US Army National Guard Achievement Medal ~ This is the official regulation full size medal with pin back broach from Graco Awards, Inc., of Tomball, Texas, the manufacturer that supplies the U.S. Government. It is hallmarked GRACO GI on the broach. I'd estimate it to be from the mid-1980s. Very light wear, near mint. As always, see my eBay store for more militaria and combine lots to save on shipping. Medals ship for free with large militaria items.

A bronze medal, 1 1/4 inches in diameter, consisting of a faceted twelve-pointed star with a beveled edge, the points surmounting a wreath of laurel and bearing on a disc within a smaller wreath of laurel, a torch between two swords crossed saltirewise, points up and flanked by two mullets. The reverse has the cuirass from the Department of the Army seal centered below ARMY NATIONAL GUARD and above FOR ACHIEVEMENT.

The Commanding General, U.S. Continental Army Command, recommended adoption of a medal for the Reserve Components that would be comparable to the Good Conduct Medal for the Active Army on 11 August 1969. The Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, on 29 January 1970, requested The Institute of Heraldry (TIOH) provide proposed designs for consideration by the Secretary of the Army. Designs were submitted in May 1970 and the Secretary of the Army approved the award on 3 March 1971.