The Meritorious Service Medal (USA)

Time Period: Post-WW2
Institution: 1969
Country: United States

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.