Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal

MCGCM - USMC GOOD CONDUCT MDL 8455-00-261-4501

Eligibility Requirements

T he Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal is authorized by special order No. 49 of 20 July 1896 to recognize good behavior and faithful service in the Marine Corps.

Summary: Awarded on a selective basis to recognize 3 years of continuous active duty to enlisted Service members in the Regular U.S. Marine Corps or U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to recognize good behavior and faithful service in the U.S. Marine Corps. DoD 1348.33-M, September 1996 124

Any three years of continuous active service after 10 December 1945 regardless of expiration or extension of enlistments and any previous or subsequent disciplinary action, except as indicated in subparagraph (b) for enlistment personnel, Regular or Reserve including service in temporary warrant or commissioned status, provided temporary officer reverts to enlisted status. Also, if reenlisted within a period of 90 days from date of discharge, it will not be construed as an interruption of continuous service but the period between discharge and reenlistment will not be counted
Provided the individual is otherwise quali-fied, a MCGCM shall be authorized for any 3 years enlisted service consisting of a combination of periods of active service in a war, national emergency or armed hostilities in which the United States is engaged. When the first period of such service terminated prior to 10 December 1945, a total of 4 years enlisted service is required
For first award only, the MCGCM may be awarded, provided conduct requirements are met, to the next of kin in those cases where service member is killed in combat action against an opposing armed force, or dies as a direct result of wounds received in combat action against an opposing armed force, or dies in the line of duty where such death was directly related to actions against the enemy. In addition, for the first award only, the MCGCM is authorized for individuals who are separated from the naval service for physical disability as a result of wounds incurred in combat action against an opposing armed force, or in the line of duty where such wounds resulted directly from action against the enemy, provided conduct requirements are met. For first award only, next of kin of Prisoners of War also would be eligible to receive the MCGCM if the service member’s demise occurs while in a POW status, provided it has been determined that conduct while in POW status was acceptable

Conduct

The MCGCM shall be earned for otherwise qualifying service involving no convictions by courtsmartial, or nonjudicial punishment (NJP) under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Article 15, and no lost time by reason of sickness-misconduct or injury-misconduct. Prior to 27 April 1990, not more than 1 NJP was allowed
When an NJP or a courts-martial voids creditability of service, a new good conduct period shall commence effective on the date of approval of the NJP or on the date of the convening authority’s action on the courts-martial, except when the offense occurred within the 3-year period and the date of approval of the NJP or of the convening authority’s action is after the expiration of the 3-year period; under these circumstances, the date of the offense shall be the commencement date for the new period. Offenses committed in a previous period will not be considered when determining eligibility during the current 3-year period