The
Good Conduct Medal is a medal
awarded by the
United States military for
exemplary behavior,
efficiency, and
fidelity in active Federal Military service. Periods of
service which are
qualified for this medal are each three years completed after 27 August 1940 or, for first award only, when at the end of at least one year in the service if service is left before three years have passed. Can only be approved by the recipient's immediate
commander, and it has to be placed on their
record.
Active Reserve Guard
soldiers became eligible on 1 September 1982 but cannot overlap any time for which a
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal was awarded.
The medal itself consists of a
bronze medal 1 1/4 inches in
diameter. In the face is an
eagle with spread wings upon a closed book and sword. Circling this are the words, "
EFFICIENCY HONOR FIDELITY" in caps. On the reverse, there is a five-pointed star, and the words "FOR GOOD" and "CONDUCT" are on opposite sides of a scroll. Around all this is a
wreath, with an
oak branch on the right and a
laurel on the left. The
ribbon is
symmetrical, with a width of 1 3/8 inch, colored (from the outside) with a 1/16 in. Soldier Red stripe, a 1/16 in. white stripe, with a 1/16 in. Soldier Red stripe, a 1/16 in. white stripe, with a 1/16 in. Soldier Red stripe, a 1/16 in. white stripe, and a 5/8 in. Soldier Red center. Subsequent awards of the Good Conduct Medal are signified by clasps on the ribbon.
This medal was established by
executive order, and was designed by Joseph Kiselewski. It was approved by the
Secretary of War on 30 October 1942. The
eagle signifies
vigilance and
superiority, while the horizontal
sword is for
loyalty. The book is
knowledge and abilities acquired. The star on reverse is merit, and the laurel and oak are reward and strength.
Bronze clasps denote the second through fifth award, counting with loops of the clasp, and the
silver clasp denotes a sixth through tenth award, similarly using loops, and
gold in a like manner for the eleventh through fifteenth.