Establishing Authority

The Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal was established by Secretary of the Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert on April 1, 1964 as a ribbon award. It was converted to a medal on November 2, 1971 by Secretary of the Air Force Robert C. Seamans, Jr.

Effective Dates

Award of the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal became effective on April 1, 1965, based on four years continuous service (since July 1, 1975 its award has been based on three years of continuous service).

Criteria

The Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity during a three year period while serving in an enlisted status in the Air Reserve Forces.

Order of Precedence

The Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal is worn after the Good Conduct Medal and before the Outstanding Airman of the Year ribbon.

Devices

Additional awards of the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal are denoted by oak leaf clusters.

Designer

The Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal was designed by Thomas Hudson Jones (1892-1969).

Description and Symbolism

Obverse

In the center of a bronze medallion one and three eighths inches in diameter, an eagle with wings displayed is shown with an olive branch in its beak. The eagle is resting on a ring enclosing a five pointed star charged with a disc in the center. On a twofold scroll arched across the top (supported by the eagle's wings), is the inscription MERITORIOUS SERVICE, and below the wings (terminating on each side of the ring in base) the encircling inscription AIR RESERVE (on the left) and between two flight symbols FORCES (on the right), all in front of thirteen incised rays extending from the center to the edge of the medal. The eagle bearing an olive branch in its beak resting on a ring enclosing a star charged with a disc is suggested by the emblem for the Air Reserve Force.

The eagle refers to the ever-watchful, poised, and ready Reserve, and the olive branch indicates a desire for peace. The ring bearing a star with a disc denotes the historic aircraft identification marking used by the Air Force. The rays signify the recipient's accomplish-ments as a shining example of those qualities for which the medal is granted and also alludes to the light from the sky (the major theater of operations for the Air Reserve Forces).

Reverse

In the center of a bronze medallion one and three eighths inches in diameter, a cloud formation containing stylized wings and lightning bolts appears above the word TO (leaving room to engrave the recipient's name). On the outside of the cloud formation, and forming a circle around it, the words, EFFICIENCY - EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOR - FIDELITY. The cloud formation represents the medium of the Air Force, as do the stylized wings and lightning bolts. The words forming a circle around the cloud formation refer to the traits for which the medal is awarded.

Ribbon

The ribbon to the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal consists of a field of light blue edged in white. Separating the two colors is a stripe of ultramarine blue bisected by a narrow pinstripe of gold. The ultramarine and gold are traditional Air Force colors, while the light blue represents the sky, the operational environment of the Air Force.

1. Description: A bronze medal 1 < inches in diameter, with a flaming torch in front of a crossed powder horn and a bugle within a circle composed of thirteen stars and thirteen rays. On the reverse is a different design for each of the reserve components. The reverse of all medals have the inscription "ARMED FORCES RESERVE" around the rim. Organized Reserve: On a wreath, the Lexington Minuteman statue as it stands on the Common in Lexington, Massachusetts encircled by thirteen stars. National Guard: The National Guard insignia (two crossed fasces superimposed on an eagle displayed with wings reversed. Air Reserve Force: The crest from the Air Forces seal (on a wreath, an eagle displayed in front of a cloud form). Naval Reserve: The center device of the Department of the Navy seal (an eagle displayed on an anchor in front of a ship in full sail). Marine Corps Reserve: The Marine Corps insignia (eagle perched on a globe superimposed on an anchor). Coast Guard Reserve: The central design of the Coast Guard seal (crossed anchors superimposed by a shield within an annulet).

2. Devices: Bronze hourglass to indicate 10 years service; silver hourglass to indicate 20 years service; gold hourglass to indicate 30 years service; letter "M" to indicate mobilization in support of US Military operations or contingencies designated by the Secretary of Defense; and a numeral to indicate number of times mobilized.

3. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 1/16 inch Bluebird 67117; 1/32 inch Chamois 67142; 1/16 inch Bluebird; 1/32 inch Chamois; 1/16 inch Bluebird; 3/8 inch Chamois; center 1/8 inch Bluebird; 3/8 inch Chamois; 1/16 inch Bluebird; 1/32 inch Chamois; 1/16 inch Bluebird; 1/32 inch Chamois; and 1/16 inch Bluebird.

4. Criteria: Award under one of the following conditions:

a. Awarded for honorable and satisfactory service as a member of one or more of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States for a period of 10 years within a 12-year period. Upon completion of the fourth 10-year period, a gold hourglass followed by a bronze hourglass shall be awarded.

b. Awarded for mobilization on or after 1 August 1990, to members called to active duty and served under Title 10, United States Code (USC) (Defense Department) or Title 14 USC (Coast Guard) or the member volunteered and served on active duty in support of US Military operations or contingencies designated by the Secretary of Defense. The "M" device is worn to indicate mobilization. Subsequent mobilizations are denoted by the wear of a number to indicate the number of times mobilized. No hourglass is worn unless authorized under the above paragraph.

5. Components: the following are components of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal:

a. Medal (regular size): MIL-DTL-3943/231. (Stock number for the full size medal set with ribbon bar.) National Guard: NSN 8455-00-227-1713; USAR: 8455-00-269-5781.

b. Medal (miniature): MIL-DTL-3943/231. Available commercially.

c. Ribbon: MIL-DTL-11589/13. NSN 8455-00-265-4916.

6. Background: The Armed Forces Reserve Medal was authorized by President Truman by Executive Order 10163, dated 25 September 1950. The Executive Order was amended by Executive Order, dated 6 August 1996, to include authorization for award based on mobilization.

7. Wear: If no "M" device is authorized, the appropriate hourglass shall be positioned in the center of the ribbon. If no hourglass is authorized, the "M" device shall be positioned in the center of the ribbon, followed by Arabic numerals indicating the number of times the device has been awarded, starting with the second award (no number is worn for the first award). If both the hourglass and the "M" device are awarded, the hourglass shall be positioned in the first position on the ribbon (at the wearers right), the "M" device in the middle position, and the number of times the "M" device has been awarded in the remaining position (at the wearers left)