History
By the late 1960s the American awards system had a gap: the Legion of Merit was being stretched to cover service below its intended standard, while the commendation medals sat too low. The Meritorious Service Medal, created by President Johnson under Executive Order 11448 on 16 January 1969, filled it as the non-combat counterpart of the Bronze Star: outstanding meritorious achievement or service, typically by field grade officers, senior warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers, and comparable to the Legion of Merit in a duty of lesser though considerable responsibility. Since 2004 it may also be awarded in place of the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in designated combat theatres.
It has become one of the most familiar American decorations on Australian racks, earned in exchange and embedded postings with the US services across the coalition decades. For an Australian its wear follows the foreign awards rules, with approval and a place after all Australian honours in order of the date of award.
Design & ribbon
The medal
The medal, designed by Jay Morris of the Institute of Heraldry, is bronze, 38 millimetres across: six rays issue from the upper three points of a bevelled five pointed star containing two smaller stars in incised outline, and before the star's lower half an eagle with upraised wings stands on two upward curving branches of laurel tied with a ribbon. The reverse carries the encircled inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and MERITORIOUS SERVICE.
The ribbon
The Legion of Merit's crimson and white, for the medal that shares its standard.
The ribbon carries a broad central band of crimson between bands of white and crimson edges, deliberately following the colours of the Legion of Merit to mark the kinship between the two awards.
Clasps
Further awards are marked on the ribbon in the American fashion rather than by additional medals.
Eligibility
The medal is awarded to members of the United States armed forces who distinguish themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service, in a standard comparable to the Legion of Merit in duties of lesser though considerable responsibility.
- It is typically awarded to field grade officers, senior warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers, often as an end of tour or end of assignment recognition, and members of friendly foreign forces serving with the American services have been among its recipients;
- Additional awards are denoted by oak leaf clusters in the Army, Air Force and Space Force and by gold five sixteenths inch stars in the sea services;
- For Australians, acceptance and wear require approval through the foreign awards process, with the medal worn after all Australian honours in order of the date of award. There is no post-nominal in Australian usage.
Order of wear
Foreign and international awards approved for acceptance and wearing are worn after all Australian honours and awards, in order of the date of award. The precise arrangement should be confirmed against the current Australian Order of Wear.
Frequently asked questions
What is the United States Meritorious Service Medal awarded for?
Outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service, comparable to the Legion of Merit in duties of lesser though considerable responsibility. Since 2004 it may also be awarded in place of the Bronze Star in designated combat theatres.
Who typically receives it?
Field grade officers, senior warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers, often at the end of a tour or assignment.
How did Australians come to hold it?
Through exchange and embedded postings with the American services across the coalition decades; it is among the most common US decorations on Australian racks.
Is this the same MSM as the Imperial Meritorious Service Medal?
No. The Imperial MSM was Australia's long service award for warrant officers until the 1970s, worn in the long service group. This is a 1969 American decoration, worn after all Australian awards as a foreign medal.
How does it relate to the Defense Meritorious Service Medal?
The criteria are virtually identical, but the DMSM belongs to joint organisations while this medal is awarded within a single service, and the DMSM is worn immediately above it in American precedence.
Can an Australian wear it on a rack?
With government approval through the foreign awards process: after all Australian honours and awards, in order of the date of award.