Korea Defense Service Medal

The Korea Defense Service Medal (KDSM) is a military award established to recognize the service of U.S. military members who served in support of operations in Korea. **Authorization and Effective Date:** The KDSM was authorized under 10 U.S.C. §8308, with an effective date beginning on or after July 28, 1954, and continuing until a future termination date determined by the Secretary of Defense. **Criteria and Eligibility:** To qualify for the KDSM, service members must meet specific criteria: 1. **Area of Eligibility (AOE):** The AOE includes all land areas of the Republic of Korea, its contiguous waters out to 12 nautical miles, and all airspace above those areas. 2. **Duration of Service:** Service members must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized with units operating in the AOE for at least: - 30 consecutive days, or, - 60 non-consecutive days. 3. **Exceptions:** There are exceptions to the above duration requirements: - If the service member participated in a combat engagement, they are eligible regardless of the length of time spent in the AOE. - If a service member was killed or wounded requiring medical evacuation from the AOE, they qualify irrespective of time spent. - Regularly assigned aircrew members flying sorties in direct support of operations into, out of, or over the AOE also qualify; each day a sortie is flown counts toward the 30 or 60-day requirement. 4. **Operations and Exercises:** Personnel participating in operations or exercises conducted in the AOE are also eligible, provided they meet the time criteria. **Award Elements:** The KDSM consists of a full-size medal and a ribbon. Importantly, only one award of the KDSM is authorized for any individual, and there are no devices for subsequent awards. **Issuing Procedures:** Commanding Officers (COs) who have the authority to award the Navy Achievement Medal can also award the KDSM. They must ensure that the appropriate entries are made in the service records. In scenarios where qualifying documentation is lacking, service members may complete a self-certification document available online【4:10†source】. **Notable Recipients:** While there is no comprehensive official record of notable recipients specifically mentioned in the document, the KDSM has been awarded widely amongst U.S. military personnel serving in Korea during the designated eligibility period. The KDSM serves as a symbol of service and commitment to the security and stability of the Korean Peninsula, recognizing those who dedicated their duties in a region that remains strategically significant.