Humanitarian Service Medal

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Humanitarian Service Medal
Obverse and reverse of the Humanitarian Service Medal
Awarded by Department of Defense
Type	Single-grade Medal
Eligibility	Military personnel only
Awarded for	Meritorious participation in a significant military act or operation of a humanitarian nature, or have rendered a special service to mankind.
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Established	Executive Order 11965, January 19, 1977
Precedence
Next (higher)	Armed Forces Service Medal
Next (lower)	Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Ribbon for the Humanitarian Service Medal

The Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM) is a military service medal of the United States Armed Forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under Executive Order 11965. This medal is awarded to any member of the United States military (including Reserve and National Guard members) who distinguish themselves by meritorious participation in specified military acts or operations of a humanitarian nature.^[1]^[2]

Criteria

This medal is presented as an individual service medal. The activities in which the Humanitarian Service Medal may be authorized are designated by the United States Department of Defense. Such activities include natural disaster relief, evacuation of non-combatants from a hostile area, or humanitarian support to refugees. This medal may not be awarded for services rendered in domestic disturbances involving law enforcement, equal rights demonstrations, or protection of property. This medal may also not be presented if either the Armed Forces Service Medal or Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was presented for the same period of service.^[3]

The Humanitarian Service Medal is retroactive to April 1, 1975. Multiple awards of the medal are authorized with service stars denoting additional awards. The Department of the Army awards the Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service for similar service by Army civilian employees, as well as private American and foreign citizens.^[4]

Appearance

Centered on the obverse of the medal within a circle, is a right hand pointing diagonally upward with open palm, (to symbolize a giving or helping hand). At the top of the reverse of the medal is the inscription, For Humanitarian Service in three lines. Below this is an oak branch, with three leaves and three acorns, and below this, around the outside edge of the medal, is the inscription, United States Armed Forces.^[1]

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 Institute of Heraldry Humanitarian Service Medal
↑ Air Force Personal Center Humanitarian Service Medal
↑ 578.35 Humanitarian Service Medal
↑ "Army Regulation 672–20 Incentive Awards". Headquarters, Department of the Army. 29 January 1999. Retrieved 4 January 2013.

v t e Inter-service awards and decorations of the United States military

Federal military decorations	Medal of Honor Silver Star Medal Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal

Department level military decorations	Defense Distinguished Service Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Defense Meritorious Service Joint Service Commendation Joint Service Achievement Joint Meritorious Unit

Federal service medals	National Defense Service Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Outstanding Volunteer Service Armed Forces Service Medal Armed Forces Reserve Prisoner of War Antarctica Service Korean Service Korea Defense Service Vietnam Service Southwest Asia Service Kosovo Campaign Afghanistan Campaign Medal Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

v t e Awards and decorations of the United States Air Force

Decorations	Air Force Cross Air Force Distinguished Service Airman's Medal Aerial Achievement Air Force Commendation Air Force Achievement

Service medals	Air Force Combat Action Combat Readiness Good Conduct Air and Space Campaign

Unit awards	Presidential Unit Citation Gallant Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Outstanding Unit Organizational Excellence

Service ribbons	Outstanding Airman of the Year Air Force Recognition Overseas Service Short Tour Overseas Service Long Tour Air Force Expeditionary Service Air Force Longevity Military Training Instructor Air Force Recruiter NCO PME Graduate Basic Training Honor Graduate Marksmanship Air Force Training

v t e Awards and decorations of the United States Army

Decorations	Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal Soldier's Medal Army Commendation Army Achievement

Good conduct	Army Good Conduct Reserve Achievement

Unit awards	Presidential Unit Citation Valorous Unit Meritorious Unit Commendation Superior Unit

Service ribbons	Sea Duty NCO Professional Development Army Service Overseas Service Reserve Overseas Training

v t e Military awards of the United States Department of the Navy

Meritorious medals	Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Navy and Marine Corps Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Navy and Marine Corps Achievement

Expeditionary medals	Navy Expeditionary Marine Corps Expeditionary

Good Conduct medals	Navy Good Conduct Marine Corps Good Conduct Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Selected Marine Corps Reserve

Unit awards	Presidential Unit Citation Navy Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Navy E Ribbon

Ribbons	Combat Action Overseas Service Sea Service Arctic Service Navy Recruiting Service Marine Corps Recruiting Service Navy Recruit Training Service Marine Corps Drill Instructor Marine Corps Security Guard Navy Ceremonial Duty Navy Reserve Sea Service

Marksmanship	Navy Expert Rifleman Medal Navy Sharpshooter Rifle Ribbon Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal Navy Sharpshooter Pistol Shot Medal Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon

v t e Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard

Decorations	Coast Guard Cross Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Medal Commendation Medal Achievement Medal Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon

Lifesaving Medals	Gold Lifesaving Medal Silver Lifesaving Medal

Unit Awards	Presidential Unit Citation Coast Guard Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation Meritorious Team Commendation Coast Guard E Ribbon

Conduct Medals	Good Conduct Medal Reserve Good Conduct Medal

Service Awards	Combat Action Ribbon Enlisted Person of the Year Ribbon Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal Special Operations Service Ribbon Sea Service Ribbon Restricted Duty Ribbon Overseas Service Ribbon Basic Training Honor Graduate Ribbon Recruiting Service Ribbon

Marksmanship	Distinguished Marksman Ribbon Silver Excellence in Competition Rifle Ribbon Bronze Excellence in Competition Rifle Ribbon Expert Rifle Ribbon Sharpshooter Rifle Ribbon Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon Distinguished Pistol Shot Ribbon Silver Pistol Excellence in Competition Ribbon Bronze Pistol Excellence in Competition Ribbon Expert Pistol Ribbon Sharpshooter Pistol Ribbon Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon

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