This medal was bestowed on regular servicemen of the USSR Armed Forces, persons who took part in hostilities in defense of the USSR and carried out their internationalist duty, persons who were honoured with orders, or the Medal for Valour, the Ushakov Medal, the Medal for Combat Service, the Medal for Distinguished Service on the USSR State Frontier, the Nakhimov Medal, and the Distinguished Military Service Medal upon the 40th anniversary of the Soviet Armed Forces.

This decoration was established in December 1957.