Naval Reserve
Meritorious Service Medal
Display Recognition

Site Index

      • Example Display Recognition
      • 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
      • Naval Service Websites
      • Sample Display Recognition
        See also Naval Reserve Service Medal



        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

        Trimmed in Appearance Gold

        Ready for Mantle or Shelf Display

        Issue Requirements
        You must submit the following:

      • An unaltered photocopy of your DD-214 clearly displaying your service period that includes Reserve duty.
      • 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 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


        Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal


        Click for larger image

        Establishing Authority

        The Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal was established when Secretary of the Navy Fred A. Korth approved National Naval Policy Board (1960) Report, promulgated by BUPERS Notice 1650 of June 25, 1962. Originally authorized as a ribbon only, the medal was authorized by Secretary of the Navy Paul H. Nitze on June 22, 1964.

        Effective Dates

        The initial date for computation of service that can be credited to this award is July 1, 1958.

        Criteria

        The Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal is awarded on a selective basis to Navy Reservists who, during any three consecutive years subsequent to July 1, 1958, fulfill with distinction the obligations of inactive reserve. These requirements include performing four periods of active duty for training of not less than twelve days each and attending ninety percent of all scheduled drills with an organized unit of the Naval Reserve each year for four consecutive years (appropriate duty and equivalent instruction or duty may be credited in lieu of drills).

        Order of Precedence

        The Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal is worn after the Navy Reserve Special Commendation Ribbon and before the Fleet Marine Force ribbon.

        Devices

        Additional awards of the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal are indicated by bronze stars.

        Designer

        The Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal was designed by the Institute of Heraldry Staff.

        Description and Symbolism

        Obverse

        In the center of a bronze medallion one and three eighths inches in diameter, a fouled anchor is shown with a scroll around its shank. On the scroll, in two segments, are the words MERITORIOUS SERVICE in incised letters. Encircling the anchor and following the contour of the medal, the words UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE, appear in raised letters. The anchor represents the naval service and the character of the required service is reflected in the words on the scroll.

        Reverse

        The reverse of the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal is blank. Ribbon

        The ribbon is a slight modification of the ribbon for the obsolete Naval Reserve Medal (which was effectively replaced by the Armed Forces Reserve Medal). The only difference between this ribbon and that of the naval Reserve Medal is that this ribbon has a quarter inch wide stripe of dark blue in the center. The blue and gold pinstripes at the edge of the ribbon represent the Navy; the scarlet center stripe was adapted from the Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the blue center stripe was added to distinguished this ribbon from that of the Naval Reserve Medal.

        Authorized on September 12, 1959, originally as a ribbon bar only. The ribbon was replaced by the medal on June 22, 1962. It is awarded on a selective basis to U.S. Navy Reservists who fulfill with distinction the obligations of inactive reservists, meeting certain attendance and performance requirements at a higher level than that normally expected.

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