Antarctica Service Medal
| Antarctica Service Medal | |
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| Founder: | United States Congress |
| Foundation year: | 1960 |
| Strap buckle: |
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| Carrying method: | on the band on the left side of the chest |
The Antarctica Service Medal was introduced by the 86th Congress of the United States on July 7, 1960. The medal is intended as a military award and replaces awards given to previous Antarctic expeditions from 1928 to 1941. With the creation of the Antarctica Service Medal, the following commemorative medals have been declared obsolete.
- Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal
- Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal
- United States Antarctic Expedition Medal
The award can also be given to civilians.
The award is given to people who have served for a period of 15 to 30 days at a research station or on a ship in Antarctica, which is located south of the 60th parallel. Flight crews who carry out transport flights to Antarctica qualify for a flight to Antarctica if this is carried out within 24 hours. Civilians working in a research facility or on a research vessel may be awarded the Antarctica Service Medal by the National Science Foundation Authority . The same requirements apply here as for military personnel.
A special level of the order is awarded to people who have wintered on a research station . In these cases, the award is presented with a clasp. The clasp is labeled Wintered Over . The clasp is awarded in three versions, bronze, gold and silver. The version in bronze stands for one hibernation, gold for two and silver for three or more hibernations.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Information from the Air Force Personal Center on the Antarctica Service Medal. Retrieved September 12, 2018 .