Korean Defense Service
Military Medal & Military Ribbon

a. Authorization. Public Law 107-314 S532.

b. Korean Defense Service Medal Eligibility Requirements

(1) Members of the Armed Forces must have served in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea from 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined.

(2) The area of eligibility (AOE) encompasses all land area of the Republic of Korea, and the contiguous waters out to 12 nautical miles, and all air space above the land and water areas.

(3) Service members must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the AOE and have been physically deployed in the AOE for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days or meet one of the following criteria: (a) Be engaged in actual combat during an armed engagement, regardless of time in the AOE.

(b) Be wounded or injured in the line of duty and require medical evacuation from the AOE, regardless of time in the AOE .

(c) While participating as a regularly assigned aircrew member flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the AOE in support of military operations. Each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria shall count as one day toward the 30 or 60-day requirement.

(4) Personnel who serve in operations and exercises conducted in the AOE are considered eligible for the Korean Defense Service Medal award, provided the basic time criteria is met.

(5) Although the eligibility time period is extensive, the 60-day non-consecutive service requirement remains cumulative throughout the entire award period.

c. Awarding Authority. Commanding officers exercising Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal awarding authority are authorized to award the Korea Defense Service Medal (KDSM) to personnel who meet the eligibility criteria. Commanding officers shall issue the medals and ensure the appropriate service record entries are made. In the absence of supporting documentation to establish KDSM eligibility, qualified personnel may complete the self-certification document available online at https://awards.navy.mil or http://awards.manpower.usmc.mil. A copy of this form shall be filed in the individual's service record.