New campaign medals recognize Iraq, Afghanistan service

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WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Two new campaign medals announced April 7 recognize servicemembers for their contributions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Defense Department officials announced the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal for servicemembers who directly supported Operation Enduring Freedom between Oct. 24, 2001, and a date to be determined in the future or Operation Iraqi Freedom between March 19, 2003, and some future date.

The new campaign medals were established by presidential order for servicemembers who have been assigned, attached or mobilized to units operating in these areas, officials said.

Until now, servicemembers deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq during the designated timeframes were awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

"By awarding separate medals, we will recognize the specific contribution that our (servicemembers) have made in Afghanistan and Iraq,” said Bill Carr, DOD’s principal director of military personnel policy. “It’s appropriate that we present them with an award that truly honors their heroic service in these operations."

Servicemembers with the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal remain qualified for it, and officials said, they may apply for the appropriate new campaign medal as well.

Servicemembers may receive both of the new campaign medals if they meet the requirement for both awards. However, officials said, the qualifying period of service for one award cannot be used to justify eligibility for the other. Just one award of each of the new medals is authorized, as no service stars are prescribed.

No servicemember is entitled to wear all three medals for the same act, achievement or period of service, officials said.

The area of eligibility for the Afghanistan Campaign Medal includes all the country’s land and air spaces. The Iraq Campaign Medal applies for service in Iraq, its waters out to 12 nautical miles, and the airspace over Iraq and its 12-mile water area.

To qualify for the awards, servicemembers must have served in the appropriate region for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, officials said.

Servicemembers also qualify for the medals if they have been engaged in combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time spent in the area, or were wounded or injured and required medical evacuation from the area of eligibility while participating in an operation or on official duties.

Regularly assigned aircrew members flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in direct support of military operations also qualify, with each day of operations counting as one day of eligibility.

On the uniform, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal will be positioned below the Kosovo Campaign Medal and above the Iraq Campaign Medal. The Iraq Campaign Medal will be positioned below the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and above the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Each military department will serve as the awarding authority for the new campaign medals and issue regulations for processing, awarding and wearing them, officials said. (Courtesy of American Forces Press Service)