Antarctica Service Medal
| Antarctica Service Medal | |
|---|---|
| Obverse image of the medal. Antarctica Service Medal | |
| Type | Medal |
| Description | Obverse: Bronze medal, 1-1/4 inches in diameter, with a view of a polar landscape and standing fixture in Antarctica clothing facing to the front between the horizontally placed words, "ANTARCTICA" on the figure's left and "SERVICE" on the figure's right. Reverse: A polar projection with geodesic lines of the continent of Antarctica across which are the horizontally placed words "COURAGE", "SACRIFICE", and "DEVOTION", all within a circular decorative border of penguins and marine life. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1-3/8 inches wide and consists of a 3/16-inch black stripe on each edge and graded from a white stripe in the center to a pale blue, light blue, greenish blue, and medium blue. |
| Clasps | 
The metal color of the clasp is bronze for the first winter, gold for the second winter, and silver for the third winter. |
| Status | Active |
| Established | Pub.L. 86−600, 74 Stat. 337, H.R. 3923, enacted July 7, 1960. |
 ribbon | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Korean Service Medal |
| Next (lower) | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
| Related | Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal United States Antarctic Expedition Medal Navy Arctic Service Ribbon |
The Antarctica Service Medal was established by the United States Congress on July 7, 1960 under Public Law 600 of the 86th Congress.[1][2] The decoration was intended as a military award to replace several commemorative decorations which had been issued for previous Antarctica expeditions from 1928 to 1941. The following commemorative medals were declared obsolete, following the creation of the Antarctica Service Medal.
- Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal
- Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal
- United States Antarctic Expedition Medal
The Antarctica Service Medal is considered a decoration of the United States military, issued in the name of the Department of Defense, and is authorized for wear on active duty uniforms. The medal may also be awarded to U.S. civilians, but after the initial award, the civilian may only wear the miniature or the lapel pin depending on the occasion.
To qualify for the Antarctica Service Medal, personnel must serve between fifteen to thirty days stationed on the Antarctic continent, defined as south of 60 degrees latitude. Flight crews performing transport missions to Antarctica qualify for one day of service for each flight mission performed within a twenty four hour time period.
The Arctic equivalents of the Antarctica Service Medal are the Navy Arctic Service Ribbon, the Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal and the Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon with Arctic "A" Device.
Wintered Over Device
For those personnel performing extended winter service in Antarctica, a Wintered Over Device is authorized. The "Wintered Over" bar is only worn on the full-size medal's suspension ribbon. The smaller "disc" device is worn on the uniform ribbon to recognize this service.
The Wintered Over Device is bestowed to indicate the number of winters served on the Antarctica continent. The device is worn as a disk on the award ribbon and is issued in bronze for one winter service, gold for two, and silver for three or more winters of service. On the full sized medal a clasp is worn, issued in the same degree, inscribed with the words "Wintered Over".
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