Korean Defense Service Medal

1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN MESSAGE IS TO
ANNOUNCE THE CREATION OF THE KOREAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL (KDSM),
AND TO ESTABLISH ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDANCE AND PROCEDURES FOR AWARDING
THE KDSM. PER REFERENCE (A), THE KDSM HAS BEEN CREATED TO RECOGNIZE
MILITARY SERVICE IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND THE SURROUNDING WATERS
DURING THE PERIOD BEGINNING ON 28 JULY 1954 AND ENDING ON A FUTURE
DATE TO BE DETERMINED.
2. TO QUALIFY FOR THIS AWARD, MARINES MUST HAVE SERVED IN SUPPORT
OF THE DEFENSE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA DURING THE PERIOD SPECIFIED
ABOVE. THE AREA OF ELIGIBILITY (AOE) PER THE REFERENCE "ENCOMPASSES
ALL LAND AREA OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, AND THE CONTIGUOUS WATER OUT
TO 12 NAUTICAL MILES, AND ALL AIR SPACES ABOVE THE LAND AND WATER
AREAS."
3. CRITERIA: MARINES MUST HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED, ATTACHED, OR
MOBILIZED TO UNITS OPERATING WITHIN THE AOE AND HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY
DEPLOYED WITHIN THE AOE FOR 30 CONSECUTIVE OR 60 NONCONSECUTIVE DAYS
OR MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
 A. BE ENGAGED IN ACTUAL COMBAT DURING AN ARMED ENGAGEMENT,
REGARDLESS OF THE TIME IN THE AOE.
 B. IS WOUNDED OR INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND REQUIRES
MEDICAL EVACUATION FROM THE AOE.
 C. WHILE PARTICIPATING AS A REGULARLY ASSIGNED AIR CREWMEMBER
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 DAYS REQUIREMENT.
 D. MARINES WHO SERVED IN OPERATIONS AND EXERCISES CONDUCTED
WITHIN THE AOE ARE CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE FOR THE AWARD PROVIDED THAT
THE BASIC CRITERIA IS MET. DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE TIME PERIOD FOR THE
KDSM ELIGIBILITY, THE NONCONSECUTIVE SERVICE PERIOD FOR ELIGIBILITY
REMAINS CUMULATIVE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PERIOD.
4. ADJUDICATION: COMMANDERS WITH AUTHORITY TO AWARD THE NAVY AND
MARINE CORPS ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL ARE AUTHORIZED TO AWARD THE KDSM TO
MARINES THAT MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 3
ABOVE. 
 A. ELIGIBILITY FOR THE KDSM SHALL BE VERIFIED BASED ON THE
MARINE'S SERVICE RECORD, COPY OF ORDERS OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT THAT
CAN CORROBORATE THE MARINE'S SERVICE IN KOREA. 
 B. IN THE ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE WITHIN THE MARINE'S SERVICE
RECORD OR LACK OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION TO ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY
FOR THE KDSM, THE MARINE MAY COMPLETE THE SELF CERTIFICATION
DOCUMENT AVAILABLE ON LINE AT THE MILITARY AWARDS BRANCH WEBSITE. 
THE COMMANDER, OR DESIGNATED COMMAND REPRESENTATIVE IS AUTHORIZED TO
REVIEW THE SELF CERTIFICATION DOCUMENT AND MAKE A DETERMINATION
REGARDING THE MARINES ELIGIBILITY FOR THE KDSM. THE CODE FOR
REPORTING THE KDSM IN MCTFS IS KD.
 C. PERSONNEL IN THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE MUST SUBMIT THEIR
REQUEST TO THEIR COMMANDING OFFICER VIA THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND, OR
TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE SUPPORT COMMAND (MCRSC) DEPENDING ON
THEIR RESERVE STATUS. THE ADDRESS FOR MCRSC IS:
 MARINE CORPS RESERVE SUPPORT COMMAND
 5303 ANDREWS ROAD
 KANSAS CITY, MO 64147-1207
 D. RECORDS FOR RETIRED OR FORMER MARINES ARE MAINTAINED FOR 5
YEARS UPON RETIREMENT OR DISCHARGE AT THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT SUPPORT
BRANCH (MMSB), HEADQUARTERS U.S. MARINE CORPS. IF THE MARINE IS
RETIRED OR DISCHARGED FOR LESS THAN 5 YEARS (WITH NO OBLIGATED
SERVICE), REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO:
 HEADQUARTERS U.S. MARINE CORPS
 MILITARY AWARDS BRANCH (MMMA)
 3280 RUSSELL ROAD
 QUANTICO, VA 22134
 E. IF THE MARINE IS RETIRED OR DISCHARGED FOR MORE THAN 5
YEARS, REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO:
 NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER,
 MILITARY PERSONNEL RECORDS 
 9700 PAGE AVENUE
 ST. LOUIS, MO 63132
5. THE KDSM MAY BE AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY. 
6. ONLY ONE AWARD OF THE KDSM IS AUTHORIZED FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL;
THEREFORE, NO SERVICE STARS ARE PRESCRIBED.
7. PRECEDENCE: THE KDSM SHALL BE POSITIONED AFTER THE GLOBAL WAR
ON TERRORISM SERVICE MEDAL IN PRECEDENCE; AND SHALL BE POSITIONED
BEFORE THE ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL.
8. THE KDSM MAY BE PROCURED FROM THE DEFENSE LOGISTIC AGENCY,
DEFENSE SUPPLY CENTER (DSC), PHILADELPHIA AFTER 1 MAY 2004 VIA THE
NORMAL SUPPLY CHANNELS. ANY ORDER PLACED WITH DSC PRIOR TO 1 MAY
2004 WILL BE CANCELLED. THE NSN FOR THE KDSM IS 8455-01-512-7138.
9. INDIVIDUAL MARINES SHOULD ADDRESS THEIR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS
MARADMIN MESSAGE TO THEIR RESPECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY BE AVAILABLE ON THE HEADQUARTERS MARINE
CORPS AWARDS BRANCH WEB PAGE: AWARDS.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL. FOR
QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS MARADMIN MESSAGE, IT IS REQUESTED THAT
ONLY COMMAND REPRESENTATIVES AND AUTHORIZED ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
CONTACT THE CMC (MMMA) AT (703) 784-9340.