Joint Service Commendation Medal

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. This was a Viet Nam era award added to the pantheon of military medals of America. 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 level military medals 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 US military medals and military ribbons. 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, though that medal is no longer issued, or below the Air Medal and above the Joint Services Achievement Medal, and each of the individual service’s Achievement Medals; in the general order of precedence which all the United States military service branches have established for the proper display of military medals and ribbons.
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.