All five branches of the US military award Meritorious Service Medals. These military ribbons and medals were created by President Lyndon Johnson with an Executive Order issued on January 16, 1969. These military awards 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 decorations 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 order of precedence for military decorations. Subsequent awards of these military medals are denoted by Oak Leaf Clusters.

The Meritorious Service Medal can be worn as full size military medals, military mini medals, military ribbons, and lapel pins. These military awards are available as traditional slide-on, full size military medals or mini-medals, traditional slide-on military ribbons, and thin military mini-medals or military ribbons.