• Establishing the Global War on Terrorism Medals  With an executive order, Bush created the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Whitehouse.gov (press release) - 12 Mar 2003 Bush establishes two new anti-terror medals - San Francisco Chronicle Bush creates 'terror war' medals - News Interactive Bush Establishes Medals for Global War on Terror - Defenselink.mil      The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Color plate courtesy the Army Institute of Heraldry. (Click photo for screen-resolution image; high-resolution image available. The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Color plate courtesy the Army Institute of Heraldry. (Click photo for screen-resolution image; high-resolution image available.

  New military medals to be awarded to those who served in war on ... The GWOT Expeditionary Medal will be awarded to all service members who deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, namely, the war in Iraq. ... St. Augustine Record, FL May 03

One Medal for Soldiers, Not Two The key question is: are the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq two wars or one? This week, the Pentagon has ruled they are one war — a war on terrorism. So those who serve in both places will get one medal — the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Rep. Ike Skelton is of the opinion that they were two separate campaigns, one against the Taliban and bin Laden forces [and one] to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction. "The purposes were different, the campaigns were different, they were carried on differently. They're distinct from each other." His website says Skelton has also cosponsored legislation, H.R. 3104, to provide for the establishment of separate campaign medals for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Poynteronline 7 Jan 04 Bush plans one medal for Iraq, Afghanistan conflicts Pentagon officials say the issue is closed. President Bush's authorization of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, they say, is appropriate, given the nature of the worldwide battle against terrorists and in terms of precedent in previous conflicts.  The Seattle Times 8 Jan 04 Single medal for Iraq, Afghan wars upsets some President Bush's administration plans to award only one medal -- the Global War on Terrorism Medal -- to service members who were involved in Iraq or Afghanistan or both. U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, along with U.S. Reps. Vic Snyder, D-Ark., and Rob Simmons, R-Conn., have introduced legislation to create separate campaign medals. elpasotimes.com 29 Sep 03 Missourians differ on separate medals for Iraq, Afghanistan Missouri lawmakers are at odds over whether soldiers should receive a campaign medal for serving in Iraq separate from the one created for the war on terrorism, which includes Afghanistan. Key House members are asking Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to create a separate medal for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Among them is Missouri Rep. Ike Skelton, the senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. Medals, ribbons and decorations are about more than an individual's service, Skelton said: They represent crucial times in U.S. history for generations to remember. Skelton pointed out there were separate campaign ribbons for Grenada and Panama, both of which were smaller operations than Iraq. Newsday.com 02 Nov 03 Jeffords dissents on terrorism medals for Iraq service By a 97-1 vote margin, the Senate on Friday passed a non-binding resolution urging that the War on Terrorism Medal be given to soldiers fighting what Bush has called the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and the Philippines, and the war that resulted in the ouster of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Several others including Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Jeffrey Bingaman, D-N.M., also spoke out in favor of separate medals. Bingaman sponsored a substitute measure that would accomplish that. Jeffords supported that amendment, but it was defeated. Concord Monitor 21 Oct 03 2003: A Season of Valor, Sacrifice - and Many Heroes Profiling just a select few of the bravest of the brave in the War on Terrorism is a vexing project -- until these invariably modest warriors themselves show the way by crediting their remarkable exploits to teamwork and reminding us that all who serve on the frontlines of freedom are our country’s heroes. Newsmax.com 22 Dec 03 Campbell, O'Hanlon: Military medals and Pentagon meddlers In a move that is increasingly unpopular with some of the nation's military personnel and retired veterans, the Pentagon has decided to award the same campaign medal to those serving in Afghanistan or Iraq. This decision, ultimately taken by politically appointed civilians from the Bush administration, is meant to subtly convey a central -- if increasingly controversial -- tenet of their worldview: that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are part of the same seamless global military fight against terror. Dodge City Daily Globe online 23 Dec 03 Global War on Terrorism medals held up by review Department of Defense spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell stated that work’s still being done on the expeditionary medal. “The package designating the specific area of eligibility for the ... expeditionary medal is currently with the [DOD Office of the] General Counsel for their review and coordination.” Campbell wouldn’t speculate on when the medals would be authorized. Stars and Stripes 14 Jan 04 Policy on medals hasn't been finalized yet Don’t believe everything you read, even if it’s on a Department of Defense Web site. Servicemembers doing Internet searches about the new Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary medals could find Air Force and Navy Web sites listing what seems like official DOD policy on the medals. But DOD public affairs officials in Washington, D.C., say that guidance hasn’t been released yet. Stars and Stripes 14 Jan 03 Global War medals aren't the same as ones for specific campaigns In my Opinion by Thomas Wm. McGarry Oregonlive.com 8 Feb 04 Local Marine To Return Service Medal To Bush In Protest Sgt. Matthew Bee is a decorated Akron Marine who spent seven months in Hadeetha, serving with the 3rd Battalion 25th Marines Weapons Company based in Brook Park. Bee received six medals of commendation, but one of them he will give back to President George W. Bush, calling the medal political, NewsChannel5 reported. The medal is the War on Terrorism service medal, and Bee calls it "eye candy" from Bush. "So, he took something noble and honorable and made it kind of dirty. And I always thought that medal was the one he pinned on us and said, 'This is my war. This is my stamp in history,'" said Bee. Bee said he is not anti-war, but rather pro-peace. He plans to travel to Washington, D.C., with a small group of Marines who feel the same way he does. They will all try to return their War on Terrorism medal to Bush personally or to members of Congress. newsnet5.com 3 Jul 06

• Defense Department Introduces Global War on Terrorism Medals Military members serving at home and abroad in the war on terrorism will now be recognized for that service. Individuals who have deployed to operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom will be awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal will be awarded to those who served in airport security operations in the United States following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks or who supported operations Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle or Iraqi Freedom. defenselink 26 Feb 04 Presidential Executive Order 13289 previously authorized the medals, which come in expeditionary and service versions.  The expeditionary medal is for those who deploy to designated combat areas, and the service medal is for those who serve in support of operations to combat terrorism. White House Mar 03 DoD Announces Criteria for Global War on Terrorism Medals dod.mil 26 Feb 04

   

• Bill proposes medals for those serving in Iraq, Afghanistan Baufort's Jimmie Leach already wore campaign ribbons recognizing his pre-Pearl Harbor efforts in the National Guard and service in the Far East before he became an Army officer and shipped out to fight in World War II. But Leach can't understand why the service members fighting today's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan aren't being recognized with ribbons to tell their tales. Beaufort Gazette.com 27 Mar 04

   
• Terrorism war medal guidance due soon After months of waiting, airmen may soon find out who gets to wear the Global War on Terrorism medals. “The Air Force policy is still going through the coordination process,” said Air Force spokeswoman Jennifer Stephens. “We expect to have guidance out within the next few weeks.” The president approved awarding both a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and a GWOT Service Medal in March 2003. But it wasn’t until Feb. 26 that the Department of Defense released its guidelines on who should receive which award — and basically turned the decision over to each service. So far, the Army and the Marine Corps have issued some guidance on the medals. Navy guidance is still pending. airforcetimes.com 14 Apr 04

• Healthcare specialist receives medals Army Sgt. Cristina K. Beshears has been awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the National Defense Service Medal for supporting the missions of Operations Enduring and/or Iraqi Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq. casperstartribune.net 8 Aug 04

• Strategic forces authorized service medal The commander of U.S. Strategic Command has authorized the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal for all servicemembers assigned, attached or mobilized to the command for at least 30 consecutive days on or after Sept. 11, 2001. The medal is awarded to people involved in supporting operations against terrorism anywhere in the world. It is worn after the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Both follow the Kosovo Campaign Medal. Only one award of this medal may be authorized for any individual; therefore, there are no service stars. af.mil 8 Dec 04

• Lawmakers seek more medals for duty in conflicts U.S. military members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan will be eligible for additional medals under legislation the Senate approved. Under the bill, members of the military can be given an Operation Enduring Freedom medal, an Operation Iraqi Freedom medal or both, if they served in both conflicts. The legislation will now go to the White House for President George W. Bush's signature. It passed the House, 423-0, on March 30. "This bill was not intended to replace the administration's Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medal (pictured left) and the Global War on Terrorism Service medal," said Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark. It complements them, he said.Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner, R-Va., added, "The superb service rendered by our nation's fighting forces since Sept. 11," 2001, "fully warrants the establishment of campaign medals for service in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom." freep.com 19 May 04

• Some soldiers cry foul over medals Members of the California National Guard 270th Military Police Company receive the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. But some soldiers across the country - and locally - are complaining that too many of the military medals being handed out to soldiers in Iraq are going to people who don't deserve them. "But now we've got individuals who put themselves in for a Bronze Star just because they can." Too often, the critics say, the medals are being given to troop commanders, rather than lower-ranking soldiers placed in harm's way on a near daily basis. "We've got one kid who saved two lives and actually got nothing," sacbee.com 26 May 04

• Officials approve wear of expeditionary medal Air Force officials have authorized wear of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal which was approved by President Bush in 2003. The Department of Defense campaign medal applies to active-duty, Reserve and Guard servicemembers deployed abroad on or after Sept.11, 2001, for operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom. "The criterion is pretty clear, so members who believe they are eligible can begin wearing it," said Tech. Sgt. Jeff Simmons, superintendent of the Air Force Personnel Center’s recognition programs branch here. To qualify, an individual must have been assigned or attached to a unit in OEF or OIF and served 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in specific geographic areas. The medal will only be awarded once, regardless of how many times an individual returns to serve in OEF or OIF. There are no service stars or other devices authorized; however, battle stars may be authorized for servicemembers who engaged in actual combat. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the approving authority for battle stars. Duty locations include these countries: Afghanistan; Bahrain; Bulgaria (Bourgas); Crete; Cyprus; Diego Garcia; Djibouti; Egypt; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Lebanon; Oman; Pakistan; Philippines; Qatar; Romania (Constanta); Saudi Arabia; Somalia; Syria; Tajikistan; Turkey (east of 35 degrees east latitude); Turkmenistan; United Arab Emirates; Uzbekistan; and Yemen. Other areas include: -- The portion of the Arabian Sea north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees longitude. -- Bab el Mandeb. -- The Gulf of Aden. -- The Gulf of Aqaba. -- The Gulf of Oman. -- The Gulf of Suez. -- The portion of the Mediterranean Sea east of 28 degrees east longitude. -- The Persian Gulf. -- The Red Sea. -- The Strait of Hormuz. -- The Suez Canal. The medal follows the Kosovo Campaign medal in precedence. The medal will be issued by local military personnel flights when it becomes available and will also be available through the Army and Air Force Exchange Service later this year. af.mil 27 May 04

• Soldiers to Get Separate Iraq, Afghan Medals This is an audio clip of NPR's Robert Siegel speaking with Rep. Vic Snyder (D-AR) about his bill creating separate campaign medals to be awarded to troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. President Bush signed the bill last Friday. Congressman Snyder says it's military tradition to have discreet medals for service in different parts of the world. npr.org 3 Jun 04

• Hospital Earns War on Terrorism Service Medal The National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) has earned the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal for its support with contingency operations pertaining to Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom as well as its treatment to wounded Sailors and Marines. Effective Jan. 27, service members attached to Bethesda and its branch clinics who checked into their command prior to December 27, 2004 are qualified to wear the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Service members must be attached for at least 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. Reserve personnel are also authorized to wear the medal. dcmilitary.com 17 Feb 05

• Medals Updated in Personnel System Air Force officials have completed a batch update to currently reflect award of the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM) and Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Expeditionary Medal in the military personnel data system. Air Force Personnel Center officials here recently completed a mass decorations update for more than 69,000 active-duty Airmen who were permanently assigned to Korea, earning the Korean medal. An additional 114,000 updates for the expeditionary medal were completed for active-duty Airmen deployed to Southwest Asia supporting Operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom since Sept. 11, 2001. af.mil 18 Feb 05

• President awards GWOT Service Medal President George W. Bush approved awarding the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal to all personnel assigned, attached or mobilized to Air Combat Command. The medal is being awarded to all active duty, mobilized Reserve, and National Guard members assigned to ACC on or after Sept. 11, 2001, command officials said. To be eligible, members must have served in support of the command’s efforts in Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom or Noble Eagle for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. An end date for the eligibility period in support of these operations has not been announced. Those who supported Airport security operations between Sept. 27, 2001, and May 31, 2002 are also eligible to receive the medal. Command officials stated the medal is a Defense Department campaign medal, and does not prevent members from receiving other deployment decorations that they may be entitled. Personnel may also receive the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal if they meet eligibility requirements. However, the qualifying period of service used to establish the eligibility for one award cannot be used to justify eligibility for the other. acc.af.mil 4 Mar 05

• Pentagon clarifies rules for GWOT Expeditionary medal After April 30, service members cannot earn the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medal for service in Afghanistan and Iraq, but their service in a dozen other locations around the globe may still merit the award. As of April 30, the new campaign medals (Afghanistan and Iraq) will replace the GWOT-E for service in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines can still earn the GWOT-E for deployment to Algeria, Bosnia, Chad, Georgia, Hungary, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Turkey, Uganda, the Mediterranean Sea — for “boarding and searching” vessel operations — and Kosovo, for operations other than those that already qualify for the Kosovo Campaign Medal. marinecorpstimes.com 11 Apr 05

• Colombia, Guantanamo added to GWOT Expeditionary Medal list The Defense Department has added Colombia and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the list of more than 50 countries and areas that qualify soldiers and other U.S. service members for award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. The GWOT Expeditionary Medal, and a companion GWOT Service Medal, were established in 2003 to recognize military service in support of overseas and homeland defense missions since Sept. 11, 2001. In a related move, Secretary of the Army Francis J. Harvey has established special recognition certificates for units that have participated in the war on terrorism but do not have a distinguishing flag, color or guidon. Major Army commands and senior theater commands can award certificates to units that participated in the overseas operations of Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and Noble Eagle, the homeland defense mission. Qualifying opening dates for these ongoing operations are Sept. 11, 2001 for Noble Eagle, Oct. 7, 2001 for Enduring Freedom and March 19, 2003 for Iraqi Freedom. There are two types of Global unit recognition certificates authorized in an Army headquarters policy letter issued Oct. 21. Those are the GWOT Unit Recognition Certificate- Expeditionary and the GWOT Unit Recognition Certificate – Service. Personnel officials expect the certificates will be available through normal supply channels early next year. The certificates do not authorize the unit to fly a streamer, or its members to wear an emblem. airforcetimes.com 11 Nov 05

• Eligibility for medal pushed back to 9/11 Congress has settled the question of when Operation Enduring Freedom started, a move that will make more soldiers eligible for a medal. Last April, the Pentagon approved a medal for service members who served in Afghanistan, called the Operation Enduring Freedom Campaign Medal. Questions arose because the medal's beginning eligibility date was Oct. 24, 2001. That was 17 days after U.S. warplanes started bombing Kabul and five days after Army Rangers conducted a nighttime parachute drop on a desert airfield. Pentagon officials steadfastly argued that Oct. 24 was the start of Enduring Freedom, despite Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's announcement of the operation's name on Sept. 25, 2001. Now, Congress has forced the Pentagon to change the initial eligibility date to Sept. 11, 2001, the day terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon. timesdispatch.com 5 Feb 06

• New medals reflect global war on terror Reflecting the global war on terrorism, certain military awards have been upgraded or updated to indicate current hot spots encountered by American troops. The importance of service in Colombia, where an ongoing battle against drugs is being waged, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where prisoners in the terror war are interned, has resulted in their being added to the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. To receive an award in the Iraq Campaign, service members must be deployed to Iraq in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for 30 consecutive days or at least 60 nonconsecutive days in all land areas, air spaces and contiguous waters. For the Afghanistan Campaign, service members must be assigned to a unit participating in Operation Enduring Freedom for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. The Air Force Expeditionary Ribbon with Gold Border, is awarded for participation in combat operations by airmen engaged in conducting or supporting combat operations in designated combat zones. To earn the Combat Action Badge, a GI must be assigned to an Army unit and be actively engaged by the enemy while performing satisfactorily in the prescribed rules of engagement. Assignment to a combat arms unit or a unit organized to conduct close or offensive combat operations is not a requirement to qualify for the CAB. Recipients must not be eligible for the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge. To receive the SSBN Nuclear Deterrent Patrol Breast Insignia, awarded to submariners, individuals must be permanently assigned or assigned temporary duty on a submarine. The unit must operate under an alert posture for any period during the patrol. For units that do not assume an alert posture during a patrol cycle, the commander will determine a unit’s eligibility for the award based on the operations commitments. A normal patrol runs from 60 to 90 days. thetimes-tribune.com 12 Mar 06

• Some Gitmo sailors could qualify for terrorism war medal Hundreds of sailors who are or have been serving in Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, Cuba, could now be eligible for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. The news comes as the Navy formally updates its list of geographic areas where service is eligible for the award, with NavAdmin 094/06. The locations were officially added last year to the areas of eligibility by the Defense Department and only now were officially added by the Navy. Officials could not say what led to the delay. “The last two DoD changes to the [GWOT Expeditionary Medal areas of eligibility] included in this NavAdmin are likely to impact only a relatively small number of the total Navy force,” said Capt. Anne-Marie Hartlaub, who handles awards policy for the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Arlington, Va. The message also added to the list Algeria, Bosnia, Chad, Colombia, Georgia, Hungary, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Turkey, Uganda, the Mediterranean Sea — for “boarding and searching” vessel operations — and Kosovo for operations other than those that already qualify for the Kosovo Campaign Medal. navytimes.com 31 Mar 06

• Eligibility for GWOT medals expands Six countries have been added to the list of designated areas of eligibility for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. All but one of them are in Africa. Soldiers serving in Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Tanzania or Tunisia on or after Sept. 11, 2001, in support of anti-terrorist actions or operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom may be awarded the medal if they meet the criteria of the Army’s newly revised military awards regulation, AR 600-8-22 (Dated Dec 2006 - pdf). The list of eligible areas now totals 60. To earn the award, soldiers must meet one of the following criteria: 

-- Be assigned, attached or mobilized to a unit participating in anti-terrorist operations for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in a designated area of operations.

-- Be engaged in combat under circumstances of grave danger of death or bodily injury from enemy action, regardless of time served in the area of operations.

-- Be killed, wounded or injured, and require medical evacuation from the area of operation, while serving in an anti-terrorist operation, regardless of time spent there.

-- Be assigned as a regular aircrew member flying support sorties out of, within or over the area of operation.

Only one award of the medal is authorized per soldier. However, bronze battle stars may be awarded for combat actions at the request of the senior combatant commander and with approval from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Areas of eligibility for the award of the medal are:

-- Algeria

-- Azerbaijan

-- Bahrain

-- Bosnia-Herzegovina

--Bulgaria (Bourgas)

--Chad

--Colombia

--Crete

--Cyprus

--Diego Garcia

--Djibouti

--Egypt

--Eritrea

--Ethiopia

--Georgia

--Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

--Hungary

--Iran

--Israel

--Jordan

--Kazakhstan

--Kenya

--Kosovo, but only specific anti-terrorist operations not associated with operations that qualify for the Kosovo Campaign Medal

--Kuwait

--Kyrgyzstan

--Lebanon

--Mali

--Mauritania

--Niger

--Nigeria

--Oman

--Pakistan

--Philippines

--Qatar

--Romania (Constanta)

--Saudi Arabia

--Senegal

--Sierra Leone

--Somalia

--Syria

--Tajikistan

--Tanzania

--Tunisia

--Turkey

--Turkmenistan

--Uganda

--United Arab Emirates

--Uzbekistan

--Yeman

--The Arabian Sea north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees longitude

--Bab el Mandeb

--Gulf of Aden

--Gulf of Aqaba

--Gulf of Oman

--Gulf of Suez

--The Mediterranean Sea east of 28 degrees east longitude, as well as boarding and searching vessel operations

--Persian Gulf

--Red Sea

--Strait of Hormuz

--Suez Canal airforcetimes.com 13 Jan 07