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 Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) was
established by SECNAV on 26 April 1869 to recognize the "all-
around" good Navy enlisted person, well qualified in all phases
of
conduct and performance. Effective 1 February 1971,
commanding
officers were delegated authority to award the NGCM.
The CNO has review authority over the NGCM and designates
specific criteria for the award.
b. Navy Good Conduct Medal Eligibility Requirements
(1) Period of Service. In accordance with NAVADMIN
305/95, subsequent to 1 January 1996, any three years of
continuous active
service as an enlisted person in the Regular
Navy or Navy Reserve.
For the period 1 November 1963 through 31
December 1995, inclusive, the qualifying eligibility period is
four years. This requirement may be fulfilled by:
(a) Continuous active service during a minority (see
note) enlistment, provided the member served on active duty to
the day preceding his/her 21st birthday, even though he/she
extended the enlistment and remained
on active duty. Note: The
term "minority" as used in this paragraph and paragraph
(b)
below refers to being under the age of 18 and not to any
particular
racial or ethnic background. (b) Continuous active service during a minority
enlistment, provided the member served on active duty within
three months of the day preceding his/her 21st birthday.
(c) Continuous active service during a three-year
first enlistment. For
first-term personnel who meet all
eligibility requirements except length
of service, the Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) may
be awarded
up to three months prior to the eligibility date if
the member is discharged or released to inactive duty; i.e., the
last three months of service may be waived. This does not apply
to members who are discharged for the purpose of immediate
reenlistment.
(d) A member not eligible for the Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) who reenlists
or reports for active duty within three months after
discharge
or release to inactive duty, is considered to be serving under
\\continuous
active service" conditions. While the time between
the
date of separation and date of return to active duty is not
counted as an interruption of active service, it may not be
included in computing time served. A member who reenlists or
reports for active duty more than
three months after separating
must begin a new three-year qualification period.
e) An enlisted member appointed a temporary warrant
or commissioned officer may include such temporary service, upon
reverting to an
enlisted status, regardless of the purpose
(including discharge to
accept appointment as a permanent
officer). Naval Academy
midshipmen who are not commissioned,
but are retained in the service
in an enlisted status, may
include such midshipman service for the
purpose of earning the
Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM). Except
as provided above, service in warrant,
commissioned, or Naval Academy midshipman status may not be
included in computing time served.
(2) Conduct. Within the required period of active
service, the individual must have a clear record (no convictions
by court-martial, no non-judicial punishment (NJP), no lost time
by reason of sickness-misconduct, no
civil convictions for
offenses involving moral turpitude).
(a) If confinement as a result of conviction by any
court-martial
(general, special, or summary) is involved, a new
qualifying period
shall begin with the date of restoration to
duty on a probationary basis.
If confinement is not included in the approved sentence of the
court-martial, a new qualifying
period shall begin with the date of convening authority action.
(b) If the service record contains record of NJP, a
new qualifying
period shall begin with the date following the
date of the offense. If the
date of the offense cannot be
determined, the new qualifying period
shall begin with the date
following the NJP.
(c) If convicted by civil authorities for an offense
involving moral .turpitude, a new qualifying period shall begin
with the date of return
to active duty status.
(d) If the record contains a disqualifying mark that
is not the result of
NJP, the new qualifying period shall begin
with the date following the
date of the mark.
(3) Performance marks required during period of
eligibility.
(a) Subsequent to 1 January 1996, no mark below
2.0 in any trait.
(b) Between 31 August 1983 and 31 December
1995, no mark below
3.0 in Military Knowledge/Performance,
. Rating Knowledge/
Performance,
Reliability, Military Bearing,
Personal Behavior, and Directing
(c) Prior to 31 August 1983:
I 1 E-4 and below. No mark below 3.0 in any trait.
2 E-5 and E-6. No mark below EEL (Typically
Effective-Lower) in Directing, Individual Productivity,
Reliability or Conduct.
3 E-7 to E-9. No mark below the bottom 50
percent in Performance, Reliability, Conduct or Directing. If
an individual receives a
disqualifying trait mark, a new period
of eligibility shall begin on the
day following the ending date
of the performance evaluation report that contains the
disqualifying trait mark.
c. Waivers. Subsequent to 17 May 1974, for the first award
only, the
Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) may be awarded in the following cases, provided conduct and performance requirements are met:
(1) For individuals who are killed in combat against an
opposing armed force, or die as a direct result of wounds
received in combat against an opposing armed force, the award
may be presented posthumously to the next of kin.
(2) 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 where such wounds were directly related to action against
the enemy.
(3) For individuals who die while in a POW status, the
Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) may be presented posthumously to the next
of kin, provided
it has been determined the member's conduct while a POW was
acceptable.
d. Limitations
(1) When the requirements have been met, but it is
evident the individual
is not deserving of the Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) due to a
repeated record of valid letters of indebtedness, or other acts
which are
not in keeping with the high moral standards required
of all Navy personnel, the commanding officer will make an
appropriate recommendation to CNO (DNS-35) stating the reasons.
(2) Although the period of qualifying service was revised
to three years effective 1 January 1996, in accordance with Navy
Uniform Regulations, this change does not affect the four-year
requirement for service stripes.
(3) Active service in a Reserve status credited toward
the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal may not also be
credited for the Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM).
e. Certificates. A certificate shall be prepared for each
award. The member's rate, name, branch of Service, and number
of the award shall
be centered in the appropriate spaces. The
ending date of the period of service for which the award was
earned shall be centered after "Awarded for service completed
on." The commanding officer's name, grade, and branch of
Service shall be typed above "commanding Officer" and
his/her
signature affixed.
Authorized Devices: Bronze Star, Silver Star |