ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NAVY ARCTIC SERVICE MEDAL

R 131501Z JAN 25
MARADMIN 005/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM MMPB3//
SUBJ/ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NAVY ARCTIC SERVICE MEDAL//
REF/A/MSGID: MSG/SECNAV/181955ZMAR24//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/SECNAV/19AUG19//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/SECNAV/15MAR24//
NAR/REF A IS ALNAV 026/24, ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NAVY ARCTIC SERVICE
MEDAL. REF B IS SECNAV M-1650.1, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AWARDS
MANUAL. REF C IS SECNAV MEMOORANDUM FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NAVY
ARCTIC SERVICE MEDAL//
POC/M. D. BERRY/CIV/HQMC MMPB-30/-/TEL:703-784-9208/
EMAIL: [email protected]//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. This message announces establishment of the
Navy Arctic Service Medal (NASM) as an extension of the Navy
Arctic Service Ribbon (NASR) for personnel meeting the
specific criteria. Paragraph 3 below replaces Tab 22 of
Appendix 4A of reference (b) and will be incorporated into the
reference (b) during its ongoing revision.
2. TAB 22 Navy Arctic Service Medal/Ribbon
a. Authorization: OPNAVNOTE 1650 of 3 June 1987; ALNAV 026/24.
b. Effective Date: On or after 1 January 1982.
c. Awarding Authority. Commanding Officers (COs) of ships or units
operating above the Arctic Circle who have the authority to award the
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal may award the NASM and NASR
to personnel assigned to their commands who meet the eligibility
criteria, and shall ensure appropriate service record entries are
made.
d. NASR Only
(1) Criteria and Eligibility. Awarded to officers and enlisted
personnel of the Navy and Marine Corps, or civilians (including
resident aliens of the U.S.) who complete 28 days, consecutive or
non-consecutive, in the geographic area of eligibility (AOE), which
is the land, sea, and air space above the Arctic Circle.
(a) For personnel working at remote ice camps, and divers
working under the ice, each day of duty counts as two days toward
NASR eligibility. However, Marine Corps personnel undergoing annual
cold weather training above the Arctic Circle do not qualify for the
2-for-1 credit.
(b) No more than one day's credit is allowed for flights in
and/or out of the AOE during any 24-hour period.
(2) Award Elements. The NASR consists of a ribbon only. No medal,
citation, or certificate will be issued.
(3) Subsequent Awards. There are no subsequent awards.
(4) Authorized Devices. None.
e. NASM
(1) Criteria and Eligibility. Awarded as an extension of the NASR
to officers and enlisted personnel of the Navy and Marine Corps, or
civilians (including resident aliens of the U. S.) who are assigned
to:
(a) A unit that conducted an ice-covered strait transit (e.g.,
Bering Strait, Barrow Strait).
(b) A unit that conducted a transit of the North Pole (defined
by operating north of latitude 82N).
(c) A submarine that conducted a vertical surfacing through
ice, including through an arctic polynya, or ice picked against
the ice canopy.
(d) A submarine that conducted at least seven days of
classified military operations while under the marginal ice zone or
pack ice.
(e) An ice camp or operations center established on an ice
floe, as determined by the unit's Commanding Officer.
(2) Award Elements. The NASM consists of a medal with a suspension
ribbon of identical design to the NASR. Initial award will be
represented by a single North Star/Compass Rose device on
the suspension or service ribbon. No citation or certificate will
be issued.
(3) Subsequent Awards. Indicated by an additional North
Star/Compass Rose device on the suspension or service ribbon. A
maximum of four North Star/Compass Rose devices may be worn.
(4) Authorized Devices. The North Star/Compass Rose.
f. Procedures
(1) Navy Personnel. Certification data, to include dates of
eligibility, will be forwarded to Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)
(DNS-35).
(2) Marine Corps Personnel. COs awarding the NASR or NASM shall
make the appropriate entries in their Marines' official service
records.
3. Coordinating Instructions
a. The NASM will likely not be available for issue until late 2024.
b. The CNO and Commandant of the Marine Corps will establish
administrative procedures for retroactive award of the NASM.
4. This MARADMIN is applicable to the total force.
5. Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director,
Manpower Management Division.//