Decorations

[SpongeJuan]

OO-RAH Devil Dogs!!!

PFC Garcia here,

I was surfing the web looking for a website that contained the awards and decorations of the Marine Corps. I found one, but it was not updated. Oh, and I wanted to know where the War on terrorism medal goes (before or after the NDM). Since I only have those two for now. Thanks

Semper Fidelis,

PFC Garcia

[SpongeJuan]

Never Mind, I found it here

 http://www.supertrooper.com/fullsizemedals.htm

But what's the difference between the War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the War on Terrorism Service Medal?

[Ram0528]

http://armyawards.com/awards.shtml
this can help you organize your rack

[Navy6064]

Establishing Authority

The War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal was established by Executive Order 13289 signed by President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 and implemented by Charles S. Abell, Principal Deputy Secretary of Defense, in a memorandum dated Ocotber 28, 2003, subject: "Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals," as amended on February 13, 2004, to identify the qualifying areas of eligibility.

Effective Dates

The War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is awarded for qualifying service on or after September 11, 2001.

General Criteria

-- Individuals authorized the award of this medal must have been deployed abroad for service in the Global War on Terrorism operations on or after September 11, 2001, and to a future date to be determined.

-- The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on a case-by-case basis when requested by the Combatant Commanders, will designate approved operations.

-- Initial approved operations for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal are Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

-- The general area of eligibility encompasses all foreign land, water, and air spaces outside the fifty states of the Untied States and outside 200 nautical miles of the shores of the United States. The Secretary of Defense, when recommended by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall designate the specific area of eligibility per qualifying operation. At the present time, the areas of eligibility include the following specific locations:

Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Crete, Cyprus, Diego Garcia, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey (east of 35 degrees east latitude), Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen, that portion of the Arabian Sea north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees longitude, Bab El Mandeb, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Aqaba, the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Suez, that portion of the Mediterranean Sea east of 28 degrees east longitude, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Suez Canal.

-- Because counter-terrorism operations are global in nature, the area of eligibility for an approved operation may be deemed to be non-contiguous. The Combatant Commander has the authority to approve award of the medal for units and personnel deployed within his theater. Under no condition will units or personnel within the United States, the general region excluded above, be deemed eligible for this medal.

Specific Criteria

Service members must be assigned, attached, or mobilized to a unit participating in designated operations for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in the area of eligibility, or meet one of the following criteria:

-- Be engaged in actual combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action, regardless of time in the area of responsibility;

-- While participating in the designated operation, regardless of time, is killed, wounded, or injured requiring medical evacuation from the area of eligibility;

-- Service members participating as a regularly assigned air crew member flying sorites into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in direct support of Operations Enduring Freedom and/or Iraqi Freedom are eligible to qualify for the medal. Each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria shall count as one day twoard the 30 or 60 day requirement. are eligible.

Award

-- The Global War on Terrorism Medal may be awarded posthumously.

-- Personnel may receive both the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal if they meet the requirements of both awards; however, the qualifying period of service used to establish eligibility for one award cannot be used to justify eligibility for the other.

-- Each Military Department will prescribe the appropriate regulations for processing, awarding, and wearing the medal and its appurtenances.

Order of Precedence

The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal will be worn after the Kosovo Campaign Medal and before the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Devices

-- Only one award of this medal may be authorized for any individual; therefore, no service stars are prescribed.

-- Battle Stars may be applicable for personnel who were engaged in actual combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action. Only a Combatant Commander can initiate a request for a Battle Star. This request will contain the specific units or individuals engaged in actual combat, the duration for which actual combat was sustained, and a detailed description of the actions against the enemy.

-- The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the approving authority for Battle Stars.

[Navy6064]

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal


Establishing Authority

The War on Terrorism Service Medal was established by Executive Order 13289 signed by President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 and implemented by a memorandum issued by Charles S. Abell, Principal Deputy Secretary of Defense, on October 28, 2003, subject: "Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals."

Effective Dates

Individuals authorized the award of this medal must have participated in or served in support of Global War on Terrorism operations on or after September 11, 2001 and to a future date to be determined.

General Criteria

-- The Secretary of Defense in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on a case-by-case basis when requested by the Combatant Commanders, will designate approved operations.

-- Initial approved operations for the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal are Airport Security Operations (from September 27, 2001 through May 31, 2002) and Operations Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, and Iraqi Freedom.

-- Service in an operationally deployed status abroad within a designated area of eligibility merits primary eligibility for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; personnel supporting the Global War on Terrorism in a non-deployed status, whether stationed at home or overseas, are eligible only for the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Specific Criteria

Service members must be assigned, attached, or mobilized to a unit participating in or serving in support of designated operations for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, or must meet one of the following criteria:

-- Be engaged in actual combat regardless of time in the operation; or,

-- While participating in the operation, regardless of time, is killed, wounded, or injured requiring medical evacuation from the operation.

Award

-- The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal may be awarded posthumously;

-- Personnel may receive both the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal if they meet the requirements of both awards; however, the qualifying period used to establish eligibility for one cannot be used to justify eligibility for the other.

-- Each Military Department will prescribe the appropriate regulations for processing and wearing the medal and its appurtenances.

Order of Precedence

The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal will be worn after the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal .

Devices

-- Only one award of this medal may be authorized for any individual; therefore, no service stars are prescribed.

-- Although qualifying circumstances would be extremely rare, Battle Stars may be applicable for personnel who were engaged in actual combat against the enemy under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action. Only a Combatant Commander can initiate a request for a Battle Star. This request will contain the specific units or individuals engaged in actual combat, the duration for which actual combat was sustained, and a detailed description of the actions against the enemy.

-- The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the approving authority for the specific Battle Stars.

Designer

The War on Terrorism Service Medal was designed by John Sproston of the Army's Institute of Heraldry.

Description and Symbolism

Obverse

In the center of a bronze disc, an eagle with its wings displayed has a stylized shield of thirteen vertical bars on its breast and is shown holding in its right talon an olive branch and in its left talon three arrows. The eagle is show in front of and below a terrestrial globe and is encircled in the upper two thirds of the medal by the inscription, WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE MEDAL.

The eagle and shield, adapted from the Great Seal of the United States, represents the United States. They protect the globe above and behind, symbolizing American resolve to combat and overcome global elements of international terrorism. The laurel wreath represents the drive for peace. The three arrows signify vigilance, resolve, and peace.

Reverse

In the center of the medal is an open laurel wreath on an otherwise plain field.


The ribbon is a field of dark blue; a central stripe of dark blue in the center is bordered by white pinstripes, which are in turn bordered by dark blue pinstripes and three larger stripes of scarlet, gold, and dark blue (the dark blue stripes forming the outer edge of the ribbon). The scarlet, white, and blue represent the United States; the gold signifies excellence.

[Field_Sailor]

To summarize,

GWOTEM- Service in country
GWOTSM- Support the War

[SpongeJuan]

Thanks that cleared it up. I wonder why they came up with that medal? It seems that it's just anotherone that you get for just being in the service.

[Field_Sailor]

I think they are fine. They make sense. If you support the war, you get the GWOTSM. If you participate in operations you get the Expeditionary. What don't you like about it? A lot of people still won't have it. I did Counter Drug stuff, and I didn't get anything for that. The Service medal could be more stringent, I guess. There is no other award to show service in these wars.

[Vulture6]

There are hundreds of thousands who DID NOT volunteer to serve their country during time of war. Just like the National Defense Service Medal, this service medal differentiates those few who did from those many who didn't.

It's important now, and it will be important in 20 years when all of the "pretenders" try to weave tales about their exploits when they were younger.

[SpongeJuan]

Well, atleast the Marine Corps doesn't have one for completing bootcamp

[Field_Sailor]

Neither does the Navy. Each branch has what works for them.

[SpongeJuan]

Isn't it the AF and Army that has a ribbon for completing bootcamp?