National Defense Service Medal

National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Awarded by United States
Type	Service medal
Eligibility	Member of the United States Armed Forces during qualifying periods of national emergency
Awarded for	Military service during periods of national emergency or any other periods designated by the Secretary of Defense.
Campaign(s)	Korean War; Vietnam War; Persian Gulf War; Global War on Terrorism
Status	Active
Description	Obverse: Shows the American bald eagle, perched on a sword and palm. Above this, in a semicircle, is the inscription "National Defense". Reverse: Shows a shield, taken from the Coat of Arms of the United States; it is half encircled below with an open wreath, the right side of oak leaves and laurel leaves the left. Ribbon: The ribbon has a wide yellow stripe in the center, flanked by narrow stripes of red, white, blue, white and wide red stripes.
Clasps	Service star for subsequent awards
Statistics
Established	, April 22, 1953 (as amended by , January 11, 1966; , October 8, 1991; , March 28, 2003.
First awarded	Korean War era: June 27, 1950 – July 27, 1954
Last awarded	Global War on Terrorism: September 11, 2001 – present
Precedence
Next (higher)	Navy: Navy Occupation Service Medal Marine Corps: Navy Occupation Service Medal Army: Army of Occupation Medal Air Force: Medal for Humane Action Coast Guard: Navy Occupation Service Medal
Next (lower)	Korean Service Medal
Related	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Service ribbon and Streamer

Obverse: Shows the American bald eagle, perched on a sword and palm. Above this, in a semicircle, is the inscription "National Defense".
Reverse: Shows a shield, taken from the Coat of Arms of the United States; it is half encircled below with an open wreath, the right side of oak leaves and laurel leaves the left.

The National Defense Service Medal is a service medal of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. The medal was first intended to be a "blanket campaign medal" awarded to service members who served honorably during a designated time period of which a "national emergency" had been declared during a time of war or conflict. It may also be issued to active military members for any other period that the Secretary of Defense designates.

Currently, the National Defense Service Medal is the oldest service medal in use by the United States Armed Forces. The oldest continuously issued combat medal is the Medal of Honor.

The National Defense Service Medal is authorized for the following time periods:

The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is awarded to anyone who serves on active duty in the United States military during the above time periods. Reserve Component service during the Korean and Vietnam periods, other than those Reserve Component personnel in a full-time status or on active duty greater than 89 days, did not qualify for award of the NDSM.

For service in the Persian Gulf War, members of the Reserve Component (in good standing), to include the National Guard, were initially awarded the NDSM when called to active duty service, but this was later expanded to include all members of the Reserve or National Guard in good standing on the Reserve Active Status List (or equivalent) during the eligibility period.

For service in the Global War on Terrorism, Selected Reserve and National Guard members need only to have been in good standing to receive the NDSM and no active duty service is required. Inactive Ready Reserve and Retired Reserve are not eligible to be awarded the NDSM unless called to active duty.