DoD Authorizes Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for Operation Inherent Resolve
October 31, 2014

The Department of Defense announced today that service members deployed abroad in support of Operation Inherent Resolve are eligible for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Jessica Wright signed a memorandum authorizing award of the medal.

This award provides immediate recognition to our service members supporting efforts to eliminate the terrorist group ISIL and the threat they pose to Iraq, the region and the wider international community.

Service members must be deployed abroad to an approved area of eligibility in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in order to qualify for the medal. These locations include the land, airspace, and territorial waters of: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the Mediterranean Sea east of 25° Longitude, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea. Additionally, the medal is approved retroactively beginning on June 15, 2014.

Full eligibility criteria for the medal are contained in Department of Defense Manual 1348.33, Volume 2, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards: DoD Service Awards – Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service Medals. Additionally, the list of all operations and areas of eligibility are available at: http://prhome.defense.gov/RFM/MPP/OEPM/Functions.

The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is positioned above the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal in precedence, and directly follows the Kosovo Campaign Medal.

Each military department will prescribe appropriate regulations for award and wear of the medal and ribbon for their service members.

To learn more, please view the Department’s memorandum.