This award, authorized by Executive Order 12830, 9 January 1993, may be awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their Reserve Components, who subsequent to 31 December 1992, perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature. Refer to DoD 1348.33-M for specific individual eligibility requirements and recommendation procedures and format.

On 2 July 1996, the Secretary of the Air Force approved realigning the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal approval authority to the group commander level. This includes commanders of composite and provisional groups and (colonel) commanders of geographically separated units. This authority may not be further delegated.