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Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal was created by George H.W. Bush in January of 1993 as one of the newest medals of America, but was not issued until December of that same year. These US military medals honor active duty, reserve and National Guard military personnel who perform substantial volunteer service to the local community above and beyond the duties required as a member of the United States Armed Forces. This volunteer service must contribute in a sustained and direct way towards the well-being of the civilian community and must produce tangible results which reflect favorably on the military service and the US Department of Defense. Volunteering for Emergency Services, Habitat for Humanity, and other such community enhancing services are examples of the wide variety of efforts that would be considered for eligibility for receiving these military medals and ribbons. There is no minimum time requirement for earning the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, but generally the volunteer service must exceed three years, or 100 hours of service time.

The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal has no official citation attached, but most Commanders present personal letters commending the recipients of these military awards. Multiple awards of these military medals are denoted by Service Stars. These military medals and ribbons are worn below all service specific military awards and above the NATO medal in the general order of precedence that has been established for the proper display of all military decorations. These military awards can be worn as traditional full size military medals, mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. They are available as traditional slide-on, full size military medals or mini-medals, and slide-on military ribbons; or in the newer, custom thin mini-medals and ultra thin military ribbons which are being embraced by members of the modern military who value their sleeker appearance as a competitive edge that promotes their advancement through the ranks of their respective services.