Antarctica Service Medal

Antarctica Service Medal
Antarctica Service Medal (left image=obverse, right image=reverse)
Awarded by United States Department of Defense
Type	Medal
Awarded for	Training or service between fifteen to thirty consecutive days stationed in Antarctica.
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Established	Pub.L. 86−600, 74 Stat. 337, enacted July 7, 1960^[1]
First awarded	January 2, 1946 (retroactive)
Precedence
Next (higher)	Korean Service Medal
Equivalent	Navy & Marine Corps - Navy Arctic Service Ribbon Air Force - Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with Arctic "A" Device Coast Guard - Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal
Next (lower)	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Service ribbon

The Antarctica Service Medal (ASM) was established by the United States Congress on July 7, 1960 under Public Law 600 of the 86th Congress.^[2]^[3] The medal was intended as a military award to replace several commemorative awards which had been issued for previous Antarctica expeditions from 1928 to 1941. The following commemorative medals were declared obsolete, following the creation of the Antarctica Service Medal.

The Antarctica Service Medal is considered an award of the United States Armed Forces, issued in the name of the U.S. Department of Defense, and is authorized for wear on active duty uniforms. The medal may also be awarded to U.S. civilians, but after the initial award, the civilian may only wear the miniature or the lapel pin depending on the occasion.

The Arctic equivalents of the Antarctica Service Medal are the Navy Arctic Service Ribbon, the Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal and the Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with Arctic "A" Device.

Criteria

To qualify for the Antarctica Service Medal, personnel must train or serve between fifteen to thirty days stationed on the Antarctic continent, defined as south of 60 degrees latitude. Flight crews performing transport missions to Antarctica qualify for one day of service for each flight mission performed within a 24-hour time period.^[4]

Appearance

The award is issued as a bronze medal, 1 ¹⁄₄ inches in diameter. Its obverse consists of a polar landscape view and standing figure in Antarctica clothing facing to the front between the horizontally placed words, "ANTARCTICA" on the figure's left and "SERVICE" on the figure's right.^[3]

On its reverse is a polar projection with geodesic lines of the continent of Antarctica across which are the horizontally placed words "COURAGE", "SACRIFICE", and "DEVOTION", all within a circular decorative border of penguins and marine life.

The service ribbon is 1 ³⁄₈ inches wide and consists of a ³⁄₁₆-inch black stripe on each edge and graded from a white stripe in the center to a pale blue, light blue, greenish blue, and medium blue. The outer bands of black and dark blue represent five months of Antarctic darkness; the center portion, by its size and colors – grading from medium blue through light blue and pale blue to white – symbolizes seven months of solar illumination, and also the aurora australis.^[5]

Devices

For those personnel performing extended winter service in Antarctica, a "Wintered Over" device is authorized. The "Wintered Over" bar is only worn on the full-size medal's suspension ribbon. The smaller "disc" device is worn on the uniform ribbon to recognize this service.

The Wintered Over device is bestowed to indicate the number of winters served on the Antarctica continent. The device is worn as a disk on the award ribbon and is issued in bronze for one winter service, gold for two, and silver for three or more winters of service. On the full-sized medal a clasp is worn, issued in the same degree, inscribed with the words "Wintered Over" The metal color of the clasp is bronze for the first winter, gold for the second winter, and silver for the third winter.

References

↑ Additional details and descriptions are given at 32 CFR 578.24.
↑ "An Act to provide for the presentation of a medal to persons who have served as members of a United States expedition to Antarctica" (PDF). United States Antarctic Program. July 7, 1960. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
1 2 "Antarctica Service Medal". The Institute of Heraldry: Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the ARMY. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
↑ "Antarctica Service Medal". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
↑ "Background and History of the Antarctic Service Medal" (PDF). Antarctic Journal of the United States. Retrieved 2013-12-24.

External links

"Army Regulation 600–8–22: Military Awards" (PDF). Headquarters, United States Department of the Army. September 15, 2011.
"SecNav Instruction 1650.1H: Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual" (PDF). Office of the Secretary, United States Department of the Navy. August 22, 2006.

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

United States Campaign, Expeditionary and Service Medals

19th century	Civil War Campaign Medal Indian Campaign Medal Dewey Medal Sampson Medal Cardenas Medal of Honor West Indies Campaign Medal Spanish Campaign Medal Spanish War Service Medal Army of Cuban Occupation Medal Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal Philippine Campaign Medal Philippine Congressional Medal

Early 20th century	China Campaign Medal (Army) China Relief Expedition Medal (Navy) Army of Cuban Pacification Medal Cuban Pacification Medal Nicaraguan Campaign Medal Haitian Campaign Medal Dominican Campaign Medal

World War I era	Mexican Service Medal Mexican Border Service Medal World War I Victory Medal Texas Cavalry Medal Army of Occupation of Germany Medal

Inter war era	Navy Expeditionary Medal Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal Haitian Campaign Medal NC-4 Medal Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal Yangtze Service Medal Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal United States Antarctic Expedition Medal

World War II era	China Service Medal American Defense Service Medal Women's Army Corps Service Medal American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal Medal for Humane Action

Late 20th century	National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal Antarctica Service Medal Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal Kosovo Campaign Medal Armed Forces Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

21st century	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Afghanistan Campaign Medal Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal Air and Space Campaign Medal Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal

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