a. Authorization. The Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal was established by a SECNAV directive of 19 February 1939.
b. Eligibility Requirements. Awarded to members of the Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) who, subsequent to 1 July 1925 fulfilled certain designated service requirements within any 4-year period of service in the Organized Marine Corps Reserve. The following are specific requirements of eligibility for this medal:
(1) Attendance with a SMCR unit to include duty in an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) billet in Training Category A at four consecutive annual field training periods. A period of active duty for training which was authorized to be performed in lieu of a regular annual field training period will fulfill this requirement.
(2) Effective 24 April 1961, attendance with an SMCR unit, to include duty in an IMA billet in Training Category A, of 90 percent of all scheduled drills each year for 4 consecutive years. Eligibility for the medal prior to that date is based on 80 percent attendance of all scheduled drills. (Appropriate duty or equivalent instruction-or-duty may be credited in lieu of drills.)
(3) In the case of officers and noncommissioned officers (sergeant or above), it is the responsibility of the commanding officer (or the Commander, Marine Corps Reserve Support Command (MCRSC) in the case of IMA Category A) to determine that the individual’s service and performance of duty warrant the award. Enlisted personnel in grade corporal and below must have obtained for the first 4-year period, a combined average of conduct and proficiency markings of 4.0 or above. For subsequent 4-year periods, enlisted personnel must have obtained a combined average of conduct and proficiency markings of 4.5 or above. When it is evident that the individual who otherwise fulfills the eligibility criteria is not deserving of this award because of a repeated record of valid indebtedness or other acts which are not in keeping with the high moral standards required of all Marines, commanding officers (or the Commander of MCRSC in the case of IMA Category A) will make appropriate recommendations to CMC (MHM) stating the reasons.
(4) SMCR members, including IMA Category A, when called to active duty in time of war or national emergency may be credited while on active duty with the annual field training and required drill attendance when they have served not less than 1 month on active duty during each qualification year. Such active service may be credited only for the purpose of qualification for the medal or bronze star toward which the reservist is working at the time of mobilization. When the reservist’s 4-year period is completed, active duty subsequently performed may not be credited toward the issuance of a medal or star. If the period of active duty is of such duration that the reservist is ordered to inactive status prior to completion of the reservist’s 4-year period, the time spent on active duty may be credited toward the award of medal or star, but credit for active duty will not be allowed for any 4-year period which began with the reservist on active duty. Once a medal or star is earned after mobilization, the reservist must return to drill
and training status in the SMCR (including IMA category “A”) before a new qualification period begins.
(5) When a member of the SMCR is unable to attend drills due to absence from the place of drill, or for causes beyond his/her control, exclusive of sickness, the reservist should request a leave of absence for such period, in order that the absence from the regular drill period will not count against the record of attendance for eligibility for the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal.
(6) Retroactive to 12 January 1961, the medal will also be awarded to those officers prohibited by the rotation system, due to the lack of billets, from serving in the SMCR (including service as an IMA category A) for a 4-year period, provided they have met the following criteria: Completed any continuous 5 anniversary years of satisfactory Federal service in the Marine Corps Reserve (including IMA Training Categories A, B, C, and D) as defined by regulations, which includes a minimum of 2 consecutive years of satisfactory participation as a member of an SMCR unit, or as an IMA Category A, during which attendance at drills and periods of annual field training meets the requirements cited in paragraphs 4b(l) through 4b(3).
(7) Any period of qualifying service beginning with SMCR membership interrupted by duty with the Active Reserve (AR) Programs shall not be considered a break in the said period of 4 consecutive years for eligibility. Furthermore, any such period of active duty may be credited with the annual field training and required drill attendance for the purpose of completing qualification only for the medal or bronze star toward which the reservist was working at the time of active duty in the AR Program.
(8) When enlisted Marine Corps reservists are assigned to active duty in the AR Programs, they must elect whether to continue their eligibility for the SMCRM for which they have accumulated qualifying service or commence qualifying service for the Good Conduct Medal. Officers may continue to earn qualifying service toward SMCRM. Under no circumstances will a reservist start a commencement date for the SMCRM while on the
AR Program. MCO 1070.12H (IRAM) (NOTAL) contains administrative instructions.
c. Certificate and Attachments
(1) A Selected Marine Corps Reserve Certificate (MAVMC 10592) will be completed by the commanding officer at the time entitlement is confirmed for presentation to the member concerned.
(2) A bronze star 3/16-inch in diameter is worn on the suspension ribbon and ribbon bar to denote subsequent awards.
Ok, I stand corrected. Every 4 years. This was bugging me so I had to find the answer. This taken directly from the awards manual. Frumby
'tis life I guess.