Defense Meritorious Service Medal
| Defense Meritorious Service Medal | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Awarded by the United States Department of Defense | |
| Type | Medal (Decoration) |
| Eligibility | any member of the U.S. Armed Forces or any member of the armed forces of a friendly foreign nation |
| Awarded for | Non-combat outstanding achievement or meritorious service. |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Clasps | Oak leaf clusters for subsequent awards. |
| Statistics | |
| Established |
Executive Order , November 3, 1977. Amended by Executive Order , April 18, 2014. |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Purple Heart |
| Next (lower) | Meritorious Service Medal |
 Service ribbon |
|
The Defense Meritorious Service Medal (DMSM) is an award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense. In the order of precedence of the United States Armed Forces, it is worn between the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal. The medal is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to members of the Armed Forces who, while serving in a joint activity, distinguish themselves by non-combat outstanding achievement or meritorious service, but not of a degree to warrant award of the Defense Superior Service Medal.
The medal is not the same as the Meritorious Service Medal, which is a separate federal military decoration. Both have virtually identical award criteria, but the DMSM is awarded to service members assigned to joint, multi-service organizations, while the MSM is awarded to service members in traditional military units within their respective individual services.
The medal was first created on 3 November 1977 by President Jimmy Carter under Executive Order to recognize non-combat meritorious achievement or service while serving in a joint assignment. The recognized service is typically for a period of time greater than 12 months, encompassing a recipients entire joint assignment, including extensions. The required achievement or service, is of a lesser degree than that required for award of the Defense Superior Service Medal, but must have been accomplished with distinction.
A joint assignment "connotes activities, operations, or organizations in which elements of more than one Armed Forces of the United States, as reflected in joint manpower documents or the Joint Duty Assignment List, perform joint missions under the auspices of the Office of the Secretary of Defense; the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; or the commander of a Combatant Command". Service members assigned to or attached to a Joint Task Force as individuals, not members of a specific military service's unit, can be eligible for the DMSM. Members of service specific units are eligible for awards of personal decorations from their parent service. Personnel serving with jointly manned staffs within Allied Command Europe, Allied Command Atlantic, the NATO Military Committee, and military agencies associated with functions of the military or other joint activities as may be designated are also included.
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