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Authorization. Established by E.O. 11965 of 19 January 1977.

Eligibility Requirements

(1) Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States and their Reserve components who, subsequent to 1 April 1975, distinguished themselves as individuals or as members of U.S. military units or ships by meritorious, direct, nonroutine participation in a significant military act or operation of a humanitarian nature. Direct participation is defined as being physically present at the designated location, having directly contributed to and influenced the action. Designated location is the immediate site(s) of the humanitarian operations as defined by the Presidential request for assistance in the U.S. or the Department of State for overseas areas. When appropriate, the local commander in the recommendation may propose specific clarification of designated boundaries based on the intent of the presidential or Department of State request. Specifically excluded from eligibility are service members or elements remaining at geographically separated military locations or who were assigned to the location but did not make a direct contribution to nor influenced the action. Award of the HSM does not preclude or conflict with other medals or ribbons awarded on the basis of unit achievement, or of indivi­ dual valor, achievement or meritorious service except the AFSM as covered in the previous article. No service member shall be entitled to more than one award of the HSM for participation in the same military act or operation of a humanitarian nature. (2) The following types of military acts or operations may qualify for award of the HSM:

(a) Significant assistance in the event of national or international disasters, natural or man-made, such as, but not limited to, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, typhoons, or conflagrations.

(b) Relief to a starvation area.

(c) Evacuation of personnel from an area threatened by a hostile force.

(d) Support or resettlement of refugees or evacuees.

(e) Other significant military activities, directly related to humanitarian service as designated in Military Service regulations. These must be above and beyond routine actions. For example, normal Search and Rescue (SAR) operations conducted by specially trained SAR units would not be eligible for HSM consideration. Similarly, in accordance with the laws and traditions of the seas, the rescue of stricken vessels by naval units would not normally be eligible.

(f) Acts or operations of a similar nature, as determined by the award approval authority.

(3) Guidelines. Services rendered in the act or operation being considered must meet the following criteria:

(a) Be above and beyond normal duties, and of major significance.

(b) Provide immediate relief, relieve human suffer­ ing, and should save lives (property may be a factor).

(c) Must have affected the outcome of the situation (non-action would have produced definite consequences).

(d) Must have specific dates and must be restricted to the period of “immediate relief.” Periods beyond immediate relief are considered established ongoing operations beyond the initial emergency conditions and these periods are no longer eligible for the HSM, but rather are considered for the AFSM.

(e) Must have evidence that the emergency assistance was:

1. Requested by the President of the United States for assistance within the United States (such as Presidential Emergency Declaration or established contingency plans issued under Presidential authority).

2. Requested by the Department of State for overseas areas.

(4) This medal may not be awarded for services rendered in domestic disturbances involving law enforcement, equal rights demonstrations, or protection of properties.

(5) This medal shall not be awarded for those military acts or operations which are of a routine, day-to-day nature. Specifically, such routine operations as helicopter or destroyer plane guard duty, routine Sea Air Rescue (SAR) missions and emergency transportation of civilian or military medical patients would not qualify. Routine rescues at sea would not qualify unless there was extreme danger to those being rescued and those performing the rescue. Generally speaking, the act or operation must be a direct humanitarian performance by the individuals or unit, at the scene. In those cases of doubt as to whether or not an act or operation qualifies, submission to SECNAV via the chain of command is recommended.

(6) For participation in subsequent operations stars will be worn as prescribed in section 122.1.

(7) The medal may be awarded posthumously.

Submission of Recommendation. Recommendations for this award will be submitted to SECNAV via the unit’s chain of command. Recommendations must be entered administratively into command channels within 2 years of the military act or operation to be recognized. Effective 14 June 1993, SECNAV is delegated authority to approve/disapprove recommendations for the HSM.