Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-EM) is a United States Armed Forces award created by George W. Bush on 12 March 2003, through Executive Order 13289.[4] The medal recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. Prior to 30 April 2005, the medal was awarded for service within Iraq and Afghanistan, but has been replaced with the Iraq Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal and now serves primarily as recognition for personnel who have deployed in support of the War on Terror to locations beyond Iraq and Afghanistan. In a similar fashion the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal is now issued instead for service in the fight against ISIS, with eligibility retroactive to 15 June 2014.

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
TypeExpeditionary Medal
Awarded forServing or have served in military expeditions to combat terrorism.
Presented bythe
U.S. Department of Defense[1]
U.S. Department of Homeland Security[2]
EligibilityU.S. military personnel
StatusActive
EstablishedEO 13289, 12 March 2003
First awarded2004 (retroactive to 11 September 2001)


Precedence
Next (higher)Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal[3]
Next (lower)Global War on Terrorism Service Medal[3]
RelatedGlobal War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal

The War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal was designed by John Sproston of the Army's Institute of Heraldry.[5]

Operations

The following are the established operations for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (retroactive to 11 September 2001):[6][7]

Operation From To
Enduring Freedom (OEF)[8] 11 September 2001 Present
Iraqi Freedom (OIF)[8] 19 March 2003 31 August 2010
Nomad Shadow (ONS)[8] 5 November 2007 Present
New Dawn (OND)[8] 1 September 2010 31 December 2011
Inherent Resolve (OIR)[8] 15 June 2014 Present
Freedom's Sentinel (OFS)[8] 1 January 2015 Present
Odyssey Lightning (OOL)[8] 1 August 2016 19 December 2016
Operation Pacific Eagle (OPE-P)[8] 5 October 2017 Present
Any one of the eight operations
Two of the eight operations
Three of the eight operations
Four of the eight operations
Five of the eight operations
Six of the eight operations
Seven of the eight operations
All eight operations

The following ribbon devices are authorized for wear on the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal:

Criteria

To be awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal a military service member must perform duty in a deployed status and must participate in designated anti-terrorism operation for a period of either 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days of duty. For those who were engaged in combat, killed, or wounded in the line of duty, the time requirement is waived. The term "deployed status" indicates either temporary or permanent orders to a duty station outside the borders of the United States of America with such duty being in direct support of anti-terrorism operations. For a service member to receive the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the deployment must also have taken place in a nation which is currently recognized as a base for anti-terrorism operations by the United States Department of Defense.[9][10]

On 30 April 2005, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal was discontinued for service within Iraq and Afghanistan, such service now being recognized with the Iraq Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.[11] Personnel who received the GWOT-EM for previous service in these two regions may elect to exchange the GWOT-EM or retain the original award.

On February 9, 2015 the Defense Department authorized service stars to be worn on the GWOT-EM to represent different operations the recipient participated in.

The GWOT-EM is a Defense Department expeditionary medal. Award of this medal does not prevent award of other types of recognition (such as decorations) normally associated with deployment. This medal may be awarded posthumously.

The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal may be awarded for approved operations performed in any of the following geographical areas:[12]

The following bodies of water are also approved qualifying areas:

Devices

The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal may be awarded with the devices:[15]

  • Arrowhead device - For qualified Army and Air Force service members.
  • Service stars - effective 9 February 2015, to recognize individual participation in each of the approved operations that a service member participates in, a ​3⁄16 inch bronze service star is worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal, with a ​3⁄16 inch silver star being worn in lieu of five bronze stars.
  • Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia - for qualified Navy service members such as hospital corpsmen assigned to Marine Corps units that participate in combat during the assignment.

Expeditionary Medal and Service Medal

A similar medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-SM),[10] was created under the same Presidential Order that authorized the GWOT Expeditionary Medal. The primary difference between the two awards is that the service medal is intended for those who performed support duty within the United States, while the expeditionary medal recognizes those who were deployed to foreign countries. For those participating in multiple operations, both the GWOT Service and GWOT Expeditionary Medal may be authorized, but both medals can no longer be bestowed for the same qualifying period of service. The only exception is for service personnel who served in Iraq or Afghanistan prior to 30 April 2005. These personnel were awarded both the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

See also

References
  1. "Issuances" (PDF). www.esd.whs.mil. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  2. "Data" (PDF). media.defense.gov. 2017.
  3. "Army Regulation 600–8–22 Military Awards" (PDF). Army Publishing Directorate. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  4. "Establishing the Global War on Terrorism Medals" (PDF). U.S. Government Publishing Office. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  5. "Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal". Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  6. "Defense.gov News Release: Department of Defense Authorizes Service Stars on the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal". Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  7. "Defense.gov News Article: DoD Authorizes Medals for Operation Freedom's Sentinel". Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  8. "Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal - Approved Operations" (PDF). Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  9. "Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal". edocket.access.gpo.gov.
  10. "Department of Defense 'Manual of Military Decorations and Awards: DoD Service Awards – Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service Medals', December 21, 2016" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20171120154105/http://www.afpc.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/421911/global-war-on-terrorism-expeditionary-medal/. Archived from the original on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2018. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. "Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary (GWOT-E) Medal Approved Areas of Eligibility (AOE)" (PDF). Department of Defense. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  13. AOE changes for Operation New Dawn Archived 9 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  14. Tilghman, Andrew (10 February 2015). "DoD has new rules for Iraq, Afghanistan medals". MilitaryTimes. Gannett. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  15. "Department of Defense 'Manual of Military Decorations and Awards: DoD Service Awards – Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service Medals', December 21, 2016" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
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