In 1963 the Department of Defense created their own version of the Commendation Medal, which each of the five branches of the US military award their servicepersons. They named it the Joint Service Commendation Medal. These military ribbons and medals are a mid-level award presented to service persons for acts of heroism and meritorious service, and the Joint Service Commendation Medal recognizes the same level of service, but in a joint military operation. Generally, Joint Service Commendation Medals are reserved for senior joint military staff, and are considered higher military decorations than any of the service specific service branch Commendation Medals.
If the valorous action that earns the Joint Service Commendation Medal is performed in direct contact with an enemy force, the Valor Device “V” may be worn on these military medals. The actions for which these military decorations are awarded are considered to be of a lesser degree than those required to win the Bonze Star. The Joint Service Commendation Medal is worn below the Silver Life Saving Medal, but above the Joint Services Achievement Medal, and each of the individual service’s Achievement Medals.
Additional awards of these military medals are all denoted differently by various branches of service, with bronze and silver Oak Leaf Clusters used for the Army and Air Force, and silver and gold Award Stars used in the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.
The Joint Service Commendation Medal can be worn several forms including 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, slide-on military ribbons, and the sleek new thin mini-medals and ribbons.