The South Carolina National Guard Meritorious Service Medal honors South Carolina National Guard members an civilians who carry out exceptional service in excess of normal expectations on behalf of South Carolina or the country.
The South Carolina National Guard is composed of the South Carolina Army National Guard and the South Carolina Air National Guard; it numbers approximately 10,000 soldiers and airmen in total. The Army component is based in Columbia and traces back to colonial militia activity in 1670. The Air component, also based in Columbia, originated in December of 1946 with the formation of the 157th Fighter Squadron.
The ribbon features a dark blue vertical stripe in the center flanked by a white stripe of the same size on either side and a red stripe of the same size outside of the white. It also features white edging.