National Defense Service Medal
Authorized by E.O. 10448 and the Secretary of Defense Memorandum, (references (r) and (s)). (1) Honorable active and Selected Reserve service as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States for any period between June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954, or between January 1, 1961 and August 14, 1974. During those periods, Service members in the following categories shall NOT be eligible for the NDSM: (a) Members of the Guard and Reserve Forces on short tours of active and Selected Reserve duty to fulfill training obligations under an inactive duty training program. (b) Any Service member on TDY or TAD to serve on boards, courts, commissions, and similar organizations. (c) Any Service member on active and Selected Reserve duty for the sole purpose of undergoing a physical examination. (2) Honorable service as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States for any period between August 2, 1990, and November 30, 1995. Service members on active and Selected Reserve duty, members of the Selected Reserve in good standing, and members of other than the Selected Reserve who were called to active and Selected Reserve duty shall also be eligible. During that period, Service members in the following categories shall NOT be considered eligible: (a) Any Service member on active and Selected Reserve duty for the sole purpose of undergoing a physical examination. (b) Any member of the Individual Ready Reserve, the Inactive National Guard or the Standby or Retired Reserve whose active and Selected Reserve duty service was for training only, or to serve on boards, courts, commissions, and similar organizations. b. Exceptions to policy criteria in subparagraphs C. 1.a. (1) and (2), above, maybe granted by the Military Departments. c. Notwithstanding these limitations, any member of the United States Coast Guard or the Reserve or Guard Forces of the Armed Forces who, between January 1, 1961 and August 14, 1974, became eligible for award of either the AFEM or the Vietnam Service Medal or between August 2, 1990 and November 30, 1995, became eligible for award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal shall be eligible for award of the NDSM.