Antarctica Service Medal

Criteria

To qualify for the Antarctica Service Medal, personnel must train or serve ten days stationed on the Antarctic continent, or aboard vessels in Antarctic waters, defined as south of 60 degrees latitude. Flight crews performing transport missions to Antarctica qualify for one day of service for each flight mission performed within a 24-hour time period. Civilians who work in a research facility or on a research vessel are also eligible to receive the Antarctica Service Medal through the National Science Foundation, provided that they also remain south of 60 degrees latitude for a cumulative period of 10 days, or 30 days if prior to October 10, 2008.

Appearance

The award is issued as a bronze medal, inches in diameter. Its obverse consists of a polar landscape view and standing figure in Antarctica clothing facing to the front between the horizontally placed words, "ANTARCTICA" on the figure's left and "SERVICE" on the figure's right.

On its reverse is a polar projection with geodesic lines of the continent of Antarctica across which are the horizontally placed words "COURAGE", "SACRIFICE", and "DEVOTION", all within a circular decorative border of penguins and marine life.

The service ribbon is inches wide and consists of a -inch black stripe on each edge and graded from a white stripe in the center to a pale blue, light blue, greenish blue, and medium blue. The outer bands of black and dark blue represent five months of Antarctic darkness; the center portion, by its size and colors – grading from medium blue through light blue and pale blue to white – symbolizes seven months of solar illumination, and also the aurora australis.{{cite web|url= http://www.usap.gov/travelanddeployment/documents/publiclawribboncolors.pdf |title= Background and History of the Antarctic Service Medal

Devices

National Science Foundation For those personnel performing extended winter service in Antarctica, a "Wintered Over" device is authorized. The "Wintered Over" bar is only worn on the full-size medal's suspension ribbon. The smaller "disc" device is worn on the uniform ribbon to recognize this service.

The Wintered Over device is bestowed to indicate the number of winters served on the Antarctica continent. The device is worn as a disk on the award ribbon and is issued in bronze for one winter service, gold for two, and silver for three or more winters of service. On the full-sized medal a clasp is worn, issued in the same degree, inscribed with the words "Wintered Over".

Partial list of notable recipients

• Delbert Black
• Fredrik Th. Bolin
• Eugene L. Boudette
• Erroll M. Brown
• William A. Cassidy
• Nancy Chabot
• Richard H. Cruzen
• Bill Curtsinger
• Robert L. Dale
• Merton Davies
• David Drewry
• Howell M. Estes II
• Linda L. Fagan
• Joseph D. Healy
• Kelly Jemison
• Christina Koch
• Otto Ludwig Lange
• Wesley L. McDonald
• Michelle Rogan-Finnemore
• Christine Siddoway
• Sean Spicer
• Martin Sponholz
• Paul Tasch
• Carlisle Trost
• Dean Winslow
• Igor Zotikov

References

References

1. (2016). "Issuances".
2. "The USAP Portal: Science and Support in Antarctica - Antarctica Service Medals and Certificates".
3. Additional details and descriptions are given at [http://law.justia.com/us/cfr/title32/32-3.1.1.6.27.html#32:3.1.1.6.27.0.15.24 32 CFR 578.24].
4. (July 7, 1960). "An Act to provide for the presentation of a medal to persons who have served as members of a United States expedition to Antarctica". [[United States Antarctic Program]].
5. "Antarctica Service Medal". The Institute of Heraldry: Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the ARMY.
6. "United States Antarctic Program".
7. (2016). "Issuances".
8. "Antarctica Service Medal". Air Force Personnel Center.
9. "Antarctica Service Medal". National Science Foundation.