The Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal (AFSCM) was established by the Deputy Secretary of Defense on August 22, 1997 as a way to recognize the service, accomplishments, and contributions made by civilian employees in the Department of Defense whose work directly supports our nation’s military forces when they are engaged in military operations involving extended peacekeeping or humanitarian missions.
To qualify for the decoration, civilians must be involved in the direct support of the Armed Forces of the United States in specifically designated military operations that began on or after 1 June 1992. While Army Regulation 672-20, Incentive Awards, says that, as a general rule, the AFSCM may be awarded for service in operations for which the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has approved issuance of the Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM), it goes on to list just six designated operations that qualify for the AFSCM:
Operation | Dates |
Maritime Monitor
Provide Promise
Deny Flight
Sharp Guard
Able Sentry
Joint Endeavor | 1 June 1992 - 1 December 1992
2 June 1992 - 15 February 1996
12 April 1993 - 2 December 1995
15 June 1993 - 20 September 1996
12 July 1993 - 31 March 1999
20 November 1995 - 19 December 1996 |
In contrast, there are over fifteen operations that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has approved for issuance of the AFSM (counting Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as two operations and three U.S. missions in Haiti).
For those operations that have been approved for the AFSCM, civilian employees must have been engaged in direct support of the military for 30 consecutive days in the specified area of eligibility (AOE) (or the full duration of the operation if it was less than 30 days), or by providing direct support for 60 cumulative days if it involved the employee entering the AOE. Areas of eligibility are defined as foreign territory where military troops have landed or are present as the result of being deployed specifically for the operation; adjacent water where ships operate, patrol, or provide direct operational support; or air space above and adjacent to the area where the operation is being conducted.
Civilian employees are eligible for only one AFCSM, but their subsequent participation in qualifying operations is recognized with the issuance of a Bronze Service Stars. Note that a civilian employee who provides support to a qualifying operation but does not enter the AOE cannot be awarded the AFCSM.