Author: Hondo

One of our regulars here (sj) speaks very highly of the National Defense Service Medal – though from the context of his comments, if I’m reading him right I believe he’s doing so somewhat tongue-in-cheek.  But it turns out that there is a surprising quirk when it comes to this medal.

Here’s a trivia question.  True or false: it is not possible for someone legitimately to rate the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) unless they also qualified for the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM).

It turns out that the answer to that question is somewhat surprising. At least, I was surprised by what I ran across the other day.

Best I can tell, the answer to the question is, believe it or not, “False.”  It does appear possible for someone to legitimately rate the VSM without also qualifying for the NDSM.  In fact, there appear to be at least two different scenarios in which an individual might do exactly that.

Here are the details.

1.  DoDM 1348.33-V2, dated November 23, 2010, w/Change 2, specifies the eligibility criteria for the NDSM and VSM. The NDSM’s criteria are given in Enclosure 3, pp. 59-61, of the document; the NDSM’s, on pp. 66-70.

2.  Per the DoDM, the NDSM Vietnam eligibility period runs from 1 January 1961 to 14 August 1974. The VSM’s eligibility period is from July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973.

So, that means it is not possible to have a legit VSM without the NDSM, right?  Well, that would seem to be true.

Except it’s not.  There’s another thing that DoDM 1348.33-V2 also allows – called “AFEM conversion”.

3.  Personnel serving in Vietnam between 1 July 1958 and 3 July 1965 were eligible to receive the AFEM for service in Vietnam.  On application, DoDM 1348.33-V2 allows these personnel at their option to elect to convert their AFEM for service in Vietnam to the VSM.

(They may also opt to retain the AFEM – but they can’t receive both the AFEM and VSM for service in Vietnam.  So if an individual served in Vietnam both before and after 4 July 1965, it appears that DoD policy requires that they must remove any AFEMs awarded for service prior to that date to receive the VSM.)

4.  Conversion of AFEM to VSM is also allowed for those personnel awarded the AFEM for service in Operation Frequent Wind (the evacuation of Saigon) on 29-30 April 1975.  The two conversions are specifically authorized in para 17.e.(2)(a) and para 17.e.(2)(b) of DoDM 1348.33-V2.

What that means is that there are at least two hypothetical scenarios in which a person could technically – at the individual’s option – legitimately rate the VSM without rating the NDSM. The first such scenario would be that of a young Soldier who joined the Army in 1956, served in Vietnam very early (during 1959-1960), and then left active duty prior to the end of that year. The second scenario would be a young Airman, Sailor or Marine who enlisted in 1974 on or after 15 August, went to training, was assigned to a unit or ship supporting Frequent Wind, and later left the service prior to 2 August 1990.

In both cases, the individual would have originally received the AFEM for their service in or supporting Vietnam.  However, conversion of that AFEM to the VSM would be authorized.  They could apply to the appropriate Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records to do so.  (I believe I’ve seen a case or two where an early Vietnam vet did exactly that – e.g., applied to the appropriate Board well after discharge to have their AFEM converted to the VSM.)

But in neither case would the individual be eligible for the NDSM.  All of their service would be outside a qualifying period for award of the NDSM.

So, I guess sj is right:  the NDSM really is a big deal after all.  It turns out you can rate a campaign medal and still not qualify for that prestigious NDSM!

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. (smile)

. . .

For what it’s worth:  the same is true for the AFEM regarding service in a whole laundry list of operations.  And it’s also true for a number of operations qualifying for the Navy Expeditionary Medal or Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal.

It’s also true for service qualifying for the Kosovo Campaign Medal if the individual joined the military after November 1995 and their service ended prior to 11 September 2001, too (provided they didn’t join the Selected Reserve or a National Guard unit after leaving active duty).

. . .

Remember, folks:  we’re talking DoD policy.  It doesn’t have to make any sense. (smile)