Army National Guard Components Achievement Medal

Criteria:

The Army National Guard Components Achievement Medal is granted for four years of honorable service in the Army National Guard with accompanying awards represented by oak leaf clusters. Effective March 28, 1995, the period of designated service for the award was lessened from four years to three years; however, this adjustment was not retroactive. The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal can also be given to officers in the grade of Colonel or below. The decoration was originally made in 1972. Reserve Good Conduct Medals are commonly designated only for enlisted members and are not eligible to be presented to officers. The main distinction between the regular Good Conduct Medal and the Reserve Good Conduct Medal is that the Good Conduct Medal is only issued for active duty service while the reserve equivalent is bestowed for reserve duties such as drill and annual training. The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a comparable decoration that is given for 10 years of honorable reserve service and is granted to both enlisted personnel and officers.