An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .mil**
A **.mil** website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
**Secure .mil websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

Defense Threat Reduction Agency 

Search
Search

Search

-  Home		 
-  About    -  DTRA Leadership             
  -  DTRA History             
  -  Mission             
  -  Strategic Initiatives             
  -  Foreign Malign Influence             
  -  Agency Overview Brief (pdf)             
  -  Agency Financial Report 
-  Careers & Opportunities    -  Your Civilian Career             
  -  Your Military Career             
  -  Welcome Aboard             
  -  Diversity and Inclusion 
-  Business    -  DTRA Contract Award Data             
  -  Office of Small Business             
  -  Mentor Protege Program 
-  News & Media    -  Press Center 
-  Contact Us		 
-  Joint Operations Center		 

### WebCast Atomic Vets Commemorative Service Medal Ceremony  

### #ICYMI See the moving video honoring our #AtomicVeterans 

The Secretary of Defense established the Atomic Veterans Commemorative Service Medal (AVCSM) and the Atomic Veterans Service Certificate (AVSC) to commemorate the service and sacrifice of veterans instrumental in the development of our Nation's atomic and nuclear weapons programs. Our Nation's long-standing nuclear deterrence capability resulted from the service and sacrifice of these Atomic Veterans who participated in the initial testing and development of the weapons programs – especially the dangerous and important work often done in secret due to national security requirements.

The AVCSM recognizes that the service and sacrifice of Atomic Veterans directly contributed to our freedom and prosperity after World War II, and was pivotal to our Nation's defense during the Cold War. Veterans eligible for the medal are those who, while performing official military duties during the period of July 1, 1945, to October 1, 1992:

- Directly participated in the detonation of an atomic weapon or device;
- Directly participated in the cleanup of radioactive material resulting from any such atmospheric detonation;
- Directly participated in the cleanup of radioactive material resulting from an accident associated with an atomic weapon; or
- Were exposed to ionizing radiation resulting from the operational use of atomic weapons during World War II.

Eligible veterans and the next-of-kin (NOK) of deceased eligible veterans may now apply for the medal. Please note that the veteran or NOK can only be issued one medal, multiple NOK cannot each be issued a medal.

Eligible Veterans or NOK who apply for the AVSCM will automatically be issued an AVSC to accompany their medal. Please review the eligibility requirements for the AVSC on the AVSC Factsheet. Veterans who have previously received Atomic Veterans Service Certificates (AVSC) will automatically receive the AVCSM, and need not apply again. However, if the veteran or NOK has changed addresses or has yet to receive the certificate, please print and fill out the application form for the medal (provided in the link below), then send it to DTRA's NTPR program via mail, fax, or e-mail.

**Click to Download DTRA Form 150-AVSR Application**

The director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency manages the program, and has begun issuing medals on December 6, 2022. Every effort will be made to handle new applications expeditiously; however, records retrieval, review, and analysis can take three to six months to complete.

*IF AVAILABLE, PLEASE PROVIDE A COPY OF THE VETERAN'S DD FORM 214 (CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE OR DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE DUTY) WITH THE AVCSM APPLICATION*

Submissions by mail:    Defense Threat Reduction Agency    Attn: RD-NTS (NTPR)    8725 John J. Kingman Rd. STOP 6201    Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6201    Submissions by fax:(571) 203-7997    Submissions by e-mail:dtra-ntpr@mail.mil

* NOTE 1: The AVSC or AVCSM does not affect, guarantee or preclude any benefits for service members or their surviving dependents. All claims for medical or financial benefits are independent of the AVSC or AVCSM, and need to be made to, and processed by, the departments of Veterans Affairs, Justice or Labor. Additional details and contact information can be found on our web page for the Nuclear Test Personnel Review Program.

* NOTE 2: Veterans who apply for the AVCSM and who also meet eligibility criteria for the AVSC pursuant to Section 581 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, will be provided both the AVCSM and AVSC.

## Media and External Resources

The destroyer Agerholm participates in testing known as Operation Dominic in the Pacific in this undated photo. (National Archives)Atomic Veterans' Finally to Get Commemorative Se...                        Publication                                            Jul. 07, 2022                    'Atomic Veterans' Finally to Get Commemorative Service MedalRead MoreDefense Department Announces Atomic Veterans Commemorative Service MedalDefense Department Announces Atomic Veterans Com...                        Publication                                            Jul. 07, 2022                    Today, the Secretary of Defense established the Atomic Veterans Commemorative Service Medal to commemorate the...Read More

## Atomic Veterans Service Recognition Program

The Atomic Veterans Commemorative Service Medal and the Atomic Veteran’s Service Certificate recognizes that the service and sacrifice of the Atomic Veterans directly contributed to our Nation‘s continued freedom and prosperity during the period following World War II, and was pivotal to our Nation‘s defense during the Cold War era

----

Learn more about the Nuclear Test Personnel Review

### **NTPR PROGRAM QUICK LINKS**

NTPR Info Home Page

----

NTPR Fact Sheets

----

NTPR Radiation Dose Assessment Documents

----

U.S. Atmospheric Nuclear Test History Reports

----

U.S. Underground Nuclear Test History Reports

----

U.S. Nuclear Test Radiation Exposure Reports

----

Atomic Veterans Service Recognition Program

----

Veterans' Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction

----

Enewetak Atoll Cleanup Documents

### **CONTACT THE NTPR PROGRAM**

Mailing Address:Defense Threat Reduction AgencyAttn: RD-NTS (NTPR)8725 John J. Kingman RoadFort Belvoir, VA 22060-6201

Phone Number:1-800-462-3683

E-mail Address:dtra-ntpr@mail.mil

**Fax Number:**(571) 203-7997

 

### ABOUT DTRA

DTRA provides cross-cutting solutions to enable the Department of Defense, the United States Government, and international partners to deter strategic attack against the United States and its allies; prevent, reduce, and counter WMD and emerging threats; and prevail against WMD-armed adversaries in crisis and conflict.  

### LEARN MORE

                              - News & Media»
                              - News Articles»
                              - Operating Status»
                              - Careers and Opportunities»
                              - Directions to DTRA»
                              - DTRA Operations Center»
                              - FOIA/Privacy»
                              - Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Office»
                              - Accessibility»
                              - IG Hotline »
                              - No Fear Act Data»
                              - Information Quality»

### CONNECT WITH US

### MORE LINKS

                              - USA.gov»
                              - DTRA Careers»
                              - Open Government»
                              - Plain Writing»
                              - DoD »
                              - Privacy & Security»
                              - 508 Accessibility»
                              - External Link Disclaimer»
                              - DoD Web Policy»

----

8725 John J. Kingman Rd., Fort Belvoir, Va. 22060-6221

Welcome to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s website. If you are looking for the official source of information about the DoD Web Policy, please visit https://dodcio.defense.gov/DoD-Web-Policy/. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency is pleased to participate in this open forum in order to increase government transparency, promote public participation, and encourage collaboration. Please note that the Defense Threat Reduction Agency does not endorse the comments or opinions provided by visitors to this site. The protection, control, and legal aspects of any information that you provided to establish your account or information that you may choose to share here is governed by the terms of service or use between you and the website. Visit the Defense Threat Reduction Agency contact page at Contact Us for information on how to send official correspondence.

Site Map »

### Stay Connected

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil