Unlike the West Virginia Distinguished Service Medal and Legion of Merit, the West Virginia Service Ribbon (WVSR) was established by the state’s Adjutant General rather than through state legislation. It is also issued only as a ribbon, whereas those two awards are issued in both medal and ribbon format.
The WVSR may be awarded to current and former Officers and Enlisted Personnel who have logged five years of honorable service with the West Virginia National Guard. Equally divided into red and black, the ribbon is worn so that the red is to the wearer's right. For each successive five-year period of honorable service, a bronze oak leaf cluster is worn on the ribbon, with a silver oak leaf cluster worn in lieu of five bronze clusters.
It was created on 1 October 1990 via West Virginia Permanent Orders (WV Army National Guard WV Air National Guard – Joint Series) Number 8.