National Defense Service Medal ribbon

National Defense Service Medal

Service awardNDSM

For honorable active service during designated periods of national emergency.

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How you get it

You earn this by meeting the requirements. No recommendation is needed. If it's missing from your record, current members can have their MPF add it. Veterans can request it from AFPC with a Standard Form 180 and supporting documents.

You qualify if any of these apply

Quick facts

Category
Campaign and service
Type
Service award
Authorized devices
Bronze Service Star
WAPS points
0
Position in the AFPC listing
42 of 91 (listed in order of precedence)
Full AFPC fact sheet text

Background

This medal was authorized by Executive Order 10448, April 22, 1953, and amended by Executive Order 11256, Jan. 11, 1966.

Criteria

It is awarded for honorable active military service as a member of the armed forces of the United States including the Coast Guard, during the following periods:

-June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954 - Korean War timeframe

-Jan. 1, 1961 to Aug. 14, 1974 - Vietnam War timeframe

-Aug. 2, 1990 to Nov. 30, 1995 - Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM timeframe

-Sept. 11, 2001 to Dec 31, 2022 - Terrorism attacks on the U.S./Global War on Terrorism

-Service members who earned the medal during the first qualifying period, and who again became entitled to the medal, wear a bronze star on the ribbon to denote the second award of the medal.

Medal description

The medal was designed by the Army of Heraldic Section. The obverse shows the American bald eagle, perched on a sword and palm. Above this, in a semicircle, is the inscription “National Defense.” The reverse shows a shield, as it appears in the Great Seal of the United States; it is half encircled below with an oak leaf to the left and laurel spray to the right, knotted in the center.

Ribbon description

The ribbon has a wide yellow stripe in the center, flanked by four narrow stripes of red, white, blue, and white, and wide red stripes.

Authorized devices

Bronze Service Star

Source: National Defense Service Medal fact sheet, Air Force's Personnel Center

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