Reserve Good Conduct Medal
Encyclopedia
A Reserve Good Conduct Medal refers to any one of the five military conduct awards
which are issued by the United States Armed Forces
to enlisted members of the Reserve and National Guard
. The primary difference between the regular Good Conduct Medal
and the Reserve Good Conduct Medal is that the Good Conduct Medal is only issued for active duty service while the reserve equivalent is bestowed for reserve duties such as drills, annual training, and additional active duty for either training or operational support to the active duty force or, in the case of the Army National Guard
and Air National Guard
, in support of Title 32 U.S.C. state active duty (SAD) such as disaster response and relief.
and must have performed three to four years of satisfactory duty (to include drills and annual training) with such service being free of disciplinary action. Periods of active duty recall or mobilization are not creditable towards the Reserve Good Conduct Medal.
The Army does not issue Reserve Good Conduct Medals to enlisted Reservists. The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal is awarded to both officer and enlisted members of the Army Reserve and have basically the same criteria as the other Reserve Services for award of the Reserve Good Conduct Medal. The Reserve Good Conduct Medals are intended only for enlisted personnel and are not eligible to be presented to officers. The Armed Forces Reserve Medal
is a similar award which is given for ten years of honorable reserve service and is presented to both officers and enlisted personnel.
or the National Guard
with additional awards denoted by oak leaf clusters. Beginning 28 March 1995, the period of qualifying service for the award was reduced from four years to three years, however, the change was not retroactive.
If an enlisted soldier enters the Active Guard Reserve
program and begins serving on federal status full time, they cease to become eligible for the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal but become eligible for the regular Army Good Conduct Medal instead. If the enlisted Soldier leaves the AGR program before earning an Army Good Conduct Medal, they may retain eligibility for the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal if they completed at least two of the three years required. However, any break in service greater than 24 hours will forfeit all time earned.
The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal may awarded to all enlisted soldiers, warrant officers, and commissioned officers in the grade of Colonel
or below.
. Until 1996, the medal was awarded for four years of satisfactory enlisted reserve service, however since 1997 the time period of eligibility has been lowered to three years. Additional awards of the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal are denoted by service stars
. This is strictly an enlisted service medal on par with Navy Good Conduct Medal for active duty enlisted sailors. Commissioned officers, to include warrant officers, are not eligible for award of the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal.
, however the time limit was lowered to three years of service beginning on July 1, 1975. Additional awards of the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal are denoted with oak leaf clusters. This is strictly an enlisted service award on par with the Air Force Good Conduct Medal for active duty enlisted airmen in the Regular Air Force. Commissioned officers are not eligible for award of the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
Awards and decorations of the United States military
Awards and decorations of the United States Military are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces...
which are issued by the United States Armed Forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
to enlisted members of the Reserve and National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
. The primary difference between the regular Good Conduct Medal
Good Conduct Medal
The Good Conduct Medal is one of the oldest military awards of the United States military. The Navy Good Conduct Medal was first issued in 1869, followed by a Marine version in 1896. The Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal was issued in 1923 and the Army Good Conduct Medal in 1941. The Air Force was...
and the Reserve Good Conduct Medal is that the Good Conduct Medal is only issued for active duty service while the reserve equivalent is bestowed for reserve duties such as drills, annual training, and additional active duty for either training or operational support to the active duty force or, in the case of the Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
and Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
, in support of Title 32 U.S.C. state active duty (SAD) such as disaster response and relief.
Criteria
To receive a Reserve Good Conduct Medal, a service member (excluding Army Reservists), must, generally, be an active member of the Reserve or National GuardUnited States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
and must have performed three to four years of satisfactory duty (to include drills and annual training) with such service being free of disciplinary action. Periods of active duty recall or mobilization are not creditable towards the Reserve Good Conduct Medal.
The Army does not issue Reserve Good Conduct Medals to enlisted Reservists. The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal is awarded to both officer and enlisted members of the Army Reserve and have basically the same criteria as the other Reserve Services for award of the Reserve Good Conduct Medal. The Reserve Good Conduct Medals are intended only for enlisted personnel and are not eligible to be presented to officers. The Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1950. The medal recognizes service performed by the Reserve and National Guard forces of the United States of America....
is a similar award which is given for ten years of honorable reserve service and is presented to both officers and enlisted personnel.
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal
The last of the Reserve Good Conduct Medals to be authorized, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (ARCAM), was established by the Secretary of the Army on 3 March 1971 and amended by DA General Orders 4, in 1974. The ARCAM was originally awarded for four years of honorable service as an active member of a unit in the Army ReserveUnited States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
or the National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
with additional awards denoted by oak leaf clusters. Beginning 28 March 1995, the period of qualifying service for the award was reduced from four years to three years, however, the change was not retroactive.
If an enlisted soldier enters the Active Guard Reserve
Active Guard Reserve
Active Guard Reserve , also known as "Active Guard and Reserve," refers to a United States Army and United States Air Force federal military program which places Army National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers and Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve airmen on federal active duty status under...
program and begins serving on federal status full time, they cease to become eligible for the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal but become eligible for the regular Army Good Conduct Medal instead. If the enlisted Soldier leaves the AGR program before earning an Army Good Conduct Medal, they may retain eligibility for the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal if they completed at least two of the three years required. However, any break in service greater than 24 hours will forfeit all time earned.
The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal may awarded to all enlisted soldiers, warrant officers, and commissioned officers in the grade of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
or below.
Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal
First created in 1962 with retroactive presentation to 1958. The Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal was considered the enlisted successor award to the Naval Reserve MedalNaval Reserve Medal
The Naval Reserve Medal is a decoration of the United States Navy which was created by order of Secretary of the Navy James Paulding. The medal was first issued on September 12, 1938 and was an active decoration until 1958. On September 12, 1958, the Naval Reserve Medal was declared discontinued...
. Until 1996, the medal was awarded for four years of satisfactory enlisted reserve service, however since 1997 the time period of eligibility has been lowered to three years. Additional awards of the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal are denoted by service stars
Service star
A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service...
. This is strictly an enlisted service medal on par with Navy Good Conduct Medal for active duty enlisted sailors. Commissioned officers, to include warrant officers, are not eligible for award of the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal.
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
Designed by Thomas Hudson Jones and originally established on April 1, 1964 as the "Air Force Reserve Ribbon" by Secretary of the Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert, the award became a full sized medal, under its current name, on November 2, 1971 under Secretary of the Air Force Robert C. Seamans, Jr. From 1965 to 1974, the award was presented for four years of honorable reserve enlisted service in the Air Force Reserve or Air National GuardAir National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
, however the time limit was lowered to three years of service beginning on July 1, 1975. Additional awards of the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal are denoted with oak leaf clusters. This is strictly an enlisted service award on par with the Air Force Good Conduct Medal for active duty enlisted airmen in the Regular Air Force. Commissioned officers are not eligible for award of the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal
First created in 1925 as the Fleet Marine Reserve Medal, this is the oldest of the Reserve Good Conduct Medals. In 1939 the name of the medal was changed to the Organized Marine Corps Reserve Medal. In 1984, the award adopted its current name. As of January 1, 1996, the qualifying period of service was changed from four to three years to mirror the requirements of the Good Conduct Medal. Additional awards are denoted by bronze service stars.Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct Medal
Created in 1963 and awarded for a standard satisfactory enlisted reserve tour of three years of duty. Additional awards are denoted by service stars. This is strictly an enlisted service award on par with the Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal for active duty enlisted coast guardsmen. Commissioned officers, to include warrant officers, are not eligible for award of the Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct Medal.See also
- Awards and decorations of the United States militaryAwards and decorations of the United States militaryAwards and decorations of the United States Military are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces...
- Awards and decorations of the United States ArmyAwards and decorations of the United States ArmyAwards and decorations of the United States Army are those military decorations which are issued to members of the United States Army under the authority of the Secretary of the Army. Together with military badges such awards provide an outward display of a service member's accomplishments.The...
- List of military decorations