 1961, when it was dubbed the “Secretary of the Navy Commendation for Achievement Medal”. This title was shortened in 1967 to simply, the “Navy Achievement Medal”. On 19 August 1994, to recognize those of the United States Marine Corps who had received the Navy Achievement Medal, the name of the decoration was officially changed to the “Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal”. The award is referred to in shorthand speech as a “NAM”.

The Achievement Medal Design

The following devices may be authorized to be worn on the following achievement medals suspension ribbon and service ribbon:

  • All Achievement Medals, “C” device, which signifies meritorious performance “under combat conditions”, after January 2016
  • Army Achievement Medal, for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Achievement Medal, for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, for additional awards – 5/16 inch stars
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal, for additional awards – 5/16 inch stars
  • Joint Service Achievement Medal (all service branches), for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal – Operational Distinguishing Device (“O” device)
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal – Combat Distinguishing Device (Combat “V”)

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The Achievement Medal – Coast Guard

The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the  Armed Forces for the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel

The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service Medal. Award authority rests with local commanders, granting a broad discretion of when and for what action the Achievement Medal may be awarded.

Each military service issues its own version of the Achievement Medal, with a fifth version authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense for joint military activity. The United States Coast Guard created its own Achievement Medal in 1967.

The Achievement Medal Design

The following devices may be authorized to be worn on the following achievement medals suspension ribbon and service ribbon:

  • All Achievement Medals, “C” device, which signifies meritorious performance “under combat conditions”, after January 2016
  • Army Achievement Medal, for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Achievement Medal, for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, for additional awards – 5/16 inch stars
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal, for additional awards – 5/16 inch stars
  • Joint Service Achievement Medal (all service branches), for additional awards – oak leaf clusters
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal – Operational Distinguishing Device (“O” device)
  • Coast Guard Achievement Medal – Combat Distinguishing Device (Combat “V”)

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The Order of Beneficence (Greece)

The Order of Beneficence (or Τάγμα της Ευποιΐας in Greek), is an order of Greece established in 1948 as a moral reward for women especially, Greek and foreign, for the good services they have rendered to the Fatherland in the field of charity as well as for their performance in the arts and letters.

The medal is conferred by the Greek government and has five classes:

  • Grand Cross – wears the badge on a sash from the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
  • Grand Commander – wears the badge on a bow, plus the star on the left chest;
  • Commander – wears the badge on a bow;
  • Gold Cross – wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;
  • Silver Cross – wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.

The Order of Beneficence Design

The badge of the Order is a five tipped blue-enameled flower, in silver for the Silver Cross class, in gold for the higher classes.

The overall design is clearly derived from the then-recently abolished British Order of the Indian Empire. The obverse central disc bears a portrait of the Holy Virgin with the Divine Child in Her arms with the legend “ΕΥΠΟΙΙΑ” («Beneficence») on a white enamel ring. The reverse side bears the emblem of the Hellenic Republic.

The star of the Order is a silver eight-pointed star with straight rays, with the same central disc as the obverse of the badge, while the reverse side also bears the emblem of the Hellenic Republic. The ribbon of the Order is orange with blue edges.

The Order of Honor (Greece)

The Order of Honor (or Τάγμα της Τιμής in Greek) is an order of Greece, second in rank to the Order of the Redeemer, and was established in 1975 to replace the abolished Royal Order of George I.

The medal is conferred by the Greek government upon “Greek citizens who are distinguished in struggles for the Fatherland, to senior executives of the public administration, to eminent personalities of the arts and letters as well as to distinguished scientists or individuals who excelled in the field of trade, shipping and industry. It is also conferred upon foreigners who, due to their distinguished position and through their personal worth, have contributed to the promotion of Greece“.

As all Greek orders, the Order of Honor has five classes:

  • Grand Cross (Μεγαλόσταυρος)
  • Grand Commander (Ανώτερος Ταξιάρχης)
  • Commander (Ταξιάρχης)
  • Gold Cross (Χρυσός Σταυρός)
  • Silver Cross (Αργυρός Σταυρός)

The Order of Honor Design

The badge of the order is a blue-enamelled cross, in silver for the Silver Cross class, in gold for the higher classes. The Silver and Gold Crosses have a diameter of 37 mm, while the senior grades have a diameter of 57 mm. A competition followed for the design of the new decoration, won by Konstantinos Kontopanos. His design was finalised in the Presidential Decree 849 of 11 November 1975.

The obverse central disc bears a portrait of the goddess Athena and the legend Ο ΑΓΑΘΟΣ ΜΟΝΟΣ ΤΙΜΗΤΕΟΣ (“Only the righteous should be honoured”) on a white enamel band. The reverse bears a simplified national emblem of Greece in the form of a white Greek cross on blue, and on a circular band the legend ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ (“Hellenic Republic”) and the year of the order’s founding (1975).

The star of the order is a silver eight-pointed star with straight rays, with the entire badge in the centre. The reverse bears the Greek national emblem in white enamel and the legend ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ 1975 in gold letters. The ribbon of the Order is blue with orange edges. The first four grades have a ribbon of 35 mm, with 3 mm-wide edges, while the shash of the Grand Cross is 100 mm wide, with edges 8 mm wide.

The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (USA)

The Afghanistan Campaign Medal is a military decoration awarded to any members who performed duty within the borders of Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (or ACM) is a military award of the United States military created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004, and became available for general distribution in June 2005. The medal is retroactive to October 24, 2001, and is active until a date to be determined. 

The medal is awarded to any member of the United States military who has performed duty within the borders of Afghanistan (or its airspace) for a period of thirty consecutive days or sixty non-consecutive days.

Personnel who have been engaged in combat with an enemy force, or personnel who have been wounded in combat within Afghanistan, may receive the ACM regardless of the number of days spent within the country. The medal is also awarded posthumously to any service member who dies in the line of duty within Afghanistan, including from non-combat injuries such as accidents and mishaps.

The Afghanistan Campaign Medal Design

The medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is bronze in appearance and measures 1 1⁄4 inches in diameter. It depicts above a range of mountains a map of Afghanistan. Around the top is the inscription “AFGHANISTAN CAMPAIGN.”

On the reverse, a radiating demi-sun superimposed by an eagle’s head couped. Inscribed across the bottom half of the reserve side are the three lines “FOR SERVICE IN AFGHANISTAN“, enclosed by a laurel wreath.

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The Iraq Campaign Medal (USA)

The Iraq Campaign Medal is a military award of the Armed Forces awarded during the Iraq War, from 29 November 2004 to 31 December 2011.

The Iraq Campaign Medal (or ICM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was created by Executive Order 13363 of U.S. President George W. Bush on 29 November 2004, and became available for general distribution in June 2005.

The Iraq Campaign Medal was awarded to any member of the U.S. military who performed duty within the borders of Iraq (or its territorial waters) for a period of thirty consecutive days or sixty non-consecutive days. The medal was also awarded posthumously to any service member who died in the line of duty within Iraq, including from non-combat injuries such as accidents and mishaps.

The Iraq Campaign Medal replaced the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-EM) for service in Iraq from 19 March 2003, through 30 April 2005.

The Iraq Campaign Medal Design

The medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is bronze in appearance, 1 1⁄4 inches (32mm) in diameter.

The obverse depicts a north-oriented relief of the map of Iraq, surmounted by two lines representing the Tigris and Euphrates rivers throughout, superimposed over a palm wreath. Above is the inscription “IRAQ CAMPAIGN.” On the reverse, the Statue of Freedom surmounts a sunburst, encircled by two scimitars pointing down with the blades crossing at the tips. Below is the inscription “FOR SERVICE IN IRAQ.”

The medal is suspended from a ribbon 1 3⁄8 inches (34.9 mm) wide. The stripes of the ribbon invoke the colors of the Iraqi flag and are: 5⁄32 inch scarlet at the edges, followed by 1⁄16 inch white, 1⁄32 inch green, and 1⁄16 inch white. The white is separated by a 5⁄32 inch black with a 7⁄16 inch stripe in chamois in the center.

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