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Apply for a New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, Conspicuous Service Star, or Medal for Merit
Senator Pam Helming
May 20, 2020
Dear Veteran:
Thank you for your military service. Eligibility requirements and links to applications for each New York state military medal are listed below. For more information, or to receive a hard copy of an application, please contact my district office at 315-568-9816.
All completed applications should be mailed to:
The Adjutant General
Division of Military and Naval Affairs
ATTN: MNHS-AD
330 Old Niskayuna Road
Latham, New York 12110-3514
Conspicuous Service Cross Eligibility Criteria:
1. A current New York State Citizen OR
2. A New York State citizen while serving on federal active duty AND
3. A current or former full-time military person serving in the Armed Forces of the United States or allied forces for purposes other than training since 1917; Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) excepted AND
4. Currently serving under honorable conditions or honorably discharged from active duty.
An individual must be the recipient of at least one of the following:
1. Medal of Honor
2. Distinguished Service Cross
3. Navy Cross
4. Air Force Cross
5. Defense Distinguished Service Medal
6. Distinguished Service Medal (Army)
7. Distinguished Service Medal (Navy-Marine Corps)
8. Distinguished Service Medal (Air Force)
9. Distinguished Service Medal (Coast Guard)
10. Silver Star
11. Defense Superior Service Medal
12. Legion of Merit
13. Distinguished Flying Cross
14. Soldier’s Medal
15. Navy and Marine Corps Medal
16. Airmen’s Medal
17. Coast Guard Medal
18. Bronze Star Medal
19. Purple Heart
20. Defense Meritorious Service Medal
21. Meritorious Service Medal
22. Air Medal
OR: As prescribed by NYS Military Law, were a prisoner of war, served at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, directly participated in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, or have been declared by the Department of Defense as killed or missing in action.
NOTE: Acceptable documentation for veterans who served at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 194, is a certified copy of the application form for the Pearl harbor Commemorative Medal or the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Inc. membership card.
STANDARD: If you have previously been awarded the NYS Medal for Merit, you are not authorized to receive the NYS Conspicuous Service Cross. All above qualifying awards must have been earned while serving on federal active duty in the Armed Forced of the United States.
Please Click Here to access an application for the Conspicuous Service Cross.
Conspicuous Service Star/Medal For Merit Eligibility Criteria:
The general criteria for both awards require an individual to be:
1. A current New York State Citizen OR
2. A New York State citizen while serving on federal active duty AND
3. A current or former full-time military person serving in the Armed Forces of the United States or allied forces for purposes other than training since 1917; Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) excepted AND
4. Currently serving under honorable conditions or honorably discharged from active duty.
NYS Medal for Merit
Recipient of at least one of the following:
1. Joint Service Commendation Medal
2. Army Commendation Medal
3. Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal
4. Air Force Commendation Medal
5. Coast Guard Commendation Medal
6. Aerial Achievement Medal
7. Joint Service Achievement Medal
8. Army Achievement Medal
9. Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal
10. Air Force Achievement Medal
11. Coast Guard Achievement Medal
12. Gold Livesaving Medal
13. Silver Livesaving Medal
14. American Campaign Medal
15. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
16. European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
17. Korean Service Medal
18. Vietnam Service Medal
19. Southwest Asia Service Medal
20. Combat Action Ribbon
21. Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
22. Armed Forces Service Medal
23. Combat Infantryman Badge
24. Combat Medical Badge
25. Navy Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia
26. Mariner’s Medal (Merchant Marine- WWII)
27. Merchant Marine Combat Bar (WWII)
28. Kosovo Campaign Medal
29. Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
30. Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
31. Navy Expeditionary Medal
32. Iraq Campaign Medal
33. Afghanistan Campaign Medal
34. Combat Action Badge
35. Army of Occupation Medal
36. Navy Occupation Service Medal
37. Korean Defense Service Medal
NYS Conspicuous Service Star
Recipient of at least one of the following:
1. Distinguished Unit Citation/Presidential Unit Citation (Army/Navy/Air Force)
2. Joint Meritorious Unit Award
3. Valorous Unit Award
4. Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army)
5. Navy Unit Commendation
6. Meritorious Unit Commendation (Navy-Marine Corps)
7. Coast Guard Unit Commendation
8. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
9. Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
10. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation
11. Air Force Gallant Unit Citation
12. Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
NOTE: All awards listed above with the exception of the Presidential Unit Citation and Valorous Unit Award require additional evidence that award was made for combat participation.
13. French Fourragere
14. French Croix de Guerre (WWI or WWII)
15. French Medal Militaire
16. Belgian Fourragere
17. Belgian Croix de Guerre
18. Luxembourg Croix de Guerre
19. Netherlands Orange Lanyard
20. Military Order of William (Netherlands)
21. Croce al Merito di Guerra (Italy)
22. Orden de Torre E Espada (Portugal)
23. Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation (awarded prior to 1945)
24. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
25. Chyssoun Aristion Andrias (Greece)
26. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
NOTE: Specifically excluded are the Army Superior Unit Award, Navy “E” Award Ribbon , and the United States Merchant Marine Gallant Ship Citation Ribbon.
STANDARD: If you have previously been awarded or now qualify for the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, you are not authorized to receive the New York State Medal for Merit.
NOTE: All above qualifying awards must have been earned while serving on federal active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States.
Please Click Here to access an application for the Conspicuous Service Star/Medal For Merit.
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