The South Carolina National Guard Retirement Medal honors South Carolina National Guard members who carry out at least a five-year term of service.
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 is dark blue and is bisected by a thin vertical red stripe flanked on either side by a thin white stripe.