a. Authorization. Special Order No. 49 of 20 July 1896
established the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (MCGCM) to
recognize good behavior and faithful service in the Marine
Corps. The CMC has review authority over the MCGCM and
designates specific criteria for the award.
b. Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal Eligibility Requirements
(1) Service
(a) Any three years of continuous active service
after 10 December 1945, regardless of expiration or extension of
enlistments and any previous or subsequent disciplinary action,
except as indicated in subparagraph (b) for enlisted personnel,
Regular or Reserve, including service in temporary warrant or
temporary commissioned status, provided such temporary officer
reverts to enlisted status. Also, if reenlisted within a period
of 90 days from date of discharge, it will not be construed as
an interruption of continuous service, but the period between
discharge and reenlistment will not be counted.
(b) Individual Ready Reservists, mobilized for
three continuous years, may elect the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (MCGCM) in lieu of
continuing their eligibility for the Selected Marine Corps
Reserve Medal. Administrative units should make an appropriate
entry in the Marine's official military record (OMPF), which
indicates the Marine was mobilized under Title 10, specifies the
dates of the mobilization period, and that the Marine elected to
receive the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (MCGCM) for the period of active duty. A copy of the
Marine's orders and the award certificate should be filed in the
Marine's OMPF for historical purposes.
(c) Provided the individual is otherwise qualified,
an Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (MCGCM) shall be authorized for any three years of enlisted
service consisting of a combination of periods of active service
in a war, national emergency, or armed hostilities in which the
United States is engaged. When the first period of such service
terminated prior to 10 December 1945, a total of four years of
enlisted service is required. In establishing eligibility for
the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (MCGCM) under this paragraph, service performed during World
War 11, Korea, and Vietnam will not be creditable unless entry
or reentry to active service occurred during the inclusive
periods 8 September 1939 to 31 December 1946; 27 June 1950 to 27 July 1954; and/or 3 July 1965 to 30 September 1975.
(d) For the first award only, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (MCGCM) may be
awarded, provided conduct requirements are met, to the next of
kin in cases when a service member is killed in combat against
an opposing armed force, or dies as a direct result of wounds
received in combat against an opposing armed force, or dies in
the line of duty when such death was directly related to actions
against the enemy. In addition, for the first award only, the
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (MCGCM) is authorized for individuals who are separated from the
Naval Service for physical disability, as a result of wounds
incurred in combat against an opposing armed force, or in the
line of duty when such wounds resulted directly from action
against the enemy, provided conduct requirements are met. For
the first award only, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (MCGCM) may be presented posthumously to
the next of kin of POWs if the service member's death occurs
while in a POW status, provided it has been determined the
individual's conduct while a POW was acceptable.
(e) The three-year requirement for the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (MCGCM) may be
waived upon a Marine's completion of Officer Candidate School
(OCS), as long as the period waived does not exceed 90 days.
Upon completion of OCS, requests for waiver of the three-year
requirement shall be submitted to CMC (MMMA) for consideration.
(2) Conduct
(a) The Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (MCGCM) shall be earned for otherwise
qualifying service, involving no convictions by courts-martial
or non-judicial punishment (NJP) under the Uniform Code of
Military Justice, Article 15, and no lost time by reason of
sickness-misconduct or injury-misconduct. Prior to 27 April
1990, not more than one NJP was allowed.
(b) When NJP or a court-martial voids creditability
of service, a new good conduct period shall commence effective
on the date of approval of the NJP, or on the date of the
convening authority's action on the court-martial, except when
the offense occurred within the three-year period and the date
of approval of the NJP or of the convening authority's action is
after the expiration of the three-year period; under these
circumstances, the date of the offense shall be the commencement
date for the new period. Offenses committed in a previous
period will not be considered when determining eligibility
during the current three-year period.
(c) When sentenced to confinement as a result of
conviction by any court-martial, a new period shall begin with
the date of restoration to duty, even though in a probationary
status. The date of approval by the convening authority on all
courts-martial, not involving confinement, shall be the new
commencement date. (See also Individual Records Administration
Manual (IRAM)
Para. 4008, MCO P1070.12K. )
(d) In cases of time lost due to sickness-misconduct
or injury-misconduct, the date of return to duty shall be the
new commencement date for Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (MCGCM) qualifying service.
(e) In the case of individuals placed on the
Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL) who subsequently return
to active duty, the period spent on the TDRL does not count as a
break in service, nor does it count as active service for
computing eligibility for the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (MCGCM).
(f) When the foregoing requirements have been met,
but it is evident the individual is not deserving of the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (MCGCM)
due to a repeated record of valid letters of indebtedness,
conviction(s) by civil court for major offense(s), or other acts
not in keeping with the high moral standards of the Marine
Corps, the commanding officer will make the appropriate
recommendation to CMC (MMMA) stating the reasons.
c. Certificates. A Good Conduct Award Certificate
(NAVMC-11416(11-02))
will be completed by the commanding officer
at the time entitlement is confirmed for presentation to the
member.
Authorized Devices: Bronze Star, Silver Star |