Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Serve your community through FFC — and earn recognition for it
The MOVSM recognizes service members for sustained, significant volunteer work in the civilian community. Volunteering with Free For Charity is a flexible, remote way to build a documented record of qualifying service.
Eligibility at a glance
Public criteria describe qualifying volunteer service as meeting all of the following:
- ✓Service to the civilian community (outside the member’s normal military duties).
- ✓Significant in nature, producing tangible results that benefit the community.
- ✓Reflects favorably on the member, the military, and the Department of Defense.
- ✓Sustained and direct — a meaningful commitment over time, not a one-off event.
There is no single federally fixed hour threshold; the level of service required is determined by the awarding authority. Confirm current criteria with your command.
How volunteering with FFC builds qualifying service
Volunteer in any FFC role
Contribute as a web developer, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace admin, data/analytics volunteer, or designer. Remote and flexible — fit it around your duty schedule.
Build a record of your service
Your merged work shows up in GitHub commit history, and FFC logs the charities you support. Together these document sustained, tangible community service.
Get your hours attested
Qualifying hours use self-report plus charity-board attestation — the same evidence model as our volunteer recognition badges. FFC certifies the volunteer relationship.
Apply through your command
MOVSM is awarded by your chain of command. Take your attested service record to your awarding authority; FFC can provide a letter confirming your contributions.
Recognition tie-in
Your qualifying contributions also count toward FFC's volunteer recognition badges, which use the same self-report + board-attestation evidence model. As you grow through the tiers, you build both community standing and a documented service record for your MOVSM application.
You can also earn continuing-education (CE) credit for these same hours toward certifications like CompTIA, PMI, and ISC2.
Get started
New here? Text Clarke Moyer at (520) 222-8104 to become a volunteer. Already active? Collaborate with the team in Microsoft Teams. Many volunteers also find us through Taproot, VolunteerMatch, and Idealist.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOVSM?
The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal is a U.S. military decoration that recognizes members of the Armed Forces for sustained, significant volunteer service to the civilian community above and beyond their normal duties.
How does volunteering with FFC help me qualify?
FFC volunteer work is community service that produces tangible results for 501(c)(3) nonprofits. It is remote, flexible, and sustained over time — and FFC can attest to the volunteer relationship and the impact of your contributions.
How are my volunteer hours validated?
Through self-report plus charity-board attestation — the same evidence model as the FFC volunteer recognition system. Your GitHub commit history provides an independent, tamper-evident record of the work you did.
Who actually awards the MOVSM?
The medal is awarded through your military chain of command / awarding authority, not by FFC. FFC documents and certifies your volunteer service so you can present it as part of your application.