The Jubilee Medal "30 Years of the Soviet Army and Navy" (German: Medaille "30 Jahre Sowjetarmee und Flotte"; Russian: Юбилейная медаль «30 лет Советской Армии и Флота») represents a significant chapter in the history of Soviet decorations. This medal was established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union on February 22, 1948, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the creation of the Soviet Armed Forces. February 23 is celebrated as Soviet Army Day and marked the qualifying date for eligibility to receive this decoration.

The medal emerged during a historically significant transitional period. Created only three years after the end of World War II and during the early Cold War period under Stalin's leadership, it documents a time of fundamental changes. In 1946, the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (РККА) had been renamed the Soviet Army (Советская Армия), and this medal reflects this new terminology. Notably, this was the first jubilee medal commemorating the Soviet Armed Forces to be awarded to all serving personnel, unlike the previous 20th anniversary medal which had more restricted criteria.

The physical design of the medal carries symbolic significance. The circular decoration measures 32mm in diameter and is made of brass, gilded (gold-plated). The obverse displays right-facing profile busts of Lenin and Stalin, with Stalin appearing nearer to the viewer. At the bottom, the relief Roman numeral XXX (30) is prominently featured. The reverse bears a circular relief inscription along the entire circumference: «В ОЗНАМЕНОВАНИЕ ТРИДЦАТОЙ ГОДОВЩИНЫ» (To Commemorate the Thirtieth Anniversary), separated at the bottom by a relief five-pointed star. In the center, a two-row relief inscription reads «СОВЕТСКОЙ АРМИИ И ФЛОТА» (Soviet Army and Navy) with the dates 1918–1948 below.

The medal is secured by a ring through a suspension loop to a standard Soviet pentagonal mount (50mm high, 45mm wide) covered by 24mm wide silk moiré grey ribbon with two 2mm red edge stripes and a central 8mm red stripe. Some sources mention variants with different suspension types (ring-shaped eyelet) from later production periods dating to the 1960s-70s.

The award criteria were comprehensive. The medal was awarded to all generals, admirals, officers, warrant officers, 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 1948. The medal was awarded on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR by commanders of military units and institutions.

Production figures attest to the extraordinary reach of this decoration. According to German sources, a total of 3,710,920 medals were produced, of which 820,080 medals were awarded. Documented recipients include Vladimir Gelfand, a lieutenant of the Red Army until October 1946, who participated in the Battle of Berlin (301st Rifle Division of the 5th Shock Army) and became known as the author of the first diary of a Red Army officer published in German.

The medal remained in the Soviet awards system and its statute was amended on July 18, 1980. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the medal became a collectible and historical artifact. It was worn on the left side of the chest, positioned immediately after the Jubilee Medal "XX Years of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army" in the Soviet order of precedence. When worn in the presence of Orders or medals of the Russian Federation, the latter take precedence. The medal is notable as the last Soviet founding or jubilee medal to feature Roman numerals and as the only one to refer specifically to "Soviet Army and Navy" rather than "Armed Forces of the USSR," the terminology used in subsequent jubilee medals from the 40th anniversary onward.