Meritorious Service Medal

All five branches of the US military award Meritorious Service Medals. These are the same military ribbons and medals, with almost identical criteria. These medals of America were created by President Lyndon Johnson with an Executive Order issued on January 16, 1969. These US military medals are presented to service members of all U.S. Armed Forces for outstanding non-combat meritorious service to the U.S., where the acts or services performed are similar to those for which the Legion of Merit is awarded, but entailing slightly lower levels of responsibility. On July 2, 1981, President Ronald Regan authorized the granting of these military medals to members of friendly armed forces. Normally these military medals and military ribbons would only be awarded to field grade officers, senior warrant officers, and senior noncommissioned officers.
The Meritorious Service Medal ranks just below the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and just above the Air Medal in the general order of precedence that has been established for the proper display of all military decorations. Subsequent awards of these military medals are denoted by Oak Leaf Clusters.