Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Encyclopedia
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a military award
of the United States Armed Forces
that has existed since 1950. The medal recognizes service performed by the Reserve
and National Guard
forces of the United States of America
.
To receive the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, a service member must complete a total of ten years service as a member of a Reserve or National Guard component of the United States military. This service may be cumulative, provided that the combined ten years of service was performed over a period of twelve consecutive years. Voluntary recalls to active duty are not counted within the ten years of service. In addition, unlike the Reserve Good Conduct Medal, a service member’s disciplinary history is not a factor when awarding the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. IRR members are eligible for the AFRM, according to the Naval Personnel Command (see http://www.npc.navy.mil/CareerInfo/ReservePersonnelManagement/IRR/IRRGuide.htm/)
Prior to 1995, the initial award of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal was presented without a device with the second and subsequent awards denoted by hourglass emblems
. The modern Armed Forces Reserve Medal is presented with a bronze hourglass device upon its initial issuance for ten years of reserve service. Subsequent awards of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal are annotated by upgrading the hourglass device to silver, for 20 years, and gold, for 30 years. A fourth award of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, for 40 years, is denoted by a bronze and gold hourglass device worn simultaneously.
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is also awarded to any member of the Reserve or National Guard who is involuntarily mobilized under Title 10 USC
or Title 14 USC, or volunteers for federal active duty during any such mobilization. In such cases, the ten year period criterion is waived and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal is presented regardless of time in service. The Mobilization Device
, or "M" device, is awarded as an attachment to the Armed Forces Reserve Medal in all such cases of mobilization to active duty. Subsequent mobilizations result in the award of an award numeral device ("2", "3", etc.) worn in connection with the "M" device, although, each mobilization must be for a different operation. For example- if a soldier participates in multiple mobilizations for one contingency operation (Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring freedom, etc), the soldier would only be awarded one "M" device, regardless of times deployed.
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a service-wide award for all branches of the military and is presented to both officer
s and enlisted
personnel. On the reverse of every Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a crest denoting the branch of service in which Reserve or National Guard duty was performed.
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is considered a successor award to the Naval Reserve Medal
and the Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon
.
Awards and decorations of the United States military
Awards and decorations of the United States Military are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces...
of the United States Armed Forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
that has existed since 1950. The medal recognizes service performed by the Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
and National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
forces of the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
To receive the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, a service member must complete a total of ten years service as a member of a Reserve or National Guard component of the United States military. This service may be cumulative, provided that the combined ten years of service was performed over a period of twelve consecutive years. Voluntary recalls to active duty are not counted within the ten years of service. In addition, unlike the Reserve Good Conduct Medal, a service member’s disciplinary history is not a factor when awarding the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. IRR members are eligible for the AFRM, according to the Naval Personnel Command (see http://www.npc.navy.mil/CareerInfo/ReservePersonnelManagement/IRR/IRRGuide.htm/)
Prior to 1995, the initial award of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal was presented without a device with the second and subsequent awards denoted by hourglass emblems
Hourglass Device
The Hourglass Device is a military award of the United States armed forces presented as an attachment to the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. The Hourglass Device denotes total service as a member of the Reserve or National Guard and is issued in three degrees....
. The modern Armed Forces Reserve Medal is presented with a bronze hourglass device upon its initial issuance for ten years of reserve service. Subsequent awards of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal are annotated by upgrading the hourglass device to silver, for 20 years, and gold, for 30 years. A fourth award of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, for 40 years, is denoted by a bronze and gold hourglass device worn simultaneously.
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is also awarded to any member of the Reserve or National Guard who is involuntarily mobilized under Title 10 USC
United States Code
The Code of Laws of the United States of America is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal laws of the United States...
or Title 14 USC, or volunteers for federal active duty during any such mobilization. In such cases, the ten year period criterion is waived and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal is presented regardless of time in service. The Mobilization Device
Mobilization Device
The Mobilization Device is an award attachment to the United States Armed Forces Reserve Medal which denotes those who have received the decoration for duty in a recall to active service from a reserve or National Guard component of the United States military.The Mobilization Device was first...
, or "M" device, is awarded as an attachment to the Armed Forces Reserve Medal in all such cases of mobilization to active duty. Subsequent mobilizations result in the award of an award numeral device ("2", "3", etc.) worn in connection with the "M" device, although, each mobilization must be for a different operation. For example- if a soldier participates in multiple mobilizations for one contingency operation (Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring freedom, etc), the soldier would only be awarded one "M" device, regardless of times deployed.
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a service-wide award for all branches of the military and is presented to both officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
s and enlisted
Enlisted rank
An enlisted rank is, in most Militaries, any rank below a commissioned officer or warrant officer. The term can also be inclusive of non-commissioned officers...
personnel. On the reverse of every Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a crest denoting the branch of service in which Reserve or National Guard duty was performed.
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is considered a successor award to the Naval Reserve Medal
Naval Reserve Medal
The Naval Reserve Medal is a decoration of the United States Navy which was created by order of Secretary of the Navy James Paulding. The medal was first issued on September 12, 1938 and was an active decoration until 1958. On September 12, 1958, the Naval Reserve Medal was declared discontinued...
and the Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon
Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon
The Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon is a decoration of the United States Marine Corps which was issued between the dates of the December 17, 1945 and December 17, 1965...
.