Naval Reserve Meritorious Service
Military Medal & Military Ribbon

Effective 1 January 2014, Navy Reserve members are eligible for the navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) Additionaly, the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal will no longer be awarded. Reserve service prior to 1 January 2014 earned towards the naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal may be applied towards award of the Navy Good Conduct Medal.
For additional information select ALNAV 025/14(PDF)

a. Authorization. The Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal (NRMSM)
was authorized by SECNAV on 22 June 1964. Originally SECNAV approved . a National Naval Reserve Policy Board Item in 1960 for the award as a ribbon, in recognition of Navy Reservists on inactive duty for fulfilling certain requirements with distinction. The NRMSM is intended to provide Navy Reservists an award equivalent to the Navy Good Conduct Medal.

b. Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal Eligibility Requirements. The
initial date for computation of service is 1 July 1958. From 1 July 1958 through 31 December 1995, the period of eligibility was four years. Beginning 1 January 1996, the period of eligibility is three years. The Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal may be awarded to an enlisted Navy Reservist who meets the following minimum requirements:

(1) Performs three periods of active duty of not less than 12 consecutive days each, unless Commander, Navy Reserve Force or his delegated authority waives any period or portion of a period. Any combination of Annual Training (AT), Active Duty for Training (ADT), and/or Active Duty for Special Work (ADSW) satisfies the annual requirement. AT completed prior to 31 August 1994 must have been for periods of not less than 12 consecutive days, unless waived by competent authority for reasons not initiated by the individual reservist.

(2) Attends a minimum of 90 percent of all scheduled drills each year prior
to 1 October 1997, and a minimum of 85 percent thereafter, with an organized unit of the Navy Reserve, for three consecutive years (authorized equivalent instruction or duty may be credited in lieu of drills). Assignments to Records Review of six months or less may be counted toward eligibility for this award, provided the member maintains eligibility for a satisfactory year toward retirement by completing correspondence courses. A period of eligibility interrupted for six months or more will result in a new three- year period beginning with the date of return to a drilling status. Situations not covered in this article should be addressed to NPC (PERS-913) for resolution.

(3) When a member of the Navy Reserve is ordered to active duty, temporary active duty, or initial active duty for training, such period(s) will be credited toward fulfillment of the requirements prescribed in paragraphs 3b(l) and (2) of this article under the following conditions:

(a) The active duty consists of at least 30 days;

(b) The member must have earned some credit toward an award while in an inactive duty drilling status, except for personnel enlisted in reserve programs with no drilling obligation prior to reporting to active duty. These programs include Two Year General Detail (GENDET), Three Year Enlistment Apprenticeship, Sea/Air Mariner (SAM), or TAR Enlistment (TEP) Programs. Personnel enlisted in these programs may receive credit toward the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal (NRMSM) for periods of active duty or active duty for training (ACDUTRA) performed, provided such a period is
less than three years.

(c) Upon completion of the three-year eligibility requirement for the award
while on continuous active duty, the member may not qualify for subsequent awards without returning to an inactive duty drill status. Continuous active duty may be applied toward the award of a Navy Good Conduct Medal.

(d) Active duty time credited toward the award of the Navy Good Conduct Medal may not be credited toward eligibility for the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal (NRMSM). Active duty time not credited toward award of the NGCM may be credited toward the NRMSM provided the member affiliates with the Selected Reserve within 90 days of discharge or release from active duty and has met all other requirements for the NGCM.

(4) Conduct and Performance

(a) Member must have a clear record for the period of eligibility (no convictions by courts-martial or NJP). If a member's service record indicates convictions by either court- martial or NJP, the three-year period shall begin with the date of completion of the court-martial sentence or NJP.

(b) No enlisted performance evaluation mark below 2.0 in any trait
subsequent to 31 December 1995, or below 3.0 in military knowledge/performance, rating knowledge/performance, reliability,
military bearing, personal behavior, and directing between 31 August 1983
and 31 December 1995 (or equivalent when other than numerical values are assigned).