COVID-Related Awards NAVADMIN
The NAVADMIN can be seen in its entirety at this link:
https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2020/NAV20235.txt
Here is some BUMED guidance on these awards from the BUMED Plan of the Week:
Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM) and Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM). Active duty, reserve and National Guard personnel are eligible for the service medals as outlined in DoD Manual 1348.33, DoD Manual of Military Decorations and Awards. The period of the award is from Jan. 31, 2020 to a date to be determined. Members are not authorized to receive both awards for the same time period. Please read below for some guidance on both medals:
AFSM
- May be given to deployed members to a designated area of qualifying operations for 30 or more days.
- Member has to have performed duties, to which they were re-assigned away from their regular billeted duties in direct support of DoD COVID-19 operations for not less than 30 days (consecutive or non-consecutive).
- If while performing duties in direct support of COVID-19, a member contracts the virus while supporting the mission (even if for only 1 day), he/sh may be authorized to wear the AFSM
HSM
- This medal is presented to members who were in direct support of a humanitarian mission in a deployed status in approved locations
- Eligibility for the HSM is only for the period of immediate relief operation in the affected area (definitive start and end dates).
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 
August 30, 2020 at 21:23
Deployment requirement for AFSM is waived per 3. b. of the NAVADMIN. HSM does not have a deployed requirement mentioned in the NAVADMIN.
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March 5, 2021 at 14:13
Could a Sailor theoretically get both if they were deployed prior to the initial outbreak and supported COVID during that deployment (returning in September) and then returned to parent command as a healthcare provider? Would these be considered separate activities, deployment, and/or period of service (referenced from NAVADMIN 235/20 paragraph 4.b.)? Or would this be considered double-dipping?
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March 5, 2021 at 20:57
I really don’t think I’m the guy to interpret NAVADMINs when it comes to awards.
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March 6, 2021 at 08:40
I’d also say that I would just ask your admin shop and go with what they say. Ultimately, having one extra ribbon on your chest is not worth the issue that could arise if you are wearing something you are not authorized. That can really burn people if for some reason people go after you about it.
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