Some people might know this as Viet Nam, but during my time we knew it as something different. NAM was short for Navy Achievement Medal. This is an award given to just about any sailor for going above the call of duty.

The medal was originally entitled the, Secretary of the Navy Commendation for Achievement Medal, but this title was shortened in 1967 to the Navy Achievement Medal. In 1994, to recognize United States Marines who had received the Navy Achievement Medal, the name of the decoration was officially changed to the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. However sailors being sailors, the award is still referred to in shorthand as a NAM.

Some of the acts I have seen people awarded these for include swapping out a broken gearbox on a gas turbine engine the night before a major inspection. Overseeing the conversion of an empty room into a training room complete with control panels. Then there are the sea stories about the guy who got one for keeping the soda machines full while the ship was deployed in the desert. Or the cook who made the captains favorite food for dinner. Or the guy who washed, ironed, and folded the officers clothes perfectly.

This is award is for non-combat related activates. Combat activates are given different awards.

One caveat for those who are daft: Any false verbal, written or physical claim to the Achievement Medal, by an individual to whom it has not been awarded, is a federal felony offense punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to a $5000 fine. Believe it or not, there are those fools who try to get away with wearing them when they have not earned one. Punishment in the military might not seem as harsh as civilian punishment, but it makes the point.