Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service

BACK DEVICE(s)

Description:

1. The Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal (basic) may be awarded to Airmen who, while assigned, attached, deployed or mobilized to a unit (wing, center or below, and nuclear-certified controllers above wing level), provided support to the Nuclear Enterprise for 120 consecutive or 179 nonconsecutive days, and:
2. The unit was subject to a Nuclear Inspection, or
3. Performed duties in nuclear operations to include nuclear weapon storage facilities, nuclear command, control, and communication, cyber surety, security, safety, transportation, maintenance, facility management and maintenance, explosive ordnance disposal, aircrew certified for support to nuclear operations, weapons loaders, warning and attack assessment, personnel reliability program management, or research, development and acquisition of nuclear systems.
4. An “N” device is worn on the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal for Airmen who:
   • Dispatched for 179 non-consecutive days in direct support of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations, and 
   • Performed duties in
     1. Missile Maintenance (21MX, 2M0XX),
     2. Munitions and Maintenance (2W0XX, 2W1XX, 2W2XX),
     3. Security Forces (31PX, 3P0XX),
     4. Services (3M0XX),
     5. Fuels (2F0XX),
     6. Transportation (2T1XX, 2T3XX),
     7. Civil Engineering (32EX, 3EXXX),
     8. Cyberspace Support (3D1X1, 3D1X2, 3D1X3, 3D100),
     9. Operations (11HXC, 13NX, 1A9X1, and13SX officers on or before 9 Feb 2013),
     10. Missile Facility Manager (8S000), or
   • For nuclear laden aircraft: nuclear certified aircrew, aircraft maintenance technicians, munitions maintenance technicians, combat crew communications, nuclear certified controllers, and security forces performing guard duties.
5. The medal may be awarded posthumously and may be presented to appropriate representatives of the deceased.
6. The Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal is worn immediately after the Air and Space Campaign Medal and before the Overseas Ribbon Short Tour.
7. Subsequent Awards.
   An oak leaf cluster is worn to denote subsequent awards. Subsequent awards are only authorized when a permanent change of station to a qualifying unit has occurred.
   Only one “N” device is worn, regardless of the number of qualifying assignments. When worn alone, the device is centered on the ribbon. When worn with oak leaf clusters, the “N” device is worn to the right of the oak leaf clusters on the ribbon.