ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY
The Joint Service Achievement Medal was established on August 3, 1983, by Secretary of Defense
EFFECTIVE DATES
The Joint Service Achievement Medal has been in effect since August 3, 1983.
CRITERIA
The Joint Service Achievement Medal is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to members of the Armed Forces below the grade of colonel (or captain in the Navy) who, while assigned to a joint activity, distinguish themselves by outstanding achievement or meritorious service, but not to the degree that would warrant award of the Joint Service Commendation Medal.
ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
The Joint Service Achievement Medal is worn after the Commendation Medals of the separate services and before all of the other service Achievement Medals.
DEVICES
Additional awards of the Joint Service Achievement Medal are denoted by oak leaf clusters. Until 1998 additional awards to Coast Guard personnel were denoted by a gold star five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter. In 1998 the Coast Guard authorized its members to wear oak leaf clusters to denote subsequent awards; however, previously authorized gold stars could still be worn.
DESIGNER AND SCULPTOR
The Joint Service Achievement Medal was designed by Jay Morris and sculpted by Donald Borja, both of the Army's Institute of Heraldry.
FIRST RECIPIENT
The identity of the first recipient of the Joint Service Achievement Medal was not recorded.
DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM
Obverse
A bronze medal one and seven-sixteenths inches in overall diameter, consisting of a star of twelve points. An eagle holding three arrows is superimposed in the center. The shape of the medal was chosen to make it distinctive from all other decorations, and the eagle was taken from the Seal of the Secretary of Defense, under whose authority the medal is awarded.
Reverse
In the center of the reverse there is a circle composed of the following inscription (in raised letters): JOINT SERVICE (which comprises the upper portion of the circle) ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (which comprises the lower portion of the circle). The space in the center of the circle is left blank for inscribing the recipient's name.
Ribbon
The ribbon consists of a center stripe of red flanked on either side by stripes of light blue, white, green, white, and blue.