a. The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) was established by Executive Order 12830, 9 January 1993. It may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States and their Reserve Components, who anytime after 31 December 1992, perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained direct and consequential nature. (The OVSM is not applicable or retroactive to discharged veterans.)

b. To qualify for award of the MOVSM a service members volunteer service must meet the following requirements:

(1) Be to the civilian community, to include the military family community.

(2) Be significant in nature and produce tangible results.

(3) Reflect favorably on the Military Service and the Department of Defense.

(4) Be of a sustained and direct nature.

c. While there is no specific time period to qualify for the MOVSM (for example, 500 hours of community service within 24 calendar months), approval authorities shall ensure the service to be honored merits the special recognition afforded by this medal. The MOVSM is intended to recognize exceptional community support over time and not a single act or achievement. Further, it is intended to honor direct support of community activities. For the purpose of this award, attending membership meetings or social events of a community service group is not considered qualifying service, while manning a community crisis action telephone line is considered qualifying service

d. Approval authority for award of the MOVSM will be commanders (overseas and conus) serving in the rank of brigadier general or higher and colonel level commanders who exercise general court-martial authority. Before the recommendation is forwarded to the award approval authority, the recommender must certify that the service member meets the eligibility criteria for award of the MOVSM. Substantiating documentation, such as record of hours contributed, letters or recognitions from activity supervisors, or other proof of the service member's volunteer services may be attached as enclosures to the recommendation.

1. Description: A bronze medal, 1 3/8 inches in diameter bearing on the obverse, five annulets interlaced enfiled by a star and environed by a wreath of laurel. On the reverse is a sprig of oak between the inscription "OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE" at the top and "UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES" at the bottom.

2. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 1/8 inch Bluebird 67117; 1/8 inch Goldenlight 67107; 3/16 inch Bluebird; 1/16 inch Green 67129; 5/32 inch Goldenlight; center 1/16 inch Green; 5/32 inch Goldenlight; 1/16 inch Green; 3/16 inch Bluebird; 1/8 inch Goldenlight; and 1/8 inch Bluebird.

3. Criteria: Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, subsequent to 31 December 1992, performed outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature. To be eligible, an individuals service must (1) be to the civilian community, to include the military family community; (2) be significant in nature and produce tangible results; (3) reflect favorably on the Military Service and the Department of Defense; and (4) be of a sustained and direct nature. While there is no specific time threshold to qualify for the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM), approval authorities shall ensure the service to be honored merits the special recognition afforded by this medal. The MOVSM is intended to recognize exceptional community support over time and not a single act or achievement. Further, it is intended to honor direct support of community activities.

4. Components: The following are authorized components of the MOVSM:

a. Medal (regular size): MIL-DTL-3943/160. NSN 8455-01-400-3295.

b. Medal (miniature size): MIL-DTL-3943/160. Available commercially.

c. Ribbon: MIL-DTL-11589/374. Available commercially.

d. Lapel Button: MIL-DTL-11484.

5. Background: a. The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal was established by Executive Order 12830, dated 9 January 1993. A proposed design, prepared by The Institute of Heraldry, was submitted to the Office of the Secretary of Defense on 12 April 1993. The design was approved by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Manpower and Personnel Policy on 15 Jun 1993.

b. The interlaced annulets emphasize the interaction of the military services with the civilian community and symbolize continuity and cooperation. The star commemorates outstanding service; the wreath of laurel denotes honor and achievement. Oak is symbolic of strength and potential. Medium blue is the color traditionally associated with the Department of Defense. Gold is for excellence and green alludes to the nurturing of life and growth.

Eligibility Requirements. Members of the Armed Forces of the United States and their Reserve Components who, subsequent to 31 December 1992, perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct, and consequential nature. To be eligible the individual's service must: 1. be to the civilian community, to include the military family community; 2. be significant in nature and produce tangible results; 3. reflect favorably on the military service and the Department of Transportation; and 4. be of a sustained and direct nature. While there is no specific time threshold to qualify for the MOVSM, approval authorities shall ensure the service to be honored merits and the special recognition afforded by this medal. The MOVSM is intended to recognize exceptional community support over an extended period of time and not a single act or achievement. It is intended to honor direct support of community activities. While all members, as good citizens, should become involved in some level of community support, this award recognizes the truly outstanding volunteers. Examples of qualifying volunteer service include but are not limited to: Boy/Girl Scouts/Camp Fire/YMCA/4-H Volunteer Youth Sports Programs Hot Line Volunteer (abuse/rape/suicide) Hospital Volunteer Volunteer Teachers/Mentors March of Dimes, Easter Seal, etc./Walkathons Volunteer Fire Dept./Rescue Squad/Medics Literacy Programs Salvation Army or Red Cross Volunteer Drug Abuse/Child Abuse Programs Big Brother/Big Sister

Awarding Authority. Authority to award the MOVSM is delegated to those flag officers and Senior Executive Service officials who have authority to award the Coast Guard Commendation Medal and below. The MOVSM may be awarded posthumously.

Award Elements and Manner of Wearing. The MOVSM is comprised of a large medal and ribbon bar and shall be worn immediately after the Humanitarian Service Medal. Subsequent awards will be denoted by 3/16-inch bronze stars. A 3/16-inch silver star will be worn in lieu of a sixth award. The award shall be accompanied by a one-page letter, prepared on Commandant stationery and signed by the awarding authority, specifically citing the individual's volunteer service.

The complete eligibility requirement for the MOVSM are explained in the Medals and Awards Manual (COMDTINST M1650.25B)

Order of Precedence

The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal is worn after the Humanitarian Service Medal and before Armed Forces Reserve Medal.

Devices

Additional awards of the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal are denoted by bronze stars.

Designer

The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal was designed by Nadine Russell of the Army's Institute of Heraldry.

First Recipient

The identity of the first recipient of the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal is unknown.

Description and Symbolism

Obverse

In the center of a bronze medal one and three-eighths inches in diameter, five annulets are shown interlaced enfiled by a five-pointed star (Point up). The star and annulets are surrounded by a wreath of laurel which follows the contour of the medal.

The interlaced annulets emphasize the interaction of the military services with the civilian community and symbolize continuity and cooperation. The star, a traditional symbol of military service, commemorates outstanding service. The laurel wreath denotes honor and achievement.

Reverse

The central feature of the reverse is a sprig of oak bearing three leaves and two acorns. Above and to the right of the sprig of oak is the inscription, OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE in raised letters. Following the contour of the lower half of the medal is the inscription UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES, also in raised letters.

The oak leaf was selected as the central feature of the reverse because oak is symbolic of strength and potential.

Ribbon

The ribbon has a center pinstripe of green edged with goldenlight (light yellow) stripes five thirty-seconds of an inch wide, which are in turn edged with a green pinstripe. The outer pinstripe of green is bordered on both sides by a stripe of bluebird blue three-sixteenths of an inch wide, which is in turn edged by a stripe of goldenlight five thirty-seconds of an inch wide. The outer edges of the ribbon are bluebird blue, one-eighth of an inch wide. Blue is the traditional color associated with the Department of Defense; gold represents excellence, and the green alludes to the nurturing of life and growth.

Executive Order 12830