ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY
The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal was established by Executive Order 12830 signed by President George Bush on January 9, 1993.
EFFECTIVE DATES
The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal has been awarded for qualifying service since December 1, 1993.
CRITERIA
The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal is awarded by the Secretary of Defense or, with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, the Secretary of Transportation, to members of the Armed Forces (including Reserve Components) who perform outstanding volunteer service to the civilian community of a sustained, direct, and consequential nature. To be eligible, an individual's service must be:
- To the civilian community, to include the military family community;
- Significant in nature and produce tangible results;
- Reflect favorably on the Military Service and the Department of Defense; and
- Be of a sustained and direct nature.
ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal is worn immediately after the Humanitarian Service Medal.
- For Army personnel, it is worn before the Armed Forces Reserve Medal
- For Air Force personnel, it is worn before the Overseas Service Ribbon (Short Tour)
- For Navy personnel, it is worn before the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
- For Coast Guard personnel, it is worn before the Special Operations Service Ribbon
Additional awards of the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal are denoted by bronze stars.
DESIGNER
The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal was designed by Nadine Russell of the Army's Institute of Heraldry.
FIRST RECIPIENT
The identity of the first recipient of the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal is unknown.
DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM
Obverse
In the center of a bronze medal one and three-eighths inches in diameter, five annulets are shown interlaced enfiled by a five-pointed star (Point up). The star and annulets are surrounded by a wreath of laurel which follows the contour of the medal.
The interlaced annulets emphasize the interaction of the military services with the civilian community and symbolize continuity and cooperation. The star, a traditional symbol of military service, commemorates outstanding service. The laurel wreath denotes honor and achievement.
Reverse
The central feature of the reverse is a sprig of oak bearing three leaves and two acorns. Above and to the right of the sprig of oak is the inscription, OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE in raised letters. Following the contour of the lower half of the medal is the inscription UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES, also in raised letters.
The oak leaf was selected as the central feature of the reverse because oak is symbolic of strength and potential.
Ribbon
The ribbon has a center pinstripe of green edged with goldenlight (light yellow) stripes five thirty-seconds of an inch wide, which are in turn edged with a green pinstripe. The outer pinstripe of green is bordered on both sides by a stripe of bluebird blue three-sixteenths of an inch wide, which is in turn edged by a stripe of goldenlight five thirty-seconds of an inch wide. The outer edges of the ribbon are bluebird blue, one-eighth of an inch wide. Blue is the traditional color associated with the Department of Defense; gold represents excellence, and the green alludes to the nurturing of life and growth.