The Navy Reserve Sea Service Ribbon was created in May 1986 and is awarded to any member of the U.S. Navy Reserve (formerly U.S. Naval Reserve)
who, while serving as a drilling Selected Reservist (SELRES) or a
Training and Administration of the Reserve/Full Time Support (TAR/FTS)
officer or sailor, completes twenty-four cumulative months of duty on
board a U.S. Navy Reserve Force surface ship or assigned to a
deployable/regularly deploying U.S. Navy Reserve Force Aviation Squadron
(RESFORON).
The term “Navy Reserve Force Ship” refers to any U.S. Navy
commissioned warship under the operational or administrative control of
the Navy Reserve, or a self-propelled auxiliary, boat, or other surface
craft operated under the operational control of fleet or type
commanders.
The term "Navy Reserve Force Aviation Squadron" refers to any Navy
Reserve flying squadron that operates naval aircraft, is considered a
command at sea, routinely deploys or is capable of deploying overseas,
and is considered a "hardware" unit under the operational control of
Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (formerly Commander, Naval Air
Reserve Force) or fleet or other type commanders.
The Navy Reserve Sea Service Ribbon is also granted to members of
embarked Navy Reserve staffs, provided that at least half of the
embarked reserve drills qualified as underway drills.
The Navy Reserve Sea Service Ribbon is not eligible for service
performed by Marine Corps Forces Reserve members, or Navy Reservists who
were called to active duty, but the service performed by those
personnel would qualify towards the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon or the Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon as applicable.
