1. Description: A bronze medal, 1 1/4 inches in diameter, with an
1. Description: A bronze medal, 1 ¼ inches in diameter, consisting of a faceted twelve-pointed
star with a beveled edge, the points surmounting a wreath of laurel and bearing on a disc within a smaller wreath of laurel,
a torch between two swords crossed saltirewise, points up and flanked by two mullets. The reverse has the cuirass from the
Department of the Army seal centered below "ARMY NATIONAL GUARD" or "UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE" and above "FOR ACHIEVEMENT".
2. Ribbon: A 1 3/8 inches wide ribbon consisting of the following stripes: 5/16 inch Old Gold
67105; 1/8 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118; 1/16 inch White 67101; center 3/8 inch Scarlet 67111; 1/16 inch White; 1/8 inch Ultramarine
Blue; and 5/16 inch Old Gold.
3. Criteria: The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal is awarded for exemplary behavior,
efficiency, and fidelity while serving as a member of an Army National Guard or Army Reserve Troop Program Unit for each four
year period since 3 March 1972. Effective 28 March 1995, the period of qualifying service for the award was reduced from four
years to three years; however, this change was not retroactive. Service must have been consecutive and service performed in
the Reserve Component of the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard may not be credited for award of this medal.
The member must have exhibited honest and faithful service in accordance with the standards of conduct, courage and duty required
by law and customs of the service of a member of the same grade as the individual to whom the standard is being applied. A
member must be recommended for the award by his/her unit commander.
4. Components: The following are authorized components of the Army Reserve Components Achievement
Medal:
a. Medal (regular size): MIL-DTL-3943/200. NSN 8455-00-464-2138 (National Guard) and 8455-00-464-2149
(Army Reserve) for set which includes full size medal and ribbon bar.
b. Medal (miniature size): MIL-DTL-3943/200. Available commercially.
c. Ribbon: MIL-DTL-11589/196. NSN 8455-00-464-2149.
d. Lapel Button (metal replica of ribbon): MIL-DTL-11484/101.
Available commercially.
5. Background: a. The Commanding General, U.S. Continental Army Command, recommended adoption
of a medal for the Reserve Components that would be comparable to the Good Conduct Medal for the Active Army on 11 August
1969. The Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, on 29 January 1970, requested The Institute of Heraldry (TIOH) provide proposed
designs for consideration by the Secretary of the Army. Designs were submitted in May 1970 and the Secretary of the Army approved
the award on 3 March 1971.
b. The star symbolizes achievement and its twelve points refer to measurement of time
and to the sustained meritorious service. The inner disc represents a circle of perfection and bears the torch for guidance
and the laurel for honor and glory. The two swords, one for active and one for reserve, attest to eternal readiness and the
two stars symbolize equality of effort. The red, white and blue of the ribbon, our National colors, stand for patriotism.
The gold symbolizes merit.
c. The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal may be awarded to enlisted personnel
and officers in the grade of Colonel or below. Subsequent awards are reflected by the attachment of an oak-leaf cluster to
the ribbon.