What is the proper wearing of the ACM, ICM, and GWOT-EM ribbons?

SGT Mike Tomarchio — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 09:00:04 -0400

I am attempting to rebuild my ribbon stack as well as medals for a shadow box for my kids. I has lost them all in a fire many years ago and had them replaced through national archives request. I am a bit confused by what I have rad on the interwebs as well as even here. deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 and Iraq in 2003. when my medals were replaced, I was given a package that contained the ACM with BSS, the ICM with BSS, as well as both GWOT medals. I originally recall being issued the ACM and both GWOT's, at the time I don't' believe ICM was created yet. and i have some confusion about GWOT-EM and ICM wearing at the same time. If i were to recreate the ribbon stack to regs, what they hell would I actually be authorized to wear if still in, hypothetically? would my stack look like the image below?

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Aug 26 at 2021 10:12 AM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 10:12:33 -0400

Iraq SM came into being in 2005. I am not sure if went retro to an earlier date.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2021 10:23 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 10:23:06 -0400

The only thing I could recommend for correction is your Overseas Service Ribbon. If you deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, as long as you were in theater in both countries for the required time, then you would have a Number 2 Device on the Overseas Ribbon. As long as your other devices on the ribbons are correct, then you're good as the order you have them in is correct.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2021 10:50 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 10:50:13 -0400

The Iraq Campaign Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal were made retroactive for those who received the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and wanted to exchange them for the campaign medals.

Some who have deployed to either country multiple times chose to keep their GWOTEM in lieu of putting another Bronze Service Star on the medal to stack their rack a bit or because that was what they were actually awarded at the time.

Reg says you can't wear both if they were awarded for the same action, so I would just do the ICM myself.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Aug 26 at 2021 10:58 AM

SSG Edward Tilton — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 10:58:38 -0400

I would think you start with your DD214 and anything after that that the military has issued you

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 26 at 2021 6:06 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 18:06:42 -0400

Medals of America keeps the Medal charts up to date as well as the precedence chart.