Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM)

Start Here If You Are New to MOVSM

You volunteer in your community. You coach a youth sports team. You tutor at a local school. You stack hours at a homeless shelter on weekends. You wonder whether the Marine Corps recognizes that work alongside the rest of your service.

The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) is the one award the Marine Corps gives for sustained volunteer service to the civilian community. It is one of two narrow exceptions to the rule against self-nomination (Marksmanship Badges are the other). This page walks you through the MOVSM from your seat as a General Marine. By the end you will know.

• The two eligibility tests every MOVSM nomination has to clear
• The 36-month sustained-service standard and how the manual defines "sustained"
• Qualifying volunteer activities and disqualifying activities, with verbatim examples from the manual
• How to nominate yourself or another Marine, and where the approval authority sits per MARADMIN 077/25MARADMIN 077/25
• How the award posts to your record and shows on your DD-214
• The hard rules on duplicate awards within a single tour

Every fact on this page comes from SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 4A Tab 18, Executive Order 12830 (the MOVSM authorization), MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J w/ CH 1, MARADMIN 077/25MARADMIN 077/25, and the current MMPB-3 Military Awards Section guidance.

What the MOVSM Is

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 4A Tab 18 paragraph a, the MOVSM is authorized by Executive Order 12830 (1992). Per paragraph b, the effective date is on or after 31 December 1992. The MOVSM recognizes Service Members for outstanding sustained volunteer service to the civilian community, including the military family community, that produces tangible results and reflects favorably on the Department of the Navy and the Department of Defense.

Different from every Personal Military Decoration (PMD), the MOVSM does not recognize duty performance, valor, or service in operations. It recognizes what you do off duty when no one is paying you. The chain of command does not initiate the nomination automatically. You or your senior have to surface the volunteer service for it to be recognized.

Why the MOVSM Matters to You

The MOVSM is a CE&S-category ribbon worn on your awards rack alongside campaign and service medals. It carries weight in three places.

• Your awards rack. The MOVSM occupies a recognizable spot above marksmanship badges and below your campaign medals. Marines and senior officials who know the MOVSM know what it represents.
• Your service record. The award posts to your OMPF and MCTFS and follows you to your DD-214 at separation.
• Your community standing. The MOVSM signals to civilian employers, college admissions panels, and veterans organizations that you stacked sustained off-duty service alongside your active duty work. The signal travels post-separation in ways most service awards do not.

The Two Eligibility Tests

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 4A Tab 18 paragraph d, every MOVSM nomination has to pass two independent tests.

Test 1. The Service Meets All Six Qualifying Conditions

Per Tab 18 paragraph d.(1), qualifying service must.

• Be voluntary
• Be to the civilian community, including the military family community
• Be significant in nature and produce tangible results
• Reflect favorably on the DON and the DoD
• Be of a sustained and direct nature
• Not be performed while deployed in a combat theater

If your service fails any one of these six conditions, the MOVSM does not apply. The combat-theater exclusion is a hard cut. Volunteer hours stacked while you were forward deployed do not count toward the MOVSM, even if the work was significant.

Test 2. The Service Meets the Sustained-Period Standard

Per Tab 18 paragraph d.(2), the Secretary of Defense authorized each Military Department to establish standards for the time period required to qualify. All Military Departments have established that a sustained period of volunteer service is normally 36 months. Per the manual, this does not absolutely preclude the award for exceptional volunteer service of less time, but it should guide commanders in upholding the intent of the award.

Translation. Plan for 36 months as the working benchmark. A Marine with 6 months of community work has not met the standard. A Marine with 36 months of consistent monthly contributions has. The intent is to recognize a sustained pattern, not a snapshot.

Per Tab 18 paragraph d.(5), the award is not limited to volunteer service performed within a single 36-month tour. Approval authorities are allowed to consider a sustained record of significant community service performed during successive tours.

Qualifying Volunteer Activities

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 4A Tab 18 paragraph d.(6), the manual lists examples of qualifying volunteer service.

• Coaching a youth sports team
• Tutoring students in a local school
• Working at a community food bank, soup kitchen, or homeless shelter
• Being a scout leader or working with other youth organizations such as the Boys/Girls Clubs of America
• Docent or other worker at a not-for-profit national, state, or local park or museum
• Time spent on leave or liberty participating in community relations (COMREL) projects, whether in the U.S. or overseas
• Any other community activity undertaken during off-duty time where the participation is not officially sponsored by the Navy or Marine Corps

The threshold is direct, tangible, sustained service. Sitting on a board of directors does not qualify by itself per paragraph d.(3). Attending membership meetings or social events does not qualify. The work has to produce tangible results in the community.

Disqualifying Activities

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 4A Tab 18 paragraph d.(7), the manual lists examples of service that does not qualify.

• Time spent supporting Toys for Tots, when the time was expected as part of the Sailor's or Marine's duties
• Any fundraising activity connected with support to fellow Service Members, e.g., Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society or Chief's Association
• Any activity that provides support to fellow Service Members, such as tutoring a fellow Marine
• Any activity related to the Combined Federal Campaign
• Any activity in which the individual's participation is officially sponsored by the Navy or Marine Corps. For example, a color guard provided to a community parade
• Any activity in which the individual's participation is related to his or her official government position. For example, a unit commander asked to judge a community charitable fundraising event

The pattern. If the activity supports the military community internally, or is part of your official duties, or was sponsored by the unit, it does not qualify. The MOVSM is for outward-facing community work outside the lane of your day job.

One Award per Tour - The Hard Rule

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 4A Tab 18 paragraph d.(4), the MOVSM recognizes service provided to a community over time. Multiple awards of the MOVSM during a single tour of duty are not authorized.

Translation. You earn one MOVSM per tour at most. If you have already received an MOVSM during your current tour and continue volunteer work, the next eligible award window opens at your next duty station.

Subsequent awards across separate tours are denoted by a 3/16-inch bronze star per paragraph f, with a 3/16-inch silver star worn in lieu of five bronze stars.

The Self-Nomination Exception

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.b.(6), Marines have no official role in the nomination and approval process for most awards. The MOVSM is one of the narrow exceptions.

Per Tab 18 paragraph h.(1), an MOVSM nomination is allowed to be originated by any commissioned officer, or DoD civilian GS-11 or above, who is senior in grade and position to the individual being nominated and has knowledge of the act or accomplishment. In practice this means.

• Your commanding officer or executive officer is allowed to write you up
• Your senior enlisted leader (SgtMaj or 1stSgt) is allowed to surface the recognition with the originator
• A DoD civilian supervisor at GS-11 or above with knowledge of your service is allowed to originate

The narrow self-nomination path runs through this same originator-must-be-senior rule, but the difference is that the volunteer service itself is documented by you (hours, dates, organization). You do not write the nomination package, but you do supply the documentation that proves the service.

A common workflow. The Marine builds a volunteer service record through the unit Volunteer Coordinator or directly with their reporting senior, the senior officer initiates the nomination once the 36-month threshold is reached, and the award routes through the chain of command.

Time Limits on Origination

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 4A Tab 18 paragraph h.(2), MOVSM nominations must be originated and entered into official channels within three years of the completion of the period of volunteer service to be recognized. Outside the three-year window, the procedures in SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 8 (Awards Beyond Time Limits) apply.

If you are a Marine wrapping up a tour with substantial volunteer service, the deadline matters. Surface the recognition before you PCS or you risk losing the window.

Approval Authority

Per MARADMIN 077/25MARADMIN 077/25 paragraph 3.a.4.c, the MOVSM is approved by Marine commanders in grades no lower than O-5. The same delegation level as the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM).

Translation. Your battalion or squadron commander approves an MOVSM submitted from a unit in their command. For MOVSM nominations on Marines outside the standard battalion structure (HQMC staffs, joint billets, recruiting), the O-5 commander in the operational chain holds approval authority.

Higher-level endorsement is allowed but not required. The O-5 approval is final for the MOVSM.

How the MOVSM Process Works

The flow follows the standard Marine Corps awards routing under MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J w/ CH 1.

Step 1. Originator Documents the Service

The originator (per Tab 18 paragraph h.(1)) builds the nomination package.

• Award Recommendation Form
• Summary of Action describing the volunteer service, hours, organizations, and tangible results
• Proposed citation language (or "in lieu of citation" letter, see below)
• Eligibility verification from an official of each volunteer organization

Per Tab 18 paragraph h.(4), the CO must certify that the eligibility requirements have been met. Volunteer service must be attested to by an official of the organization to which the volunteer service was rendered. A simple letter or signed form from the organization with hours and dates is the typical artifact.

Step 2. Submit Through iAPS

For Marine Corps personnel, per Tab 18 paragraph h.(6), the Improved Awards Processing System (iAPS) is used. The S-1 enters the package, attaches supporting documentation, and routes to the O-5 commander.

Step 3. Approval and Award Elements

Per Tab 18 paragraph e, the MOVSM consists of a ribbon and medal set. No citation or certificate is issued by default. Locally created certificates are not authorized. In lieu of a citation or certificate, awarding authorities are allowed to issue a suitable official letter to the recipient documenting the approval and the total volunteer service hours for which the award was made.

Per MARADMIN 104/06MARADMIN 104/06 paragraph 4, commanders authorized to award the MOVSM issue the letter of authorization to the Marine at the time the award is presented. A copy of the authorization letter goes to HQMC MMPB-3 for inclusion in the Marine's OMPF. The historical address per MARADMIN 104/06MARADMIN 104/06 was 2008 Elliot Road, Quantico, VA 22134, attention MMSB-20. The function continues today under MMPB-3. The Appendix A to Chapter 4 of SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 contains the sample format for the authorization letter.

Note. Per MARADMIN 104/06MARADMIN 104/06, copies of the MOVSM authorization letter for Marine Corps personnel should NOT go to BUPERS (PERS-313C). The OMPF inclusion routes through the Marine Corps awards office only.

Step 4. Records Update

Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J w/ CH 1, the approved MOVSM posts to the Marine's OMPF through UD/MIPS storage. The MOVSM is submitted to the reporting unit (I&I S-1 with direct UD/MIPS access, or a battalion S-1 routing through their PAC) for entry into the Marine's record. MCTFS reflects the award through the Unit Diary transaction. Your Master Brief Sheet updates within a few weeks. The award appears on your DD-214 at separation per MARADMIN 093/25MARADMIN 093/25.

Wearing the MOVSM

Per Marine Corps Uniform Regulations and SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 4A Tab 18 paragraph g.

The MOVSM ribbon and medal sit in the CE&S category, below personal decorations and unit awards in the order of precedence per the SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 1 ordering rules. The page on Wearing Your Awards walks through exact placement.

Subsequent awards are denoted by 3/16-inch stars (bronze for the 2nd through 5th, silver in lieu of five bronze).

Verifying Your MOVSM in Your Records

If you have received the MOVSM, verify the award reaches your records within 30 days of approval.

Step 1. Pull Your OMPF

Use the Online Records Management Application (O-RMA). Look for.

• Award Recommendation Form
• Letter in lieu of citation (if issued) documenting the volunteer service period and total hours
• Page 11 entry documenting the award (if applicable)

Step 2. Pull Your Master Brief Sheet (MBS)

Through Marine Online (MOL). Verify.

• MOVSM ribbon entry
• Date of award
• Star indicator if subsequent award

Step 3. If Anything Is Missing or Wrong

Coordinate with your S-1. Standard administrative correction procedures apply per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J w/ CH 1. For older issues, the procedures in SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 8 cover beyond-time-limit corrections.

Common Questions Marines Ask

I have done volunteer work for two years. Am I eligible?

Per Tab 18 paragraph d.(2), the standard is 36 months. The manual leaves room for exceptional volunteer service of less time, but the working benchmark is three years. Two years of consistent service typically falls short of the standard unless the service was extraordinary in scope and impact.

I tutor other Marines on the side. Does that count?

Per Tab 18 paragraph d.(7)(c), no. Activities that provide support to fellow Service Members do not qualify. Tutoring a fellow Marine, working in the unit FRG, or fundraising for Marine Corps Relief Society do not qualify regardless of hours.

I volunteered at a base food bank that serves military families. Does that count?

The military family community is explicitly within scope per Tab 18 paragraph d.(1)(b). Volunteer service to military families through a base or installation food bank, family readiness program, or similar qualifies, provided the other five qualifying conditions are met.

I deployed for 9 months and volunteered with a local school during liberty. Does that time count?

Per Tab 18 paragraph d.(1)(f), volunteer service performed while deployed in a combat theater does not qualify. Volunteer time in a non-combat theater (e.g., COMREL projects during liberty in a non-combat overseas tour) is allowed to count per paragraph d.(6)(f).

My CO will not nominate me even though I have 36 months of documented work. What are my options?

The MOVSM is discretionary like every other award. The chain of command exercises judgment. If you believe your service warranted recognition and was overlooked, surface the documentation through your senior enlisted leader or your reporting senior. Per Chapter 8 of SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1, after-the-fact nominations are allowed within the three-year origination window.

I received an MOVSM at my last command. I have continued volunteer work this tour. Am I eligible for a second one?

Yes, but per Tab 18 paragraph d.(4), the second award has to be tied to a separate tour. The volunteer service from the prior tour does not count toward the new award. Per paragraph d.(5), the approval authority is allowed to consider a sustained record across successive tours when judging the new tour's submission, but the recognized period for the new award is the new tour.

I volunteered with a national-level organization for 4 years across two tours. Is that one MOVSM or two?

If both tours independently met the qualifying conditions and you received an MOVSM at the first tour, the second is a separate award. If you did not receive recognition at the first tour, per paragraph d.(5), the approval authority is allowed to consider the entire 4-year record when adjudicating a single MOVSM.

I am separating in three months. Is the volunteer work from my current tour still in scope?

If your service falls within the three-year origination window, yes. Surface the documentation immediately. Per MARADMIN 093/25MARADMIN 093/25, the MOVSM has to land on your record before terminal leave starts to show on your DD-214.

Where to Go for Help

A Note on HQMC Awards Office Designations

The Marine Corps reorganized its awards office over time. Three designations show up in policies tied to MOVSM. Get the distinction right so you route requests correctly.

• HQMC Manpower Performance Branch, Military Awards Section (MMPB-3). The current umbrella office handling Marine Corps awards adjudication, policy interpretation, and CMC-level approval routing. Listed on the Manpower Marines website at https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Management/Performance-Branch/Military-Awards/.
• HQMC MMPB-31. A sub-element under MMPB-3 specifically handling administrative actions on awards. This includes administrative change requests, replacement certificate procedures, and the administrative correction templates referenced in MARADMIN 093/25MARADMIN 093/25 paragraph 10.k. MMPB-31 is NOT the same as MMMA. The two have different functions.
• CMC (MMMA), Military Awards Branch. The historical designation appearing in older policy documents (SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.3, MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J, and earlier MARADMINs). When you see MMMA in older guidance, the function continues today under MMPB-3. The mailing addresses listed in older documents (2008 Elliot Road, Quantico, VA 22134, or 3280 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134-5103) reflect historical MMMA mailing addresses still cited in those policies.

For current Marine Corps awards questions, contact MMPB-3.

• Email. smb_hqmc_pers_awards@usmc.mil
• Phone. 703-784-9342
• Website. https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Management/Performance-Branch/Military-Awards/

For administrative corrections, replacement certificates, and template requests, route through MMPB-31 channels per MARADMIN 093/25MARADMIN 093/25.

Routing by Issue

• Active duty Marines documenting volunteer service for an MOVSM nomination. Your S-1 and your unit Volunteer Coordinator if your unit has one.
• Approval authority for the MOVSM. Marine commanders in grades no lower than O-5 per MARADMIN 077/25MARADMIN 077/25 paragraph 3.a.4.c.
• Older MOVSM corrections outside the standard correction window. SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 8 procedures, routed through S-1 to MMPB-3.
• Cross-service MOVSM (Marine assigned to a Joint command, Navy command, or DoD civilian agency). The approval authority follows the chain of command at the Marine's assigned unit, with service-level concurrence through the parent service awards office.

Where to Go Next on This Site

• Awards Overview lays out the three categories of awards and where the MOVSM sits as a CE&S award.
• Wearing Your Awards covers ribbon precedence, devices, and uniform-by-uniform placement.
• Verifying Your Awards in OMPF walks through the verification steps in detail.
• PCS and Awards Timing covers timing rules around career moves where MOVSM submission deadlines fall in awkward windows.

Related Roles

• Leaders identify Marines doing sustained community work, encourage documentation through the unit Volunteer Coordinator, and route nominations to the O-5 commander.
• Admin at S-1 processes MOVSM packages through iAPS, certifies eligibility documentation, and posts the approved award to the OMPF and MCTFS.
• Commanders at the O-5 level approve the MOVSM under MARADMIN 077/25MARADMIN 077/25 paragraph 3.a.4.c, exercise judgment on sustained-service standards, and ensure unit volunteer documentation supports submissions.

The MOVSM rewards a pattern of off-duty community service most Marines never bother to surface. Document the work, surface it through your senior, and let the system recognize the effort.