Reserve Good Conduct Medal

Reserve Good Conduct Medal
Reserve Good Conduct Medal
Type	Medal
Status	Current
ribbons: Army, Marine, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard
Precedence
Next (higher)	Good Conduct Medal
Next (lower)	None

A Reserve Good Conduct Medal refers to any one of the five military conduct decorations which are issued by the United States Armed Forces to members of the Reserve and National Guard. The primary difference between the regular Good Conduct Medal and the Reserve Good Conduct Medal is that the Good Conduct Medal is only issued for active duty service while the reserve equivalent is bestowed for reserve duties such as drill and annual training.

Criteria

To be awarded a Reserve Good Conduct Medal, a service member must be an active enlisted member of the Reserve or National Guard and must have performed three to four years of satisfactory duty (to include drill and annual training) with such service being free of disciplinary action. Periods of active duty recall or mobilization are not creditable towards the Reserve Good Conduct Medal.

With the exception of the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the Reserve Good Conduct Medals are intended only for enlisted personnel and are not eligible to be presented to officers. The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a similar decoration which is awarded for ten years of honorable reserve service and is presented to both officers and enlisted personnel.

Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal

The last of the Reserve Good Conduct Medals to be authorized, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal was created in 1972 and was originally awarded for four years of honorable service as an active member of a unit in the Army Reserve or the National Guard with additional awards denoted by oak leaf clusters. Beginning 28 March 1995, the period of qualifying service for the award was reduced from four years to three years, however, the change was not retroactive.

If a soldier enters the Active Guard Reserve program and begins serving on federal status full time, they cease to become eligible for the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal but become eligible for the regular Army Good Conduct Medal instead. If the Soldier leaves the AGR program before earning an Army Good Conduct Medal, they may retain eligibility for the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal if they completed at least two of the three years required. However, any break in service greater than 24 hours will forfeit all time earned.

The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal may awarded to all enlisted soldiers, warrant officers, and commissioned officers in the grade of Colonel or below.

Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal

First created in 1962 with retroactive presentation to 1958. The Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal was considered the enlisted successor decoration to the Naval Reserve Medal. Until 1996, the decoration was awarded for four years of satisfactory reserve service, however since 1997 the time period of eligibility has been lowered to three years. Additional awards of the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal are denoted by service stars.

Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal

Designed by Thomas Hudson Jones and originally established on April 1, 1964 as the "Air Force Reserve Ribbon" by Secretary of the Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert, the decoration became a full sized medal, under its current name, on November 2, 1971 under Secretary of the Air Force Robert C. Seamans, Jr. From 1965 to 1974, the award was presented for four years of honorable reserve service, however the time limit was lowered to three years beginning on July 1, 1975. Additional awards of the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal are denoted with oak leaf clusters..

Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal

First created in 1925 as the Fleet Marine Reserve Medal, this is the oldest of the Reserve Good Conduct Medals. In 1939 the name of the decoration was changed to the Organized Marine Corps Reserve Medal. In 1984, the decoration adopted its current name. As of January 1, 1996, the qualifying period of service was changed from four to three years to mirror the requirements of the Good Conduct Medal. Additional awards are denoted by bronze service stars.

Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct Medal

Created in 1963 and awarded for a standard satisfactory reserve tour of three years of duty. Additional awards are denoted by service stars.

See also

• Awards and decorations of the United States military
• Awards and decorations of the United States Army
• List of military decorations

References

• "Reserve Components Achievement Medal". U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry. Retrieved 2006-10-31.

• "Air Force Intruction 36-2803, The Air Force Awards and Decorations Program" (PDF). United States Air Force. 15 June 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-03-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)