MILPER Message 02-150 @ armyawards.com

MILPER Message Number: 02-150
Reinstatement of the National Defense Service Medal

A. Memorandum, Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Subject as above, Dated 26 Apr 02.

B. Paragraph 2-10, AR 600-8-22, Military Awards, 25 Feb 95.

C. DOD 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Sep 96.

1. This MILPER Message will expire NLT May 2004.

2. Ref A authorized the reinstatement of the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) for members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving on active duty on or after 11 Sep 01. The termination date will be determined in the future. References B and C will be updated later to reflect this change.

3. The NDSM is awarded for honorable active service and includes the following inclusive periods: 27 Jun 50 to 27 Jul 54; 1 Jan 61 to 14 Aug 74; 2 Aug 90 to 30 Nov 95; and 11 Sep 01 to a date to be determined.

4. For award of the NDSM for the period 11 Sep 01 to a date to be determined, the following persons will not be considered as performing active service:

A. Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve Forces personnel on short tours of duty to fulfill training obligations under an inactive duty training program.

B. Any service member on temporary duty or temporary active duty to serve on boards, courts, commissions, and like organizations.

C. Any service member on active duty for the sole purpose of undergoing a physical examination.

D. A one time only exception, for members of the Army National Guard and United States Army Reserve, who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing, was authorized, per Executive Orders 12778, Dated 18 Oct 91, for the period 2 Aug 90 to 30 Nov 95.

5. To signify receipt of a second or subsequent award of the NDSM, a bronze service star will be worn on the service ribbon by U.S. Army personnel so qualified. Second or third award of the NDSM is authorized for soldiers who served in one or more of the four qualifying time periods. It is not authorized for soldiers who met the criteria in one time period, left active duty and returned during the same period of eligibility. (Service stars are described in Chap 6, Ref B.

6. Cadets of the U.S. Military Academy are eligible for the NDSM, during any of the inclusive periods listed above, upon completion of the swearing-in ceremonies as a cadet.

7. The NDSM may be issued posthumously.

8. Effective immediately, commanders are authorized to issue the NDSM to qualified personnel. Permanent orders are not, repeat, not required. SIDPERS transactions to update the ORB and ERB are not required; HQDA will top load the system to add/change the NDSM.

9. Unit commanders are responsible for the original issue of medals. For requisition purposes, the National Stock Number for the NDSM is 8455-00-281-3214.

10. For AIG 7406, request the contents of this message be given the widest dissemination.

11. Point of contact for this AR 600-8-22 is Arlette King at DSN 221-9171, Comm (703) 325-9171, E-mail address arlette.king@hoffman.army.mil

12. Please visit the Army Awards Branch homepage on PERSCOM On-Line at http://www.perscom.army.mil/tagd/awards