Joint Service Commendation Medal — Military Decorations
Joint Service Commendation Medal Medal and Ribbon Design Images
The Joint Service Commendation medal consists of four conjoined green enameled hexagons encased in a gold border which is intended to represent the unity of the Armed Forces. The top hexagon has thirteen gold five-pointed stars inside to represent the thirteen original colonies. The lower hexagon has a gold heraldic device which represents air, land and sea. On the centre of the obverse of the medal is an eagle with spread wings and a shield on its breast. The eagle is holding three arrows in its talons. Around the medal is a laurel wreath which represents achievement.
What is the Joint Service Commendation Medal Decoration?
The ribbon is a center stripe of green flanked by white, green, white and light blue stripes. The green and white are from the Army and Navy Commendation ribbons and the light blue represents the Department of Defense.
The United States military sorts decorations into categories called Classes and Types. The Joint Service Commendation Medal medal is classified as a Personal Decoration of the type Commendation Medal.
How Do You Earn the Joint Service Commendation Medal?
The Joint Service Commendation Medal was authorized on 25 June 1963 and is awarded by or in the name of the Secretary of Defense to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 1 January 1963, distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement or service.
This award is intended for senior service on a joint military staff and is senior in precedence to service-specific Commendation Medals. As such, it is worn above the service Commendation Medals on a military uniform.
Displaying the Joint Service Commendation Medal
The Order of Precedence of the Joint Service Commendation Medal is 26, and this precedence is used when placing the associated service ribbon on your uniform ribbon rack. You can see a full list of decorations in the order of precedence on the Decorations homepage.
Subsequent awards are denoted by the use of an oak leaf cluster and a “V” for valorous actions in direct contact with the enemy.
The Joint Service Commendation Medal is placed after the Aerial Achievement Medal and before the Army Commendation Medal.
Joint Service Commendation Medal Associated Branches
Army |
 |
Navy |
 |
Marine Corps |
 |
Air Force |
 |
Coast Guard |
 |
Joint Service Commendation Medal Associated Branches
Army |
|
Navy |
|
Marine Corps |
 |
Air Force |
|
Coast Guard |
|
Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Stolen Valor Act
The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 is a federal law that makes it illegal for any person to falsely claim to be the recipient of certain military awards, "with the intention of obtaining money, property, or other tangible benefit by convincing another that he or she received the award".This decoration is covered by the Stolen Valor act. Fraudulently claiming to have received a Joint Service Commendation Medal can result in punishment including a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both
