Question:
Question about service awards.....?
anonymous
2008-04-17 14:46:54 UTC
How and when are such awards presented or are they
National Defense service medal
Global War on Terrorism Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Southwest Asia service medal

Are these medals presented at the same time it seems a little redundant it also seems if your getting one you'd be getting at least three of them and for the same service

I'm i interpreting these awards correctly ?
Eight answers:
franky2x
2008-04-17 15:03:09 UTC
Not really. Service medals usually aren't presented, although they can be. You actually don't simultaneously qualify for these. For example, by coming on to active duty, you qualify for the NDSM. By being in a deployable (not training) unit, you qualify for the GWOT Service Medal. The GWOT Expeditionary Medal, Iraq and Afghan Campaign medals depend on when and where you were in each authorized area. See below for when/where etc.



You qualify for the National Defense Medal for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954, both dates inclusive; between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974, both dates inclusive; between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995; and from 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. Any member of the United States Coast Guard or the Reserve or Guard Forces of the Armed Forces who, between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974, became eligible for award of either the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Vietnam Service Medal or between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995, became

eligible for award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal will be eligible for award of the NDSM. Cadets of the U.S. Military Academy are eligible for the NDSM, during any of the inclusive periods listed above, upon completion of the swearing-in ceremonies as a cadet.



Global War on Terrorism Service Medal: All Soldiers on active duty, including Reserve Component Soldiers mobilized, or National Guard Soldiers activated on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined having served 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days are authorized the GWOTSM.



Iraq Campaign Medal: Individuals authorized the Iraq Campaign Medal must have served in direct support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF). The area of eligibility 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 Iraq Campaign Medal period of eligibility is on or after 19 March 2003 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of OIF.

c. Service members qualified for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal by reasons of service between 19 March 2003 and 28 February 2005, in an area for which the Iraq Campaign Medal was subsequently authorized, will remain qualified for that medal. Upon application, any such service member may be awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal in lieu of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for such service. No service member will be entitled to both medals for the same act, achievement or period of service.

d. Service members must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility for

30 consecutive days or for 60 non-consecutive days or meet one of the following criteria:

(1) Be engaged in combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the area of eligibility.

(2) While participating in an operation or on official duties, is wounded or injured and requires medical evacuation

from the area of eligibility.

(3) While participating as a regularly assigned air crewmember flying sorties into, out of, within or over the area of eligibility in direct support of the military operations; each day of operations counts as one day of eligibility.

e. The following rules apply to award the Iraq Campaign Medal:

(1) The Iraq Campaign Medal may be awarded posthumously.

(2) Only one award of this medal may be authorized for any individual.

(3) Under no condition will personnel receive the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary

Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, or the Armed Forces Expeditionary

Medal for the same action, time period or service.



The Southwest Asia service medal hasn't been awarded since 1995. That was for the Gulf War, and ensuing operations in and around the CENTCOM theater till 95.



No - they are not all for the same thing.
anonymous
2016-12-24 01:30:58 UTC
1
westrich
2016-10-16 10:05:01 UTC
National Defense Service Medal Dates
MP US Army
2008-04-17 14:54:21 UTC
National Defense Service Medal - for serving during a national emergency for 30 consecutive days.



Global war on Terror Service medal - for supporting the war on terror for 30 consecutive days (given out for the same stuff as NDSM)



GWOT Expeditionary - for deploying in support of the war on terror (not Iraq or Afghanistan)



Iraq Medal - for deploying to Iraq



SW Asia medal - for serving in the mid east before the Iraq war.
Mike S
2008-04-17 15:06:39 UTC
These awards or ribbons/medals are what old soldiers refer to as 'KP Ribbons', they are not awarded in a ceremony, a personnel clerk merely types them into the blank spaces in a soldier's service record. They look good on your uniform and tell other soldiers that you have been there and done it but serve no other useful purpose to a soldier, they're not worth any promotion points nor are they impressive to other soldiers who have the same ribbons. This is not to say that the soldier is not proud of them. I personally am quite proud of my 2 NDSM's but not as much as I am of my Bronze Star, 2 Meritorious Service Medals or my 5 Army Commendation medals. They are a boost to one's self esteem or ego.
igdubya
2008-04-17 14:57:00 UTC
The medals are presented at a Company formation or higher after such time as your entitled to them. Usually several people are receiving awards at the same ceremony. A military person will receive the Natl Defense as soon as they graduate from Recruit Training, all other awards and metals as they earn them.
Bob D
2008-04-17 14:54:55 UTC
National defense is for anyone serving during any war time.

Global war on Terror may not just serve in SW Asia

Iraq Campain...people serving in Afganistan get a different ribbon

SW Asia. Might serve on ship in the Gulf, Bahrain
mcguckin
2016-10-05 09:56:21 UTC
He does no longer get the SWASM provided that substitute into discontinued whilst GWOT began. And the Afghan medal substitute into no longer progressed till 2005 ish so in the experience that your tale line happens formerly then he might have the GWOTEM (Expeditionary) no longer the Afghan. yet confident it fairly is a sturdy checklist. i might provide him a V gadget on the bronze famous person for valor (that's a huge differance between that and the different)


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