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Eligibility Requirements

(1) Honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces for any period after 26 June 1950 to 28 July 1954, after 31 December 1960 and before 15 August 1974 or after 1 August 1990 and before 1 December 1995. For this award, the following personnel shall not be considered as performing active service:

(a) Guard and Reserve forces personnel on short tours of active duty to fulfill training obligations under an inactive duty training program. However, effective 8 October 1991, President Bush expanded criteria to include all members of the National Guard and Reserve who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing during the period 02 August 1990 to 30 November 1995. Consequently, all Navy and Marine Corps personnel serving on active duty and members of the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing during said period are eligible for the award.

(b) Any person on temporary active duty to serve on boards, courts, commissions and like organizations.

(c) Any person on active duty for the sole purpose of undergoing a physical examination. (d) Any person on active duty for purposes other than extended active duty.

(2) Subparagraphs (l)(a) through (d) above shall not bar the award of the NDSM to members of the Guard or Reserve forces, who, after 31 December 1960 become eligible for the award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Vietnam Service Medal who serve for 30 days or more on temporary active duty. Such persons shall be considered to be performing active service for the purpose of eligibility for the National Defense Service Medal.

(3) Midshipmen attending the Naval Academy during the above periods are eligible for this medal.

(4) Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipmen are only eligible if they participated in a summer cruise that was in an area which qualified for a campaign medal.

Note: President Bush has also authorized the award of the National Defense Service Medal to all military personnel serving on or after September 11, 2001, to a date yet to be determined.

Subsequent Award. A 3/16-inch bronze star shall be worn on the suspension ribbon and ribbon bar by personnel who earned the medal for honorable active duty after 26 June 1950 and before 28 July 1954, after 31 December 1960 and before 15 August 1974, and again after 1 August 1990 and before 1 December 1995.