The award itself was never actually officially created and a physical ribbon design was never proposed by the Institute of Heraldry.

The medal was designed by the Institute of Heraldry and was first issued in December 1993.

The Army's Institute of Heraldry was asked to come up with an appropriate design.

He stayed with the Institute of Heraldry after the war ended.

A year and a half later, the committee chose the design proposed by the Army's Institute of Heraldry.

With Ford's permission, he asked the Army's Institute of Heraldry to come up with a new design.

The ribbon was designed by the Institute of Heraldry.

The United States Army's Institute of Heraldry developed the medal.

Each manufacturer has an identifying hallmark assigned by the Institute of Heraldry which is applied to the back of the insignia.

In 2004, the Institute of Heraldry approved the final design and the medal became authorized for distribution.