Antarctica Service Medal

Antarctica Service Medal
Obverse and reverse
TypeMedal
Awarded forService in Antarctica (see "Criteria"' ').
Presented byDepartment of Defense[1]
National Science Foundation[2]
StatusCurrently awarded
EstablishedPub.L. 86−600, 74 Stat. 337, enacted July 7, 1960[3]
First awarded1960 (retroactive to January 2, 1946)
Service ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher)Korean Service Medal
EquivalentArmy: Arctic Tab
Naval Service: Navy Arctic Service Ribbon
Air and Space Forces: Air and Space Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with Arctic "A" Device
Coast Guard: Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal
Next (lower)Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

The Antarctica Service Medal (ASM) was established by the United States Congress on July 7, 1960, under Public Law 600 of the 86th Congress.[4][5] The medal was intended as a military award to replace several commemorative awards which had been issued for previous Antarctica expeditions from 1928 to 1941. With the creation of the Antarctica Service Medal, the following commemorative medals were declared obsolete;

The Antarctica Service Medal is considered an award of the United States Armed Forces, issued in the name of the U.S. Department of Defense, and is authorized for wear on active duty uniforms. The medal may also be awarded to U.S. civilians and citizens of foreign nations who participate in a U.S. Antarctic expedition on the continent at the invitation of a participating U.S. agency (for example, National Science Foundation).[6]

The Arctic equivalents of the Antarctica Service Medal are the Army Arctic Tab, Navy Arctic Service Ribbon, the Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal and the Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with Arctic "A" Device.

  1. ^ "Issuances" (PDF). www.esd.whs.mil. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-12. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  2. ^ "The USAP Portal: Science and Support in Antarctica - Antarctica Service Medals and Certificates".
  3. ^ Additional details and descriptions are given at 32 CFR 578.24.
  4. ^ "An Act to provide for the presentation of a medal to persons who have served as members of a United States expedition to Antarctica" (PDF). United States Antarctic Program. July 7, 1960. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  5. ^ "Antarctica Service Medal". The Institute of Heraldry: Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the ARMY. Archived from the original on 2013-12-25. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  6. ^ "United States Antarctic Program". Retrieved May 8, 2020.