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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
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TSgt Joshua Copeland, thanks for the update I appreciate it. Long live the OIF/OEF/OND Veterans of our current generation. Duty Honor Country. Retired but still serving.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
10 y
TSgt Joshua Copeland, I have a question with all these changes, how do I get them added to my DD214 now that I am retired, just found out I got a MUC also since I retired? Any other Veterans been down this road
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
TSgt Joshua Copeland
10 y
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL For the Army, Corrections to only add or delete awards or decorations (DD Form 214, Block 13): Commander, US Army Human Resources Command, ATTN: AHRC-PDP-A, Dept 480, 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122-5408
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
10 y
Thanks for the needed information,will use accordingly.
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1SG Brigade Security Manager
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Great two more divices I get to put on my uniform before my DA Photo this morning!
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
TSgt Joshua Copeland
10 y
1SG (Join to see), gotta love the timing!
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1SG Brigade Security Manager
1SG (Join to see)
10 y
Right
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MAJ Infantry Officer
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Ok, this just got very confusing. How do you delineate the campaign stars for each ribbon when you are based/supporting multiple operations from areas that qualify for the GWOT-EM yet you are also performing operations with-in the AOR (ground and airspace) of Iraq/Afghanistan which qualify you for the ICM/ACM campaign medal/stars?

DEPLOYMENT #1
IRAQ: MAR 2003 - DEC 2003 (I opted to receive the ICM instead of the GWOT-EM for my time in Iraq)
EARNED ICM C-STAR #1 - LIBERATION OF IRAQ, 19 MARCH 2003 – 1 MAY 2003
EARNED ICM C-STAR #2 - TRANSITION OF IRAQ, 2 MAY 2003 – 28 JUNE 2004

DEPLOYMENT #2
AFGHANISTAN: FEB 2006 - JUN 2007 (Awarded initial ACM and 2 C-Stars)
EARNED ACM C-STAR #1 - CONSOLIDATION I, 1 DECEMBER 2001 – 30 SEPTEMBER 2006
EARNED ACM C-STAR #2 - CONSOLIDATION II, 1 OCTOBER 2006 – 30 NOVEMBER 2009

DEPLOYMENT #3
QATAR: SEP 2009 - SEP 2010 (Awarded initial GWOT-EM, served in the CAOC supporting both OEF/OIF and OND when the OIF/OND operation changed. Additionally, I was attached to two carrier air wings supporting OEF operating in the Gulf of Oman for six months. Since the CAOC supported all three OEF, OIF and OND operations does this mean that I put three campaign stars on my GWOT-EM?)
ACM CAMPAIGNS SUPPORTED
CONSOLIDATION II, 1 OCTOBER 2006 – 30 NOVEMBER 2009
CONSOLIDATION III, 1 DECEMBER 2009 – 30 JUNE 2011
ICM CAMPAIGNS SUPPORTED
IRAQI SOVEREIGNTY, 1 JANUARY 2009 – 31 AUGUST 2010
OP NEW DAWN, 1 SEPTEMBER 2010 – 31 DECEMBER 2011

DEPLOYMENT #4
QATAR: JUL 2011 – DEC 2011 (Based from Al Udeid where the GWOT-EM is awarded supporting both OEF and NEW DAWN. Flying combat sorties in the airspace over Iraq and Afghanistan where campaign stars for the ACM and ICM are awarded).
EARNED ACM C-STAR #3 – TRANSITION I, 1 JULY 2011 – 31 DECEMBER 2014
EARNED ICM C-STAR #3 - OP NEW DAWN, 1 SEPTEMBER 2010 – 31 DECEMBER 2011

DEPLOYMENT #5
QATAR: JUL 2013 – DEC 2013 (Based from Al Udeid where the GWOT-EM is awarded supporting OEF. Flying combat sorties in the airspace over Afghanistan where campaign stars for the ACM are awarded).
SUPPORTED - OEF TRANSITION I, 1 JULY 2011 – 31 DECEMBER 2014, earned this campaign star for ACM from previous deployment.

DEPLOYMENT #6 (Current)
AFGHANISTAN: DEC 2014 – DEC 2015 (ISAF and OEF Transition I campaign ends as of 31 DEC 2014 and RESOLUTE SUPPORT starts as of 1 JAN 2015. New campaign OPERATION FREEDOM SENTINAL takes over and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM ends).
EARNED ACM C-STAR #4 – OPERATION FREEDOM SENTINAL (OFS), 1 JAN 2015 – TBD (this campaign star hasn’t formally been awarded yet but should be tied to the ACM similar as OP NEW DAWN was to the ICM)

As of right now I wear the ICM with 3 campaign stars, ACM with 3 (soon to be 4 for OFS) campaign stars and the blank GWOT-EM ribbon for my deployments to Qatar and other areas of the middle east outside of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Now that the regulations have changed how many campaign stars do I add to my GWOT-EM? While I was in Qatar I supported OIF, OEF and OIF. By that rational I would wear 3 stars since the GWOT-EM is awarded strictly for support of OIF, OEF, and OND while physically located outside of Iraq and Afghanistan. The time I served inside of Iraq and Afghanistan while flying qualify’s me for the ICM and ACM campaign stars since you cannot earn a GWOT-EM for service in Iraq and Afghanistan during those times.

One final question? Is the GWOT-EM like campaign medals where you must wear at least one campaign star to represent the campaign you served in on the actual campaign medal (ribbon)? Or… Is the first awarding of the GWOT-EM the blank ribbon (medal) and the stars do not actually represent the individual campaigns you served in, like on a campaign medal (ribbon), but the 2nd, 3rd 4th awards of the same GWOT-EM medal?

Does anyone else have any clearer guidance on this debacle?
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
TSgt Joshua Copeland
10 y
The ACM and ICM say that you cant earn them and the GWOT-EM for the same service.
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MAJ Infantry Officer
MAJ (Join to see)
10 y
You are correct. You cannot earn both the ACM/ICM and the GWOT-EM for the same service. Which is why, when the ACM/ICM where first created a MILPER message was sent out across all the services stating that all service members who earned the GWOT-EM for their service in the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan could submit a memo to their awards branch and exchange the GWOT-EM for the ACM/ICM. This is what I did for my service in Iraq in 2003.

If you read the regulation you can ONLY earn the ACM and ICM by physically being on the ground or in the airspace above Iraq and Afghanistan. Once you leave these geographical boundaries you no longer qualify for the ACM/ICM. So those who are stationed in Qatar, Kuwait, etc CANNOT earn the ACM/ICM while assigned there. During their time on ground in Qatar, Kuwait, etc they qualify for the GWOT-EM. IF they leave Qatar, Kuwait, etc and enter Iraq or Afghanistan during their deployment they immediately start qualifying for the ACM/ICM since they are now within the boundary areas qualifying for the ACM/ICM.
https://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/afghanistan%20campaign%20medal%20or%20iraq%20campaign%20medal
The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) was authorized by Public Law 108-234, dated 28 May 2004, and Executive Order 13363, dated 29 November 2004. Public law 109-163, dated 6 January 2006, amended the beginning date for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and the date of eligibility for the ACM to 11 September 2001. Individuals authorized the ACM must have served in direct support of OEF. The area of eligibility (AOE) encompasses all land area of the country of Afghanistan and all air spaces above the land. The Afghanistan Campaign Medal period of eligibility is on or after 11 September 2001 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of OEF.
The Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM) was authorized by Public Law 108–234, 28 May 2004 and Executive Order 13363, 29 November 2004, as amended by Executive Order 13289, 12 March 2003. Individuals authorized the ICM must have served in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) or on/after 1 September 2010 for Operation New Dawn (OND). The AOE encompasses all land area of the country of Iraq, and the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land area of Iraq and above the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles. The ICM period of eligibility is on or after 19 March 2003 to 31 December 2011.
https://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/global%20war%20on%20terrorism%20expeditionary%20medal%20gwotem%20and%20global%20war%20on%20terrorism%20service%20medal%20gwotsm
GWOTEM: The GWOTEM was established by Executive Order 13289, 12 March 2003. It is authorized for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who deployed abroad for service in the GWOT Operations on or after 11 September, 2001 to a date to be determined. Operations approved the GWOTEM are provided in MILPER Message 09-026 also outlined in a below.
a. Initial award of the GWOTEM. Limited to Service members deployed abroad in support of OEF, OIF, and OND in the following designated specific geographic AOE: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria (Bourgas), Burkina Faso, Chad, Columbia, Crete, Cyprus, Diego Garcia, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo (only specific GWOT operations not associated with operations qualifying for the KCM), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, 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, Yemen, that portion of 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, that portion of the Mediterranean Sea east of 28 degrees east longitude and boarding and searching vessel operations, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz, and Suez Canal.
b. Effective 30 April 2005, the GWOTEM is no longer authorized to be awarded for service in Afghanistan and/or Iraq. Soldiers are only authorized award of the ACM and ICM after this date. The GWOTEM is authorized for direct support deployments, such as Kuwait or Qatar. See list above.
c. Service members must be assigned, attached or mobilized to a unit participating in designated operations for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in the AOE, or meet one of the following criteria: (1) Be engaged in actual combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action, regardless of time in the AOE. (2) While participating in the designated operation, regardless of time, is killed, wounded or injured requiring medical evacuation from the AOE. (3) Service members participating as a regularly assigned air crew member flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the AOE in direct support of ONS, OEF, OIF, or OND are eligible to qualify for award of the GWOTEM. Each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria will count as one day toward the 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive day requirement.
d. The GWOTEM will not be awarded to Soldiers who are deployed/mobilized to an AOE for the purpose of staging operations, with follow on movement into Iraq or Afghanistan in support of Operation Nomad Shadow (ONS), OIF, OEF, and OND.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
TSgt Joshua Copeland
10 y
MAJ (Join to see), that might be legal, but just seems to be gaming the system. I would have to ask some of my aircrew buddies, but I want to say they were forced to choose one or the other for the deployment (AF). Army might be different.
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MAJ Infantry Officer
MAJ (Join to see)
10 y
Back to my original confusion on the new GWOT-EM service stars.

Some individuals are deployed to units that supported multiple operations at the same time during the same deployment. The new GWOT-EM service star regulation doesn't designate how one qualifies for the additional service stars except that you wear a service star for each additional operation you support.

AS STATED FROM ABOVE: Only one GWOT-EM is awarded for each approved operation. For example, a service member who was awarded the medal for an Operation Enduring Freedom deployment, and is subsequently authorized a second award for an Operation Inherent Resolve deployment would wear a single Service Star on the GWOT-EM to denote both awards.

It states per operation. You can support multiple operations on one deployment.


My example is: For those assigned to the CAOC - Combined Air and Space Operations Center in Qatar, the CAOC supported both OEF and OIF operations. So how does that transfer to the new GWOT-EM service stars when the new regulation doesn't clearly state so.
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