N.J. Stat. tit. 38A, ch. 15

N.J. Stat. tit. 38A, ch. 15
in effect

N.J. Stat. § 38A:15-1 Faithful service medals

There may be issued to officers and enlisted members after at least 10 years active and faithful service in the organized militia an appropriate medal, and for each and every 5 years of subsequent active and faithful service a suitable numeral therefor, under such regulations as the Governor may prescribe. L.1963, c. 109.

N.J. Stat. § 38A:15-2 Distinguished service, meritorious service medals.

38A:15-2. The Governor may present in the name of the State of New Jersey a distinguished service medal of appropriate design, and ribbon to be worn in lieu thereof, to any person who is a member of the organized militia or the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component thereof, or who was honorably discharged therefrom, if the person was a resident upon entry into service or has been a resident of this State for at least 20 years in the aggregate. To qualify for a distinguished service medal, the person, while serving in the organized militia, or while in federal service, shall have served in a combat theater of operations during a time of war or emergency as attested to by the awarding of an honorable discharge and DD 214 or WD 53 by the respective Armed Forces or shall have been officially listed as a prisoner of war or missing in action by the United States Department of Defense. The distinguished service medal may be awarded to a deceased person who would have qualified for the medal pursuant to this section. The Governor may present in the name of the State of New Jersey a meritorious service medal of appropriate design, and ribbon to be worn in lieu thereof, to any person who is a member of the organized militia, or the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve component thereof who was honorably discharged therefrom, if the person was a resident upon entry into service or if the person has been a resident of this State for at least five years in the aggregate. To qualify for a meritorious service medal, the person shall have served in the organized militia, or the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component thereof. The meritorious service medal may be awarded to a deceased person who would have qualified for the medal pursuant to this section. The meritorious service medal for a deceased person or a person absent as a prisoner of war or missing in action shall be issued to the parent, spouse, sibling or other relative who submits all of the required forms and documentation on behalf of that person. amended 1987, c.388; 1994, c.36; 1998, c.131; 2003, c.237; 2007, c.309, s.1; 2007, c.376; 2017, c.376, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 38A:15-3 Awards

38A:15-3. The Adjutant General may procure and issue such service medals, ribbons, clasps, or similar devices as are authorized by the Legislature to be awarded to residents of the State of New Jersey who served on active duty in time of war or emergency or who served as members of the American Merchant Marine during World War II and are declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits. L.1963, c.109; amended 1984,c.181,s.33; 1991,c.389,s.22.

N.J. Stat. § 38A:15-4 Creation of New Jersey POW-MIA medal; award, conditions.

1. a. The Governor may present in the name of the State of New Jersey a POW-MIA medal of appropriate design, and ribbon to be worn in lieu thereof, to: (1) any person who, on the date of induction into the organized militia or federal military service, was a resident of this State and who, while serving in the organized militia or in federal military service on active duty in a combat theater of operation during time of war or emergency, shall have been officially listed as a prisoner of war or missing in action by the United States Department of Defense; or (2) any person who, on the date of induction into the organized militia or federal military service, was not a resident of this State but currently resides in this State or was a resident at time of death and who, while serving in the organized militia or in federal military service on active duty in a combat theater of operation during time of war or emergency, shall have been officially listed as a prisoner of war or missing in action by the United States Department of Defense; and (3) was taken prisoner and held captive or declared missing in action: (a) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; (b) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or (c) while serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. b. The period of creditable military service must include the period of captivity from date of capture through date of release. While no minimum time period of captivity exists as eligibility criteria for the medal, the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs should determine each case on its merits. c. The medal shall be issued only to those taken prisoner by foreign armed forces that are hostile to the United States, under circumstances which the Adjutant General, or his designee, finds to have been comparable to those under which persons have generally been held captive by enemy armed forces during periods of armed conflict. d. Any person convicted by a United States military tribunal of misconduct or a criminal charge or whose discharge is less than honorable based on actions while a POW-MIA is ineligible for the medal. Any POW-MIA whose conduct was not in accord with the Code of Conduct and whose actions are documented by United States military records, is ineligible for the medal. Resolution of questionable cases shall be the responsibility of the Adjutant General or his designee. e. No more than one medal shall be awarded. For subsequent acts justifying award of the medal, service stars shall be awarded and worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal. A period of captivity terminates on return to United States military control. Escapees who do not return to United States military control and are recaptured by an enemy do not begin a new period of captivity for subsequent award of the medal. f. The medal may be awarded for a deceased person or a person absent as a prisoner of war or missing in action and, when so directed, may be presented to such representatives, as the Adjutant General considers appropriate, who submit all of the required forms and documentation on behalf of that person. Return of remains, in and of itself, does not constitute evidence of POW-MIA status. L.2006,c.79,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 38A:15-5 Requests for, issuance of medal.

2. The Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs shall receive requests for, and issue, the medal to eligible individuals or their next-of-kin, who shall use the "New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs application for award/program" application, attaching a copy of DD Form 214 or WD Form 53 and death certificate copy, if applicable. L.2006,c.79,s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 38A:15-6 "POW-MIA Medal Fund;" use.

3. There is created in the Department of the Treasury a special, non-lapsing fund to be known as the "POW-MIA Medal Fund." There shall be deposited into the fund the amounts made available for the purposes of the fund and monetary donations that may be received from any source for the purposes of the fund and any interest earned thereon. Monies deposited in the fund shall be dedicated for the design, manufacture and distribution of the medal. L.2006,c.79,s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 38A:15-7 Creation of New Jersey Honor Guard Ribbon.

1. a. The Governor may present in the name of the State of New Jersey a New Jersey Honor Guard Ribbon of appropriate design to active members of the New Jersey National Guard, Honor Guard Retiree members and Contracted Civilian Buglers, who have served as Honor Guard Team Members in the National Guard New Jersey Honor Guard Program, and Honor Guard personnel working at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans' Cemetery, who have performed a minimum of 30 Honor Guard Service missions for our deceased veterans, honoring "Those Who Served." b. A Bronze Star shall be awarded for subsequent total Honor Guard Mission Services of 130 within a two-year period. The award shall be displayed to the left of the Honor Guard Program symbol on the Honor Guard Ribbon. c. A Silver Star shall be awarded for subsequent total Honor Guard Mission Services of 200 within a three-year period. The award shall be displayed to the right of the Honor Guard Program symbol on the Honor Guard Ribbon. d. Administrative support personnel shall receive the Honor Guard Ribbon when they complete a minimum of nine months of service in support of the Honor Guard Program honoring "Those Who Served." e. No more than one ribbon shall be awarded to any person, except that a ribbon that is lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the person to whom it was issued may be replaced. f. Determination of eligibility for an Honor Guard ribbon shall be the responsibility of the Adjutant General or his designee. L.2010, c.58, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 38A:15-8 New Jersey Honor Guard Ribbon presented to certain military funeral buglers.

1. a. The Governor may present in the name of the State of New Jersey a New Jersey Honor Guard Ribbon of appropriate design to any person who has served as a bugle performer at military funeral services in this State and who has performed a minimum of 30 funeral services for deceased veterans. b. A star shall be awarded for 130 subsequent services within a two-year period. The award shall be displayed on the left of the Honor Guard Ribbon. c. A second star shall be awarded for 200 subsequent services within a three-year period. The award shall be displayed on the right of the Honor Guard Ribbon. d. No more than one ribbon shall be awarded to any person, except that a ribbon that is lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the person to whom it was issued may be replaced. e. Determination of eligibility for an Honor Guard Ribbon shall be the responsibility of the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs or a designee. At a minimum, to be eligible to receive the ribbon, a bugler shall be certified by the department and shall supply official documentation of each performance to the department. L.2012, c.60, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 38A:15-9 List of possessors of Gold Star Family license plate, driver's license, identification card; fraudulent use; violations, penalties.

1. a. The department shall maintain a list of each person possessing a Gold Star Family license plate, issued pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2011, c.17 (C.39:3-27.142), and each person holding a driver's license or identification card with a Gold Star Family designation, issued pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2013, c.165 (C.39:3-10f6) or section 2 of P.L.1980, c.47 (C.39:3-29.3), respectively. The department shall distribute the list to the appropriate representative of a State veteran service entity in each county. b. It shall be unlawful for any person: (1) To have in the person's possession any canceled, fictitious, fraudulently altered, or fraudulently obtained driver's license or identification card with a Gold Star Family designation; (2) To lend a driver's license or identification card with a Gold Star Family designation to any other person or knowingly permit the use thereof by another; (3) To display or represent a driver's license or identification card with a Gold Star Family designation not issued to the person as being the person's card; (4) To permit any unlawful use of a driver's license or identification card with a Gold Star Family designation issued to the person; (5) To photograph, photostat, duplicate, or in any way reproduce a driver's license or identification card with a Gold Star Family designation, or facsimile thereof, in such a manner that it could be mistaken for a valid driver's license or identification card with a Gold Star Family designation, or to display or have in the person's possession any such photograph, photostat, duplicate, reproduction, or facsimile; or (6) To alter a driver's license or identification card with a Gold Star Family designation in any manner. c. A person who violates any provision of subsection b. of this section shall be liable to a civil penalty of $1,000. The civil penalty shall be collected pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.), in a summary proceeding before the municipal court having jurisdiction. L.2017, c.175, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 38A:15-10 New Jersey Global War on Terrorism Medal.

1. a. The Governor may present in the name of the State of New Jersey a Global War on Terrorism Medal of appropriate design, and ribbon to be worn in lieu thereof, to any person who is a member of the organized militia, the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve component thereof, or who was honorably discharged therefrom, if the person was a resident of the State upon entry into service or has been a resident of this State for at least 20 years in the aggregate. b. To qualify for a New Jersey Global War on Terrorism Medal, the person, while serving in the organized militia or while in federal service, shall have served in at least one of the following operations as attested by the awarding of honorable discharge and the federal DD Form 214 by the respective Armed Forces: (1) Operation Enduring Freedom; (2) Operation Noble Eagle; (3) Operation Iraqi Freedom; (4) Operation Nomad Shadow; (5) Operation New Dawn; (6) Operation Inherent Resolve; (7) Operation Freedom's Sentinel; and (8) Operation Odyssey Lighting. The New Jersey Global War on Terrorism Medal shall only be awarded to a person who was assigned, attached, or detailed for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days to a unit during at least one of the eligible military operations. c. No more than one medal shall be awarded to any person, except that a medal that is lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the person to whom it was issued may be replaced. d. The medal may be awarded to a deceased person or a person missing in action who would have qualified for the medal pursuant to this section and, when so directed, may be presented to such representative as the Adjutant General considers appropriate who submits all of the required forms and documentation on behalf of that person. e. Any other eligibility requirements for the medal deemed appropriate by the Adjutant General shall be promulgated by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. At a minimum, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs shall: (1) establish a suitable design for the medal, including a ribbon to be worn with or in place of the medal; (2) procure the manufacture of the medal and ribbon; (3) if the recipient is a member of the New Jersey National Guard, ensure that award of the medal is properly reflected in the service records; (4) establish procedures to identify members of the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces entitled to award of the medal; and (5) adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this section. The regulations shall include rules for wearing the medal and ribbon with the uniform of the New Jersey National Guard and provisions for the posthumous award of a medal. f. There is created in the Department of Treasury a special, non-lapsing fund to be known as the "Global War on Terrorism Medal Fund." There shall be deposited into the fund the amounts made available for the purposes of the fund and monetary donations that may be received from any source for the purposes of the fund and any interest earned thereon. Monies deposited in the fund shall be dedicated for the design, manufacture, and distribution of the medal and ribbon. 2020, c.147.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026