Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Awarded by United States Armed Forces
Type	Medal
Eligibility	All personnel
Awarded for	substantial volunteer service to the local community
Statistics
Established	Executive Order 12830, Jan. 9, 1993
First awarded	1993
Precedence
Next (higher)	Humanitarian Service Medal
Next (lower)	Army: Army Sea Duty Ribbon[1] Navy/Marine Corps: Sea Service Deployment Ribbon[2] Air Force: Air and Space Campaign Medal[3]
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal ribbon

The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) is a military award which was created under Executive Order 12830 by George H. W. Bush on January 9, 1993. The medal was designed by the Institute of Heraldry and was first issued in December 1993.^[4][5]

Criteria

The MOVSM recognizes those members of the military (active duty, reserve and national guard) who perform substantial volunteer service to the local community above and beyond the duties required as a member of the United States Armed Forces. Such volunteer service must be made in a sustained and direct nature towards the civilian community, must be significant in nature to produce tangible results, and must reflect favorably on the military service and the United States Department of Defense. The definition of volunteer service is left intentionally vague, allowing for a wide variety of activities and volunteer duties which would qualify a service member for the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Typical volunteer work includes Volunteer Emergency Services (like the Civil Air Patrol), Habitat for Humanity, soup kitchen work, etc.

There is no time limit required for the MOVSM however, most awarding authorities require that the volunteer service must exceed 3 years in length and/or 500 hours of service. Since the award is classified as a service medal, there is no citation which accompanies the award, however some commanders will present a personal letter to those who receive the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Multiple awards of the MOVSM are denoted by service stars.^[6]

The authority governing this award is DoD Manual 1348.33, Vol. 2 November 23, 2010, Incorporating Change 2, May 15, 2015.

Appearance

The MOVSM is a bronze medal, 1 1/4 inches in diameter. The obverse bears five interlaced annulets behind a five-pointed star, surrounded by a laurel wreath. On the reverse is an oak sprig with three leaves and two acorns between the inscription OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE above and UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES below.^[4]

The suspension and service ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 1/8 inch bluebird; 1/8 inch goldenlight; 3/16 inch bluebird; 1/16 inch green; 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.^[4]

Multiple awards

First award: service ribbon with no service stars.
Second award: service ribbon with one service star.
Third award: service ribbon with two service stars.
Fourth award: service ribbon with three service stars.
Fifth award: service ribbon with four service stars.
Sixth award: service ribbon with silver service star.
Seventh award: service ribbon with silver and bronze service stars.
Eighth award: service ribbon with silver and two bronze service stars.
Ninth award: service ribbon with silver and three bronze service stars.

References

1. "Order of Precedence". The Institute of Heraldry. Retrieved 26 November 2012. External link in |publisher= (help)
2. "Awards Order of Precedence". Navy Personnel Command. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
3. "AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 36-2903" (PDF). Air Force E-Publishing. 1 June 2010. p. 119. Retrieved 26 November 2012. External link in |publisher= (help)
4. Institute of Heraldry: Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
5. Air Force Personal Center Outstanding Volunteer Service ribbon
6. 578.36 Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal