Antarctica Service Medal
Display Recognition

Site Index

      • Example Display Recognition
      • Applicable Military Branches
      • Display Types
      • Issue Requirements
      • Issue Regulations
      • Who May Apply
      • Administration Processing and Delivery
      • How To Apply For This Display Recognition and/or Medal
      • Mailing Address
      • Questions?
      • Other Display Recognitions
      • Antarctica Registry Application
      • Military Medals Website
      • Military Medals Discussion Forum
      • Example Display Recognition:
        Actual Size: 8 1/2 x 11
        All Five Service Branches, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard,
        Marine and Navy
        are Applicable.



        Military Branches

        All Military Service branches are applicable:
        Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy

        Who May Apply

        • Veteran recipients
        • Active Duty recipients
        • Family Members of recipients
        • Estate Inheritors

        Display Types

        You have four display types to choose from:
        Black & White (No Color)
        Heavy Bond Enclosure

        Heavy Bond Enclosure
        Colors: Regal, Black, Navy
        Trimmed in Appearance Gold

        Ready for Mantle or Shelf Display

        Issue Requirements
        You must submit the following:

      • An unaltered photocopy of your DD-214, OR WD AGO 53-55, OR other military issued document clearly displaying your Antarctica Service Medal award or eligibility.
      • Contact The War Library if you do not have a DD-214: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone).
      • NOTICE

        This Display Recognition is available ONLY to authorized recipients who possess orders, or authorization form, or release documentation that confirms award eligibility. (See "Issue Requirements"). To obtain either a Display Medal or a Display Recognition for your authorized award you will be required to provide military-issued documentation authorizing your award. There are no exceptions.

        WARNING!
        You must NOT submit a military issued document or photocopy that:

        • has been altered in any way by you after
          the original's official issue
        • contains information or corrections or
          additions that you entered
        • lists awards or training you knowingly did not receive
        • contains highlighting, colorizing or other markings you entered

        Be advised that on request any knowingly fraudulent document sent by you will be released to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that may result in prosecution and/or fine/imprisonment.

        Email Questions, or Phone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

        Personnel Branch
        Processing and Delivery

        Style Admin Shipping Total
        Full Color .PDF (Printable) $7.50 Emailed $7.50
        Published Document only (Full Color) $14.00 $10.50 USPS $24.50
        Published Document in Heavy Bond Enclosure (Full Color) $19.00 $10.50 USPS $29.50
        Full Color Printable Certificates
        on CD-Rom (minimum 20 Certificates)
        $7.50 $7.50 By Count

      • Total/Shipping fees, above, apply to 50 U.S. states
      • Contact The War Library for international shipping cost
      • How to Apply

        You may apply for your Display Recognition using a...

      • Check Debit card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Charge card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Personal, Business, Bank or Cashiers Check ( * Shipped in 6 weeks)
      • Money Order (* Shipped in 6 weeks)
      • (* Upon reception of required documentation)

        Complete and MAIL this APPLICATION FORM.
        Don't forget to include an unaltered COPY of your DD-214, DD-215 or other pre-arranged document(s).

        DISPLAY RECOGNITION and/or MEDAL APPLICATION FORM

        Mailing Address

        Records Chief (REC-AMW)
        The American War Library
        817 East Via Carmelitos Ste 319
        Long Beach CA 90805-7549

        Questions?

        Click here for answers to common questions

        Email: Recognition Inquiry

        Telephone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

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        Issue Regulations
        The Antarctica Service Medal

        Establishing Legislation


        Click for larger image

        The Antarctica Service Medal was established by Act of Congress (Public Law 86-600, 86th Congress) on July 7, 1960. Administratively, the Antarctica Service Medal is a Department of Defense service medal.

        This medal was authorized by Public Law 86-600 on July 12, 1961, and the design received final approval in 1963. It is awarded to members of Antarctic expeditions and personnel of the permanent Antarctica stations or for service in contiguous waters, starting with the United States Navy Operation "Highjump" under the late Rear Admiral Richard Byrd in beginning 02 January 1946. It is awarded to officers and enlisted men of the armed forces and to deserving civilians, such as scientists and polar experts.

        Subsequent to 01 June 1973, a minimum period of 30 days of service at sea or ashore south of 60 degrees latitude was required. Each day of duty at an outlying station on the Antarctic continent will count as 2 days when determining award eligibility. Effective 01 July 1987, flight crews of aircraft providing logistics support from outside the Antarctic area may qualify for the award after 15 missions (one flight in and out during any 24-hour period equals one mission). Days need not be consecutive.

        A "Wintered Over" clasp is awarded to those who have spent the winter months (March through October) in Antarctica. A bronze clasp (or miniature Antarctic continent device on the service ribbon) signifies one winter; gold two and silver three or more winters.

        Event Commemorated

        This medal is a continuation of the series of medals established by Congress to commemorate polar expeditions. Specifically, it is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States, any U.S. Citizen, or any resident alien of the United States who, after January 1, 1946 has served or serves on the Antarctic Continent or in support of U.S. operations there.

        No minimum time limits for participation at sea or ashore south of latitude 60 degrees south were required prior to June 1, 1973. However, since that date a minimum time limit for the award has been set at 30 days. Each day of duty at any outlying station on the Antarctic Continent counts as two days for determining award eligibility. Flight crews of aircraft providing logistics support from outside the Antarctic area will receive no more than one day's credit for flights in and out during any 24-hour period. The days counted toward eligibility do not have to be consecutive, and flight personnel may earn the medal based on fifteen flights into the area.

        Order of Precedence

        The Antarctica Service Medal is worn after the Korean Service Medal and before the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

        Devices

        Personnel who remain on the Antarctic continent during the winter months are awarded the following WINTERED OVER clasps:

        -- Bronze (one winter) -- Gold (two winters) -- Silver (three or more winters)

        NOTE: These clasps are represented on the service ribbon by bronze, gilt, and silver discs 5/l6ths of an inch in diameter with the Antarctic Continent's outline inscribed thereon.

        Designer

        The Antarctica Service Medal was designed by Rawson K. Moore and sculpted by Thomas Hudson Jones(1892-1969), both of the Institute of Heraldry.

        First Recipient

        The identity of the first award of the Antarctica Service Medal was not recorded.

        Description and Symbolism

        Obverse

        In the center of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, there is a view of a polar landscape on which stands a man in Antarctic clothing, between the horizontally placed words ANTARCTICA on the viewer's left and SERVICE on the right.

        The man is standing erect; his eyes on the far horizons, standing with his feet in an attitude of stability and determination; his arms extended and his hand closed. He represents those attributes of courage, devotion, and sacrifice that exemplify the best traditions of Antarctica service. The uniform is that worn by Admiral George J. Dufek, who led an advance party in 1956 to build the first permanent station on the South Pole; the hood has been thrown back to suggest readiness for instant action. The vast empty regions of the polar landscape are conveyed by the distant mountains. The modern bold letters emphasize the aggressiveness of the scientific aspects of these expeditions.

        Reverse

        In the center of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, the Continent of Antarctic from a polar projection with geodesic lines, across which are the words, COURAGE / SACRIFICE / DEVOTION, all within a circular decorative border of penguins and marine life. The decorative motif of the border symbolizes the marine life of the area. Forming a complete circle, it alludes to the unity and teamwork needed to insure success of the expeditions and also refers to the thoroughness of scientific endeavors. The words reflect the high standards of the men assigned to the expeditions.

        Ribbon

        The outer black and dark blue bands make up five twelfths of the ribbon and represent the five months of total darkness, while the graded center comprising seven-twelfths of the ribbon represent the seven light months and the Aurora Australis.

        Operations Authorized
        This is a Partial List

      • Operation High Jump

      • To Search for the name of a vessel and its crew authorized the ASM please access The War Library's Unit Award database: http://www.amervets.com/library.htm