Kansas National Guard Distinguished Service Medal Ribbon
Kansas National Guard Distinguished Service Medal Ribbon
History - Established 1979
Established on July 1, 1979, the Kansas National Guard Distinguished Service Medal honors Kansas National Guard members who carry out heroic acts or sustained outstanding service above and beyond normal duties and typically involving risk of life or injury. The act of saving a life may sufficiently qualify an individual for the award.
The Kansas National Guard is composed of the Kansas Army National Guard and the Kansas Air National Guard. The Army component’s roots trace back to the Kansas Territorial Militia, which was established in 1855 to maintain order amid growing pre-Civil War tensions between pro-slavery and abolitionist factions. It numbers approximately 5,500 soldiers and has headquarters in both Topeka and Salina. The Air component dates back to 1941, when the 127th Observation Squadron came into being, and it is based in Topeka.
Details
The ribbon features a vertical red stripe on each edge and two blue stripes toward the center, separated by three thinner white stripes.
Subsequent awards may be indicated by oak leaf clusters, and the bronze “V” device may be awarded for an act of heroism.
Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze V
Precedence
Next Higher: Kansas National Guard Medal of Excellence
Next Lower: Kansas National Guard Meritorious Service
Kansas National Guard Distinguished Service Medal Ribbon