[2] The Jubilee Medal "40 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" was awarded to marshals, generals, admirals, officers and sergeants, petty officers, soldiers and sailors who were members of the Armed Forces of the USSR, of the troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or of the Ministry for State Security on 23 February 1958.

[1] The medal was awarded on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR by commanders of military units, agencies and institutions.

On the reverse, the circular relief inscription along the entire medal's circumference "TO COMMEMORATE THE FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY" (Russian: «В ОЗНАМЕНОВАНИЕ СОРОКОВОЙ ГОДОВЩИНЫ»), in the center, the relief inscription in three rows "ARMED FORCES USSR" (Russian: «ВООРУЖЕННЫХ СИЛ СССР»), below the inscription the dates "1918–1958"; below the dates, a small relief five pointed star.

[1] The Jubilee Medal "40 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" was secured by a ring through the medal suspension loop to a standard Soviet pentagonal mount covered by a 24mm wide silk moiré grey ribbon with a 2mm red edge stripe on each side and two central 2mm red stripes separated by 2mm.

[1] All individuals listed below are recipients of the Jubilee Medal "40 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR".