Iraq Campaign Medal
Encyclopedia
The Iraq Campaign Medal is a military award
of the United States armed forces
which was created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush
on November 29, 2004. The Iraq Campaign Medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry.
The Iraq Campaign Medal became available for general distribution in June 2005. It is awarded to any member of the U.S. military who has performed duty within the borders of Iraq
(or its territorial waters) for a period of thirty consecutive days or sixty non-consecutive days. The medal is retroactive to March 19, 2003 and is active until a date to be determined. Personnel who have been engaged in combat with an enemy force or personnel who have been wounded in combat within Iraq, may receive the Iraq Campaign Medal regardless of the number of days spent within the country. In addition, each day participating in aerial missions as a "regularly assigned air crewmember of an aircraft flying sorties into, out of, within or over Iraq and in direct support of the military operations" establishes a single day of eligibility, when the required minimum days of eligibility are accrued, the medal may be awarded. The medal is also awarded posthumously to any service member who dies in the line of duty within Iraq, including from non-combat injuries such as accidents and mishaps.
The Iraq Campaign Medal may be awarded with the arrowhead device
for qualified soldiers. The Iraq Campaign Medal may be awarded with the combat operation insignia for qualified sailors assigned to Marine Corps units. The following are the established combat campaigns authorized for service star
s to the Iraq Campaign Medal. In June 23rd 2011 a DOD announcement closed the Iraqi Sovereignty phase and authorized an additional service star for participation in Operation New Dawn.
The award replaces the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
for service in Iraq and personnel who previously received the GWOTEM for Iraq service may elect to exchange the medal for the new Iraq Campaign Medal. Both medals may not be received for the same period of service in Iraq and any current Iraq service will be recognized only with the Iraq Campaign Medal. To be awarded the Iraqi Campaign Medal, Soldiers must have served 30 consecutive, or 60 non-consecutive days, in Iraq serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation New Dawn.
Awards and decorations of the United States military
Awards and decorations of the United States Military are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces...
of the United States armed forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
which was created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on November 29, 2004. The Iraq Campaign Medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry.
The Iraq Campaign Medal became available for general distribution in June 2005. It is awarded to any member of the U.S. military who has performed duty within the borders of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
(or its territorial waters) for a period of thirty consecutive days or sixty non-consecutive days. The medal is retroactive to March 19, 2003 and is active until a date to be determined. Personnel who have been engaged in combat with an enemy force or personnel who have been wounded in combat within Iraq, may receive the Iraq Campaign Medal regardless of the number of days spent within the country. In addition, each day participating in aerial missions as a "regularly assigned air crewmember of an aircraft flying sorties into, out of, within or over Iraq and in direct support of the military operations" establishes a single day of eligibility, when the required minimum days of eligibility are accrued, the medal may be awarded. The medal is also awarded posthumously to any service member who dies in the line of duty within Iraq, including from non-combat injuries such as accidents and mishaps.
The Iraq Campaign Medal may be awarded with the arrowhead device
Arrowhead device
The Arrowhead device is a decoration of the United States Army which is issued as an attachment to certain service medals. The Arrowhead device is awarded to any service member who participates in an amphibious assault, a combat parachute drop, a helicopter assault landing, or a combat glider...
for qualified soldiers. The Iraq Campaign Medal may be awarded with the combat operation insignia for qualified sailors assigned to Marine Corps units. The following are the established combat campaigns authorized for service star
Service star
A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service...
s to the Iraq Campaign Medal. In June 23rd 2011 a DOD announcement closed the Iraqi Sovereignty phase and authorized an additional service star for participation in Operation New Dawn.
- Liberation of Iraq – March 19 to May 1, 2003
- Transition of Iraq – May 2, 2003 to June 28, 2004
- Iraqi Governance – June 29, 2004 to December 15, 2005
- National Resolution – December 16, 2005 to January 9, 2007
- Iraqi Surge - January 10, 2007 to December 31, 2008
- Iraqi Sovereignty - January 1, 2009 to August 31, 2010
- New Dawn - September 1, 2010 - to a date to be determined
The award replaces the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is a United States armed forces military award created by George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 by Executive Order 13289. It recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from September 11,...
for service in Iraq and personnel who previously received the GWOTEM for Iraq service may elect to exchange the medal for the new Iraq Campaign Medal. Both medals may not be received for the same period of service in Iraq and any current Iraq service will be recognized only with the Iraq Campaign Medal. To be awarded the Iraqi Campaign Medal, Soldiers must have served 30 consecutive, or 60 non-consecutive days, in Iraq serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation New Dawn.