Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (left) and GWOT Service Medal (right), shown obverse and reverse, presented in graphic form, as released by DOD. (Courtesy of Department of Defense)
ARLINGTON, Va. — One year after President Bush signed an order creating two new medals for U.S. military forces involved in operations in the war against terrorism, Defense Department officials have spelled out the eligibility criteria for the awards.
On March 12, 2003, Bush signed an executive order creating the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, which is for military personnel supporting operations against terrorism anywhere in the world; and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, for those who deploy to designated combat areas.
The executive order directed DOD to spell out precise criteria, which were issued Feb. 26.
Military members can receive and wear both medals as long as they meet the criteria, but only one award of each may be authorized for any individual, so no multiple-award devices will be prescribed.
Moreover, members can’t use a single qualifying period of service to justify both awards — they need to establish a unique deployment period for each medal.
Battle stars for both medals may be applicable for personnel who were engaged in actual combat against the enemy “and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action,” the criteria say.
But battle stars can be requested only by a combatant commander, and must be approved by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In terms of wear, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal will be positioned above the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal in precedence. And both medals “directly follow the Kosovo Campaign Medal” when worn, according to the criteria.
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
To qualify, a servicemember must have participated in or supported global war on terrorism operations on or after Sept. 11, 2001, to an end date not yet determined by the Secretary of Defense.
The initial award of the service medal will be limited to airport security operations from Sept. 27, 2001, until May 31, 2002; and to members who have supported three specific missions: Operations Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle and Iraqi Freedom.
Individuals must have been assigned, attached to, or mobilized with a unit participating in or serving in support of one of the designated operations for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days.
The time requirement is waived if the member was engaged in combat or circumstances similar to combat, or was killed, wounded or injured requiring medical evacuation.
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
To qualify, a servicemember must have been deployed outside the United States on or after Sept. 11, 2001, to a future date yet to be determined.
“Under no circumstances are personnel in the United States eligible for the expeditionary medal,” according to the criteria.
The initial award for the expeditionary medal is limited to personnel deployed abroad in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The area of eligibility encompasses the United States Central Command area (except the lower Horn of Africa); Middle East; eastern Turkey; Philippines; Diego Garcia; and all air spaces above the land and adjacent water areas.
The minimum length of deployment is 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. For air crews, each day an air crewmember flies sorties into one of the designated areas counts as one day of deployment toward the 30- or 60-day requirement.
The time requirement is waived if the member was engaged in combat, or was killed, wounded or injured requiring medical evacuation.
Now that the criteria are in place, each service is working to establish procedures that spell out precisely how members are supposed to apply for the medals, including application procedures for veterans, retirees, and next-of-kin.
Designated geographic locations for the GWOT Expeditionary Medal
AfghanistanBahrainBulgaria (Bourgas only)CreteCyprusDiego GarciaDjiboutiEgyptEritreaEthiopiaIranIraqIsraelJordanKazakhstanKenyaKuwaitKyrgyzstanLebanonOmanPakistanPhilippinesQatarRomania (Constanta only)Saudi ArabiaSomaliaSyriaTajikistanTurkey (east of 35 degree east latitude)TurkmenistanUnited Arab EmiratesUzbekistanYemenThat portion of the Arabian Sea north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees longitudeBab El MandebGulf of AdenGulf of AqabaGulf of OmanGulf of SuezThat portion of the Mediterranean Sea east of 28 degrees east longitudePersian GulfRed SeaStrait of HormuzSuez Canal— Source: Office of the Secretary of Defense
