Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal - Criteria

Criteria

To be awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, a military service member must perform duty in a deployed status and must participate in designated anti-terrorism operation for a period of either 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days of duty. For those who were engaged in combat, killed, or wounded in the line of the duty the time requirement is waived.

The term "deployed status" indicates either temporary or permanent orders to a duty station outside the borders of the United States of America with such duty being in direct support of anti-terrorism operations. For a service member to receive the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the deployment must also have taken place in a nation which is currently recognized as a base for anti-terrorism operations by the United States Department of Defense.

Currently, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal may be awarded for approved operations performed in any of the following geographical areas:

• Algeria
• Azerbaijan
• Bahrain
• Bulgaria (Bourgas)
• Burkina Faso
• Chad
• Colombia
• Crete
• Cyprus
• Diego Garcia
• Djibouti
• Egypt
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Georgia
• Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
• Hungary
• Iran
• Iraq Discontinued for service in Iraq as of 1 January 2012.
• Israel
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kenya
• Kosovo (only specified GWOT operations not associated with operations qualifying for the Kosovo Campaign Medal)
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Lebanon
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Morocco
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Qatar
• Romania (Constanţa)
• Saudi Arabia
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• Syria
• Tanzania
• Tajikistan
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• United Arab Emirates
• Uzbekistan
• Yemen

The following bodies of water are also approved qualifying areas:

• That portion of the Arabian Sea north of 10 degrees north latitude, and west of 68 degrees east longitude
• Bab-el-Mandeb
• Gulf of Aden
• Gulf of Aqaba
• Gulf of Oman
• Gulf of Suez
• A portion of the Mediterranean Sea ("boarding and searching" operations")
• Persian Gulf
• Red Sea
• Strait of Hormuz
• Suez Canal

Additionally,personnel who participated in Operation Nomad Shadow are eligible for the award.

On April 30, 2005 the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal was discontinued for service within Iraq and Afghanistan, such service now being recognized with the Iraq Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Personnel who received the GWOTEM for previous service in these two regions may elect to exchange the GWOTEM or retain the original award. In September 2010 a MILPER message re-authorized the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for Operation New Dawn.

The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is a one time only award. Service stars are not authorized. The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal may be awarded with the Arrowhead device for qualified soldiers. The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal may be awarded with the combat operation insignia for qualified sailors assigned to Marine Corps units. The War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal was designed by John Sproston of the Army's Institute of Heraldry.