SECTIONS 640-649 - California Statutes

MILITARY AND VETERANS CODE

SECTION 640-649

640. The following decorations are authorized for members of the
National Guard, State Military Reserve, and Naval Militia:
(a) Medal of Valor.
(b) Military Cross.
(c) Order of California.
(d) Memorial Medal.
(e) Medal of Merit.
(f) Commendation Medal.
(g) Service Medal.
(h) Good Conduct Medal.
The Order of California, Medal of Merit, and Commendation Medal
are also authorized for award to civilians and members of other
military services who bring honor to the State of California by their
actions.
The Adjutant General may provide and procure appropriate
emblematic devices for each decoration, together with suitable
ribbons and insignia to be worn with or in place of the medal.

641. A Medal of Valor may be presented to each person who, while an
officer or enlisted member of the National Guard or Naval Militia,
distinguishes himself or herself by courageous conduct at the risk of
life, above and beyond the call of duty while in the service of the
state or of the United States.
No award of the Medal of Valor shall be made except upon clear and
incontestable proof by affidavit of at least one eyewitness or
person having personal knowledge of the act or deed.
A Medal of Valor may be presented to each person who has been
awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, and proof by affidavit or
otherwise of the act or deed shall not be required in those cases.

642. A Military Cross may be presented to each person who, while an
officer or enlisted member of the National Guard or Naval Militia,
distinguishes himself or herself by extraordinary heroism while in
the service of the state or of the United States.

642.1. The Order of California may be presented to an officer or
enlisted member of the National Guard or Naval Militia who has
distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious conduct
in the performance of outstanding service to the state or the United
States in a position of great responsibility. The performance of
duty shall have been such as to merit recognition of service rendered
in a clearly exceptional manner within the scope of a special
requirement or of an extremely difficult duty performed in a clearly
outstanding manner. Performance of duties normal to the grade and
branch, specialty or assignment, and experience of an individual is
not an adequate basis for this decoration, except that justification
of the award may accrue by virtue of outstanding meritorious service
in a succession of important positions.
The accomplishment of the duty or period of service for which the
decoration is recommended should have been completed prior to
submitting a recommendation. However, if the person being recommended
is transferred or will retire prior to completion, the action or
accomplishment shall have reached a point of progression that will
clearly establish the individual's contribution to be outstanding or
represent significant accomplishment.
The Order of California may also be awarded to civilians and
members of other military services who distinguish themselves as
indicated in this section.

642.5. A Memorial Medal may be presented posthumously to any person
who, while an officer, warrant officer, or enlisted member of the
National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or the Naval Militia is
killed in the service of the state or the United States.

643. A Medal of Merit may be presented to each person who, while an
officer, warrant officer, or enlisted member of the National Guard
or Naval Militia, distinguishes himself or herself by exceptionally
meritorious service to the state or the United States in a duty of
great responsibility or to any person who, by unselfish and untiring
activities in connection with the National Guard or Naval Militia,
has rendered a distinct service in furthering the interests of and in
promoting the security and welfare of the state.
The Medal of Merit may also be awarded to civilians and members of
other military services who distinguish themselves as indicated in
this section.

643.1. A Commendation Medal may be presented to each person who,
while an officer, warrant officer, or enlisted member of the National
Guard, State Military Reserve, or Naval Militia distinguishes
himself or herself while serving in any capacity with the National
Guard, State Military Reserve, or Naval Militia by meritorious
achievement or meritorious service. The meritorious achievement or
meritorious service is less exceptional than that required for the
Medal of Merit but shall be accomplished with distinction.
The Commendation Medal may also be awarded to civilians and
members of other military services who distinguish themselves as
indicated in this section.

643.2. A good conduct medal may be presented to each person who,
while an enlisted member of the California National Guard, State
Military Reserve, or Naval Militia, has demonstrated fidelity through
faithful and exact performance of duty, efficiency through capacity
to produce desired results, and whose behavior has demonstrated that
he or she deserves emulation.

643.3. A State Service Ribbon may be presented by the Adjutant
General to each person who after July 1, 1963, honorably serves on
active duty with the State during a period of emergency declared by
the Governor or while the United States is engaged in war as defined
in Section 18 of this code.

644. A service medal or bar shall be issued for 10 years' service
in the California National Guard or the California Air National Guard
or the Naval Militia or the State Military Reserve, and for each
period of five years of service thereafter. Such medal or bar shall
be issued to those entitled to the same upon application.

644.1. A Federal Service Ribbon may be presented by the Adjutant
General to each person inducted into the federal service as a member
of a California National Guard unit after September 15, 1940, and who
has completed not less than a total of 12 months honorable service
in the armed forces of the United States between September 15, 1940,
and September 16, 1945, and to each person inducted into the federal
service as a member of a California National Guard unit after August
1, 1950, and who has completed not less than a total of 12 months
honorable service in the armed forces of the United States while the
United States is engaged in war as defined in Section 18 of this code
and to each person inducted into the federal service as a member of
a California National Guard unit on or after October 1, 1961, and who
has completed not less than a total of three months honorable
service in the armed forces of the United States between October 1,
1961, and August 31, 1962.
The Federal Service Ribbon shall be prepared, designed, awarded
and issued according to rules and regulations to be adopted by the
Adjutant General and all applications therefor shall be in writing
and filed in the office of the Adjutant General. The applicant shall
have the burden of proof as to his military service and the decision
of the Adjutant General, in case of dispute, shall be final.

645. The Medal of Valor shall be presented by the Governor. The
Military Cross, the Medal of Merit, the Service Medal, and other
authorized medals and awards shall be presented by the Governor or
The Adjutant General in the name of the Governor.

646. No more thn one Medal of Valor, or one Military Cross, or one
Medal of Merit shall be issued to any one person; but for each
succeeding deed or act sufficient to justify the award of a Medal of
Valor, or a Military Cross, or a Medal of Merit, a suitable bar or
other device denoting such additional award may be issued and worn as
directed by appropriate regulations.

647. The Adjutant General may hold and conduct competitions and
competitive military exercises, may procure and issue appropriate
ribbons, badges, or insignia in connection therewith and for
excellence in marksmanship, for drill attendance, and for competitive
military training, and may authorize participation in national or
state military or civil marksmanship competitions. All expenses in
relation thereto shall be paid from state funds.

648. (a) Except as provided by subdivision (b), decorations
authorized by this code and decorations, medals, badges, ribbons, and
insignia authorized by the laws or regulations of the United States
pertaining to the National Guard, Air National Guard, and Naval
Militia may be worn by officers, warrant officers, and enlisted men
and women in accordance with the code, laws, or regulations. However,
decorations awarded by other states and territories of the United
States may be worn, but shall be subordinated to those issued by
federal and state laws or regulations. No other decorations, medals,
badges, ribbons, or insignia may be worn. A violation of this section
shall constitute a misdemeanor.
(b) Decorations authorized by this code and decorations or medals
from the Armed Forces of the United States, the California National
Guard, State Military Reserve, or Naval Militia, or any service
medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, may be worn
by uniformed public safety personnel in accordance with the code,
laws, or regulations, during the business week prior to Veterans Day
and Memorial Day, the day of Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and the
business day immediately following Veterans Day and Memorial Day. The
employer of the uniformed public safety personnel shall retain the
right to prohibit the wearing of military decorations pursuant to
this subdivision if the employer determines that wearing the military
decorations poses a safety hazard to the uniformed public safety
personnel or to the public.

649. (a) The Adjutant General may adopt, from time to time, any
rules, regulations, and orders not inconsistent with this code which
he or she deems necessary to carry into effect this chapter.
(b) The Adjutant General may present duplicate medals or ribbons
or other decorations authorized by this code to the next of kin of
any deceased member of the National Guard, if the original
decorations are inadvertently lost or destroyed.
(c) Furthermore, the Adjutant General may establish additional
awards and decorations as may be necessary to properly recognize the
service or achievement of members of the National Guard, State
Military Reserve, and Naval Militia.