a. Authorization. E.O. 12830 of 9 January 1993.
b. Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal Eliqibility Requirements. The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) may be awarded to members of the
Armed Forces of the United States who, after 31 December 1992,
perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained,
direct and consequential nature. To be eligible, an
individual's service must:
(1) Be to the civilian community, including the
military family community;
(2) Be significant in nature and produce tangible
results;
(3) Reflect favorably on the Military Service and
the Department of Defense; and
(4) Be of a sustained and direct nature.
c. Guidelines
(1) While there is no specific time period to qualify for
the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM), approval authorities shall ensure the service to be
honored merits the special recognition afforded by the medal.
DON views the sustained time period to be three years. The
Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) is intended to recognize exceptional community support
. over time, not a single act or achievement. Further, it is
intended to honor direct support of community activities. For
the purpose of this award, attending membership meetings or
social events of a community service group is not considered
qualifying service; however, manning a community crisis action
telephone line for a sustained period of time is considered
qualifying service. The overall level of volunteer
participation and impact of an individual's community service is
the key to determining whether award of the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) is justified.
(2) The Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) recognizes service provided to a community
over time; therefore multiple awards of the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) during a
single tour of duty are not authorized. However, approval
authorities may consider a sustained record of significant
community service performed during successive tours when
adjudicating recommendations for award of the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM).
(3) Service recognized by award of the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) shall be of a
voluntary nature, not detailed or tasked, nor performed as part
of a military mission (for example, a unit project).
(4) Volunteering with the following types of organizations
are examples of qualifying service: youth programs such as
Boy/Girl
Scouts; YMCA or YWCA; 4H; Big Brothers/Sisters;
sports
programs such as Little League and Special Olympics;
abuse/rape/suicide hot line volunteers; hospital/blood drive
volunteers; education programs such as volunteer teachers,
D.A.R.E., and literacy programs; CFC organizations such as March
of Dimes, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Salvation Army; volunteer fire
department/rescue squad; community centers; neighborhood watch;
Meals-on-Wheels; homeless shelters; senior citizens1 programs;
working with the hearing impaired; fund drives and telethon
support; public library story hour; museum guide; local
beautification projects such as Adopt-a-Park and Adopt-a-
Highway; military affiliates such as USO, Navy and Marine Corps
Relief Society, and Navy League' Sea Cadet programs.
(5) A Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) recommendation may be submitted by anyone
senior to the individual being recommended, on the appropriate
personal award recommendation form, to the individual's
commanding officer. The commanding officer shall certify that
the eligibility requirements have been met, and that the
member's service has been honorable throughout the award period.
d. Awarding Authority. Authority to award the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) is
delegated to officers who have authority to award the Navy and
Marine Corps Achievement Medal or Joint Service Achievement
Medal and above. The awarding authority shall issue a letter of
authorization which includes the period recognized and the
organization(s) for whom the qualifying service was performed,
as well as any commendatory remarks desired by the awarding
authority. For Navy personnel, copies of the approved OPNAV
1650/3 will be forwarded to NPC (PERS-312). For Marine Corps
personnel, a copy of the approved Award Processing System award
recommendation will automatically be forwarded to MMSB for
inclusion in the Marine's official military record. No citation
or certificate will be issued.
Authorized Devices: Bronze Star, Silver Star |