Antarctica Service Medal
In July of 1960 the US Congress established the Antarctica Service Medal as its newest addition to the medals of America. These US military medals replaced a commemorative decoration which had been issued between 1928 and 1941. These military ribbons and medals are issued by the Department of Defense and honor both US military personnel and US civilians who have served between 15 and 30 days active duty on the Antarctic continent. Flight crews flying transport missions to Antarctica qualify for one day of service for each flight mission completed within a 24 hour period.
For those personnel performing extended winter service in Antarctica, a Wintered Over Device is authorized. The "Wintered Over" bar is only worn on the suspension ribbon of the full-sized military medals. A smaller "disc" device is worn on the uniform ribbon to recognize this same service. These devices are available in bronze representing one winter service, gold representing two winters, and silver representing three or more winters of service.
There are also Arctic equivalents of the Antarctica Service Medal. These military medals and ribbons are the Arctic Service Ribbon issued by the Navy and Marine Corps; the Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal; and the Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon with the Arctic “A” Device. The Department of Defense Antarctica Service Medal is worn below the Korean Service Medal and above the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal in the order of precedence that has been established for all military medals and ribbons.
The Antarctica Service Medal is generally available as Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Awards, and can be worn as traditional full size military medals, mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. They can be purchased as traditional slide-on, full size military medals, mini-medals, and slide-on military ribbons. Nowadays however, more and more military service personnel are realizing the value to their career goals of always having their uniform decorations looking their best, and have turned to the slimmer and trimmer thin military medals and mini medals and the ultra thin military ribbons to provide them with the smartest looking military award displays possible.
