The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medaloverseas direct service to the War on Terror
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The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) is a United States armed forces medal created by a presidential order of George W. Bush on March 12, 2003, and established by Executive Order 13289.[1] It recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from September 11, 2001 to a date to be determined. Prior to April 30, 2005 the medal was awarded for service within Iraq and Afghanistan, but has been replaced with the Iraq Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal and now serves primarily as recognition for personnel who have deployed in support of the War on Terror to locations beyond Iraq and Afghanistan.
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:
The initial operations for which the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is authorized include Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Future operations for which the GWOT Expeditionary Medal may be authorized are at the discretion of United States component commanders upon approval from the Department of Defense.
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 decoration. Future service within Iraq and Afghanistan, however, will be recognized only by the award of the new Iraq and Afghanistan service medals.
The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is a one time only decoration. Service stars may be authorized by component commanders for those who participated in extremely dangerous combat operations while performing service entitling them to the GWOT Expeditionary Medal. 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.
^ War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal