Question: How many years of service must be performed to receive the ribbon created by the first United States Secretary of Defense?

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Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau: The Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau (VCNGB) is the second highest-ranking officer of the National Guard Bureau, which is a joint activity of the United States Department of Defense.  The Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau is the second in charge of the National Guard of the United States; which is a joint reserve component of the United States Army and the United States Air Force.  The VCNGB serves as the principal advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Secretary of Defense, through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on matters involving non-federalized National Guard forces and on other matters as determined by the United States Secretary of Defense.  The VCNGB also serves as the principal adviser to the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff of the Army, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, on matters relating to federalized forces of the National Guard of the United States and its subcomponents; the Army National Guard of the United States, and the Air National Guard of the United States.

Texas Cavalry Service Medal: The Texas Cavalry Service Medal is a service medal of the Texas National Guard which was created by the Texas Legislature under Senate Bill 955 and signed into law by Governor Rick Perry June 17, 2005.  Senate Bill 955, an amendment to Texas Government Code § 431.134, became effective on September 1, 2005.  The Texas Cavalry Medal is awarded to personnel who served on or after September 11, 2001, in the 124th Cavalry, Texas Army National Guard and who served in a hostile fire zone as designated by the United States Secretary of Defense.  This medal is a one time award and there is no provision for subsequent awards.  The first 182 cavalry troopers eligible for the award completed their tour of duty in Iraq on February 11, 2005.  Carrying the same unit heraldry as the 1st Squadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment, members of the Texas National Guard's Brigade Reconnaissance Troops mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom III were also eligible for this award.  The order of precedence for this new award has it falling between the Texas Combat Service Ribbon and the Texas Faithful Service Medal.  The Texas Cavalry Service Medal is no longer awarded.

Competitive service: The competitive service is a part of the United States federal government civil service.  Applicants for jobs in the competitive civil service must compete with other applicants in open competition under the merit system administered by the Office of Personnel Management.

DOD Inspector General Distinguished Service Award: The Department of Defense Inspector General Distinguished Service Award is the highest civilian award given by the United States Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General.  This award and accompanying Distinguished Service Medal is the DOD OIG's highest award granted to those who distinguished themselves by exceptional service or contributions of the broadest scope to the OIG or DoD.  The achievements or service must be truly exceptional when measured against the position requirements of the individual and should far exceed the contributions and service of others with comparable responsibilities.

Key West Agreement: The Key West Agreement is the colloquial name for the policy paper Function of the Armed Forces and the Joint Chiefs of Staff drafted by James V. Forrestal, the first United States Secretary of Defense.  Its most prominent feature was an outline for the division of air assets between the Army, Navy, and the newly created Air Force which, with modifications, continues to provide the basis for the division of these assets in the U.S. military today.

Overseas Service Ribbon: An Overseas Service Ribbon is a service military award of the United States military which recognizes those service members who have performed military tours of duty outside the borders of the United States of America.  There are different versions of the Overseas Service Ribbons for the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard.  U.S. Marines receive the Navy version of the Overseas Service Ribbon.

Jacob Dolson Cox: Jacob Dolson Cox, (Jr.) (October 27, 1828August 4, 1900) was a statesman, lawyer, Union Army general during the American Civil War, and later a Republican politician from Ohio.  He served as the 28th Governor of Ohio and as United States Secretary of the Interior.  As Governor of Ohio, Cox sided for a time with President Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction plan and was against African American suffrage in the South, though he supported it in Ohio.  Seeing himself caught between Johnson and the Radical Republicans, Cox decided not to run for reelection.  He stayed out of politics for a year, though both Sherman and Grant advocated that Cox replace Stanton as Secretary of War as a means of stemming the demands for Johnson's impeachment.  But Johnson declined.  When Ulysses S. Grant became President he nominated Cox Secretary of Interior and Cox immediately accepted.  Secretary of Interior Cox implemented the first civil service reform in a federal government department, including examinations for most clerks.  Grant initially supported Cox and civil service reform, creating America's first Civil Service Commission.  However, Cox was opposed by Republican Party managers, who ultimately convinced Grant to cease civil service reforms.  President Grant and Secretary Cox were at odds over the fraudulent McGarahan Claims and the Dominican Republic annexation treaty.  Secretary Cox advocated a lasting, honest, and comprehensive Indian policy legislated by Congress after the Piegan Indian massacre.  Cox resigned as Secretary of Interior having been unable to gain Grant's support over civil service reform.  Although Cox was a reformer, Grant had believed Cox had overstepped his authority as Secretary of Interior and had undermined his authority as President.  In 1872 Cox joined the Liberal Republicans in opposition to Grant's renomination.  In 1876 Cox returned to politics and was elected to and served one term as United States Congressman of Ohio.  Congressman Cox supported President Hayes's reform efforts, but his term as Congressman was unsuccessful at establishing permanent Civil Service reform.  Cox retired and did not return to active politics, using his time to write several books on Civil War campaigns which remain today respected histories and memoirs.

Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon: The Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon was a service ribbon of the United States Marine Corps which was issued between the dates of the December 17, 1945, and December 17, 1965.  The ribbon was first created by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal and recognizes those members of the Marine Corps Reserve who performed ten years of honorable reserve service.

James V. Forrestal Building: The James V. Forrestal Building is a low-rise Brutalist office building located in Washington, D.C., in the United States.  Originally known as Federal Office Building 5, and nicknamed the Little Pentagon, the Forrestal Building was constructed between 1965 and 1969 to accommodate United States armed forces personnel.  It is named after James Forrestal, the first United States Secretary of Defense.  It became the headquarters of the United States Department of Energy after that agency's creation in 1977.

James Forrestal: James Vincent Forrestal (February 15, 1892 – May 22, 1949) was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense.

Supporting paragraphs: Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon James Forrestal
Answer: ten years