Award of the Mexican Border Defense Medal
Award of the Mexican Border Defense Medal
Mexican Border Defense Medal eligibility:
To be eligible for the new Mexican Border Defense Medal, service members must have been permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that participated in a designated U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) operation supporting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for 30 consecutive or nonconsecutive days. Service must have occurred between January 20, 2025, and a future termination date within the "area of eligibility," which is defined as U.S. land within 100 nautical miles of the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, or adjacent U.S. waters up to 24 nautical miles from the border.
Service members deployed in support of CBP previously were recognized with the Armed Forces Service Medal.
Service members and veterans previously awarded the AFSM may apply for the new award in lieu of the AFSM previously awarded, the secretary said, adding no one can be awarded both medals for the same period of qualifying service.
"Securing the southern border, protecting the territorial integrity of the U.S. and defending our homeland are Department of Defense priorities," said Anthony J. Tata, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness
About the Medal
According to Institute of Heraldry, the MBDM is identical to the Mexican Border Service Medal, struck in 1918, for service in 1916 and 1917 in the Mexican state of Chihuahua and on the U.S. side in the vicinity of the New Mexico and Texas borders with Mexico.
The medals are bronze. On the front is a sheathed Roman sword hanging on a tablet, along with an inscription that reads "For Service on the Mexican Border."
The sword symbolizes war or military strength and is sheathed to indicate service in the United States rather than in actual combat.
On the reverse side is the Coat of Arms of the United States above a scroll and surrounded by a wreath ending at the center with cross rifles in dexter, crossed sabers in sinister and crossed cannons in base.
The wreath represents achievement. The rifles, sabers and cannons represent the infantry, cavalry and artillery.
The ribbon's field of green is symbolic of freedom, while the golden yellow color alludes to virtue. These colors represent civic virtue by serving the government in the pursuit of freedom.
The order of precedence for the MBDM will be before the AFSM and after the Korea Defense Service Medal.