Posted on Mar 30, 2016
Is a new award for service in Iraq necessary?
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Posted in these groups: 
Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR)
Medals
Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) Medals
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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It's a new campaign medal.
The reason it is "necessary" is because the previous Iraq campaign is "officially" ended. This means that for Marines we would default to the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal (or the Armed Forced Expeditionary Medal) which is granted when no other Campaign Medal is authorized. So basically we would still get one...
Remember, the awards show distinct aspects of your career. Some of it is accomplishments (Valor or Personal Awards). Some of it is Longevity. Some of it is Locale. None of it's really necessary, but it does tell a story.
The reason it is "necessary" is because the previous Iraq campaign is "officially" ended. This means that for Marines we would default to the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal (or the Armed Forced Expeditionary Medal) which is granted when no other Campaign Medal is authorized. So basically we would still get one...
Remember, the awards show distinct aspects of your career. Some of it is accomplishments (Valor or Personal Awards). Some of it is Longevity. Some of it is Locale. None of it's really necessary, but it does tell a story.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
LTC Paul Labrador - Technically the Expeditionary Medals aren't Campaign Medals though. They're issued in lieu of Campaign Medals.
Everyone is supporting the GWOT (whether stateside or abroad). This is a distinct Campaign under that "umbrella" just like OEF and OIF were distinct Campaigns which had distinct Medals, and the GWOTEM was an "umbrella medal."
Everyone is supporting the GWOT (whether stateside or abroad). This is a distinct Campaign under that "umbrella" just like OEF and OIF were distinct Campaigns which had distinct Medals, and the GWOTEM was an "umbrella medal."
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Awarding a campaign medal (not an award) is important "to honor troops who have served or are serving in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria." I agree, those sacrificing deserve the honor and distinction.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/30/pentagon-unveils-new-medal-soldiers-who-fought-isi/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/30/pentagon-unveils-new-medal-soldiers-who-fought-isi/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS
Pentagon unveils new medal for troops who fought ISIS
The Pentagon unveiled Wednesday a new medal to honor troops who have served or are serving in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
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MAJ (Join to see)
SFC Zach K, I partially disagree. True, most serving are not interested in "fruit salad" but those ribbons also tell the story of where and when someone served to all his brothers and sisters in arms. We can have valorous and meritorious awards but the "other" tells from where and when.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I was part of some troops that went forward to support this expeditionary mission in the middle of 2014. Everyone wanted to say it wasn't part OIF and that award was shuthe off. Look at every conflict we have been in and there has been a campaign award to go along with it ( WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, etc)
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I must appologize for my question I misread the article that brought me to post this question. Being that it is for service in Syria as well then yes there should be a new Campaign Medal, and reactivating the Iraq Campaign Medal would be totally out of the question.
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