The Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army which was created in 1981. The Army Service Ribbon is awarded to any member of the U.S. Army (including Reserve and National Guard components) who complete "initial entry training." This is a slide on ribbon. Initial Entry Training is defined as any training or instruction course completed immediately upon entry into the United States Army. This would include basic training, Army ROTC and Officer Candidate School. For those service members who completed initial entry training prior to 1981, the Army Service Ribbon is retroactively awarded, provided the service member was still on active duty after 1981.