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Meritorious Public Service Medal

The Meritorious Public Service Medal formerly the Outstanding Civilian Service Award is the third highest honor within the public service awards scheme of the Department of the Army that can be awarded to a private citizen.[3]

Meritorious Public Service Medal

Civil award

Outstanding service that makes a substantial contribution or is of significance to the Army or to a major Army command[1]

any Federal Government officials at the policy development level, and technical personnel who serve the Army in an advisory capacity or as consultants.

January 1959[2]

Eligibility[edit]

The Secretary of the Army or a major commander may award this medal to eligible recipients, including civilians not employed by the Army or Army contractors (who are eligible for Army honorary awards), military personnel, Federal Government officials at the policy development level, and technical personnel who serve the Army in an advisory capacity or as consultant, for "outstanding service that makes a substantial contribution or is of significance to the Major Command concerned."[4]

Criteria[edit]

The Secretary of the Army or a major commander may award this medal for outstanding service that makes a substantial contribution or is of significance to the major Army command concerned. Commanders of Major Army commands may delegate approval authority for this award to any commander in the rank of Major General or above.

Appearance[edit]

The Meritorious Public Service Medal is a bronze disc 1+916 in (40 mm) in height and 1+716 in (37 mm) in width. On the obverse is an equilateral triangle symbolic of the civilian. Superimposed on the triangle is the eagle from the Great Seal of the United States. At the base of the medal is a wreath denoting nonmilitary service. The reverse of the medal is inscribed AWARDED TO and FOR MERITORIOUS PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES ARMY.[2]


The medal is suspended by a ribbon 1+38 in (35 mm) in width consisting of 13 alternating stripes equally spaced, seven white and six red. Centered on each white stripe is with an oriental blue stripe 164 in (0.40 mm) wide.[2]

- author and former Director of the United States Army Ordnance Museum

William Atwater

BG , USA (Ret.)

Albert Bryant, Jr.

- creator of the "Be All You Can Be" slogan

E.N.J. Carter

- TV talk show host for his continued support of U.S. troops

Stephen Colbert

M.D., Ph.D. - Armed Forces Epidemiological Board 1965–1976 and consultant to the Surgeon General

Paul Fiset

SMA , USA (Ret.) - former Sergeant Major of the Army

Richard A. Kidd

- most decorated US Army soldier in World War II [5]

Audie Murphy

- Mathematician known for his foundational work on functional analysis

Francis Joseph Murray

- former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Global Outreach under President George W. Bush.

Mark Pfeifle

- military historian

Elihu Rose

- former Commissioner of Major League Baseball for MLB's support of veterans and their families.

Bud Selig

- Hon. CPO, USN - for substantial contributions to the U.S. Army community through his work with the Gary Sinise Foundation

Gary Sinise

– military historian

Jay Luvaas

- Veteran and founder of Stop Soldier Suicide

Brian E. Kinsella

Department of the Army Civilian Awards

Awards and decorations of the United States government