Established on August 22, 1997, the Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal honors civilian employees of the Department of Defense who provide support to military forces or who participate in long-term peacekeeping or humanitarian operations under similar circumstances as members of the uniformed military.
To qualify, support service typically must last 30 days consecutively or 60 days non-consecutively.
The medal is bronze and features an image of the Statue of Liberty’s torch framed by the words “SUPPORTING FREEDOM” and by a laurel wreath. The reverse of the medal features three crossed arrows and an inscription reading “ARMED FORCES CIVILIAN SERVICE MEDAL.” The ribbon features a thick vertical dark green stripe in the center flanked on either side by a thin light green stripe, a thin yellow stripe, and a thin blue stripe proceeding outward to each edge.