1. Description: A bronze medal, 1 1/4 inches in diameter
with a demi-torch (as on the Statue of Liberty) encircled at the top by the inscription
"ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL" on the obverse side. On the reverse side is an
eagle (as on the seal of the Department of Defense) between a wreath of laurel in base and
the inscription "IN PURSUIT OF DEMOCRACY" at the top.
2. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of
the following stripes: 1/16 inch goldenlight 67107; 1/8 inch jungle green 67191; 1/8 inch
green 67129; 1/8 inch mosstone 67127; 1/8 inch goldenlight; center ¼ inch bluebird 67117;
1/8 inch goldenlight; 1/8 inch mosstone; 1/8 inch green; 1/8 inch jungle green; and 1/16
inch goldenlight.
3. Criteria: The medal will be awarded to personnel assigned
to operations in an area designated by the Department of Defense (DOD) for award of the
medal.
4. Components: The following are authorized components and related
items:
a. Medal (regular size): MIL-DTL-3943/231. NSN
8455-01-426-5479 for set which includes a regular size medal and ribbon bar.
b. Medal (miniature size): MIL-DTL-3943/231.
Available commercially.
c. Ribbon: MIL-DTL-11589/13. Available
commercially.
5. Background: a. On 2 March 1995, the Office of the
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management Policy) (OASD-RMP) requested that The
Institute of Heraldry prepare a medal and ribbon design for the proposed Armed Forces
Service Medal. This medal was to be awarded to members of the Armed Forces who
participated as members of units involved in military operations of significant numbers
with no foreign armed opposition or the threat of imminent hostile action. This medal is
intended to meet a void in the criteria between the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and
the Humanitarian Service Medal.
b. Proposed design was forwarded by OASD-FMP to the
Services and the Joint Staff. Concurrence in the establishment of the medal from the
Services and the Joint Staff was received and the proposal was forwarded to the Office of
Budget and Management (OMB) for issuance of an Executive Order. The medal was authorized
by Executive Order 12985, dated 11 January 1996.
c. Eligibility requirements include:
(1) Service as a member of a
unit participating for one or more days in the operation with the designated area of
eligibility, or- -
(2) Be engaged in direct
support for 30 consecutive days in the area of eligibility (or for the full period when an
operation is less than 30 days duration) or for 60 nonconsecutive days provided this
support involves entering the area of eligibility, or- -
(3) Participate as a
regularly assigned crewmember of an aircraft flying into, out of, within, or over the area
of eligibility in support of the operation.
d. The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), has
approved award of the Armed Forces Service Medal to US Military personnel as follows: (1)
In operations relating to the former Republic of Yugoslavia from 1 June 1992 to a future
date. This area includes military forces deployed in operations Provide Promise, Joint
Endeavor, Able Sentry, Deny Flight, Maritime Monitor, Sharp Guard and Joint Guard within
the total land and air space of the former Republic of Yugoslavia, the country of Italy
(including Sicily); and the waters and air space above that portion of the Adriatic Sea
that lies north of forty degrees North latitude; (2) In operations: United Nations
Missions in Haiti (UNMIH); US Forces Haiti (USFORHAITI) and US Support Group-Haiti
(USSPTGP-Haiti) from 1 April 1995 to a date to be determined. This area includes the total
land area, sea and air space defined by the following coordinates: 16-30N/71-40W;
18-00N/71-45W; along the Haitian/Dominican Republic Border to 20-00N/71-44W; 21-00N/71W;
21-25N/73-00W; 21-25N/74-00W; 20-00N/74-00W; 19-45N/75-00W; 19-00N/76-00W; 16-30N/76-00W;
to 16-30N/71-40W.
