| Reserve Good Conduct Medal | |
|---|---|
| Awarded by U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard | |
| Type | Medal |
| Status | Current |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Good Conduct Medal |
| Next (lower) | Army – Army of Occupation Medal Navy – Navy Expeditionary Medal Marine Corps – Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal Air Force – Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon Coast Guard – Navy Occupation Service Medal |
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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.
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To receive a Reserve Good Conduct Medal, a service member (excluding Army Reservists), must, generally, be an active member of the Reserve or National Guard 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.
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.[1] The ARCAM was originally awarded for four years of honorable service as an active member of a unit in the Army Reserve 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.
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 Medal. 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.[2]
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 Guard, 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[3]
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.
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.
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