Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) is a military award presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves with outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States.
| Meritorious Service Medal | |
|---|---|
| Type | Military medal (Decoration) |
| Awarded for | Outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States |
| Presented by | United States Department of the Army United States Department of the Navy United States Department of the Air Force United States Department of Homeland Security |
| Eligibility | Military Personnel Only |
| Status | Currently Awarded |
| Established | 1969 |
Meritorious Service ribbon | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
| Next (lower) | Air Medal |
Introduced in 1969, the MSM was long awarded as a decoration for peacetime achievement. Since 2004, it has also been bestowed in lieu of the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in a designated combat theater. Normally, the acts or services rendered must be comparable to that required for the Legion of Merit but in a duty of lesser, though considerable, responsibility.
A higher award and decoration, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (DMSM), is intended for similar services performed under joint duty within the United States Department of Defense, including the Joint Staff, the Unified Combatant Commands, and joint task forces under their cognizance.