ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY
The Arctic Service Medal was established by Admiral Owen W. Siler, Commandant of the Coast Guard, on May 20, 1976.
EFFECTIVE DATES
The Arctic Service Medal has been retroactively awarded for qualifying service since January 1, 1946.
CRITERIA
The Arctic Service Medal may be awarded to any member of the Coast Guard who has served twenty-one consecutive days subsequent to January 1, 1946, under any of the following conditions:
- During summer operations (May 1 to October 31) aboard a Coast Guard vessel operating in polar waters north of the Arctic Circle;
- During winter operations (November 1 to April 30) aboard a Coast Guard vessel operating in polar waters north of latitude 60 degrees North in the Bering Sea, Davis Strait, or Denmark Strait.
- At the Radio Station at Barrow, Alaska or any of the following Loran Stations: Cape Athol, Greenland; Cape Christian (Baffin Island), Canada; Port Clarence, Alaska; Bo, Norway; or January Mayen Island, Norway.
- The medal can also be earned by crew members of Coast Guard aircraft flying to or from any of the stations listed above or any shore stations north of the Arctic Circle. The time required is a cumulative total of 21 days, with a flight in and out within a 24 hour period counting only one day. On a case by case basis, awards can be made to other personnel including civilians who participate in Coast Guard Arctic Programs, perform significant service, and share the hardships and hazards of the operation.
The Arctic Service Medal is worn after the Antarctica Service Medal and before the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
DEVICES
No attachments have been authorized for this medal.
FIRST RECIPIENT
The first recipient of the Arctic Service Medal is not known.
DESIGNER
The Arctic Service Medal was designed by Arnold P. Simmons of the Army's Institute of Heraldry.
DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM
Obverse
In the center of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, a polar bear is shown in profile with its head to the left. Above the bear and following the contour of the upper quarter of the medal, the words ARCTIC SERVICE. An eight pointed star is above the bear's back (and beneath the inscription).
The bear stands on a sheet of ice represented by a straight line; below the line are two undulating lines. The polar bear, whose sole habitat is the Arctic region, alludes to the polar region and to the Coast Guard Cutter Bear. The star represents the Stella Polaris, prominent in the northern sky.
Reverse
In the center of a bronze medallion one and a quarter inches in diameter, the Seal of the United States Coast Guard, under whose authority the medal is awarded is displayed.
Ribbon
The ribbon is the reverse of the Antarctic service Medal, thus indicating service at its opposite (North) pole.