AFH 1 · Chapter 8 · Section 8.19

DoD Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service Awards

Part of Followership · 4 sections · ~941 words · WAPS PFE study material

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DoD Campaign Awards — POW, NDSM, Antarctica

What These Awards Recognize

DoD campaign, expeditionary, and service awards recognize:

Participation in military campaigns and expeditions
Significant military operations
Personal military service
Attainment of a requirement

Keep Your Records

Military members should keep copies of their travel orders and travel vouchers as documented proof of entitlement to service and campaign awards.

Reference Documents

Additional information can be found in:

DAFMAN 36-2806
DoDM 1348.33 Vol. 2 — *DoD Military Decorations and Awards: DoD Service Awards — Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service Medals*
Attachment 7 — Devices

Prisoner of War Medal

POW Medal Criteria

Awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Armed Forces, was taken prisoner and held captive while:

Engaged in an action against an enemy of the U.S.
Engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force
Serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the U.S. was not a belligerent party

National Defense Service Medal

NDSM Criteria

Recognizes honorable active military service during periods of conflict or national crisis, as designated by SecDef.

Includes:

Members of the Selected Reserve in good standing
Members of other than the Selected Reserve called to active duty
Cadets in the Air Force Academy
DAF members who have completed Basic Training

Antarctica Service Medal

Antarctica Criteria

Authorized to any person who was:

A member of an Antarctic expedition
A member of a permanent Antarctica station
For service in contiguous waters

DoD Campaign Awards — AFEM, GWOT-EM, GWOT-SM

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

AFEM Service Requirements

Awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who participated in:

United States military operations
Operations in direct support of the United Nations
Operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations

Eligible service includes:

30 consecutive days in the area of operations (or full period of operations)
60 non-consecutive days when engaged in actual combat or equally hazardous duty with armed opposition
When wounded or injured and required medical evacuation from the area
When accumulating 15 days of service as an assigned crewmember of an aircraft flying sorties in the area in direct support of the military operation

One Expeditionary Medal Per Operation

Service members will not be awarded more than one expeditionary medal for services during a specific period or duties during an operation.

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

GWOT-EM Date

Established 12 March 2003. Awarded to members who deployed on or after 11 September 2001.

The area of eligibility and designated operations can be found in DAFMAN 36-2806.

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

GWOT-SM Date

Established 12 March 2003. Awarded to members who participated in the Global War on Terrorism operations on or after 11 September 2001 until a future date to be determined.

The designated operations can be found in DAFMAN 36-2806.

DoD Campaign Awards — Afghanistan, Iraq, Inherent Resolve, Korea, Kosovo

Afghanistan Campaign Medal

ACM Established

Established 29 November 2004. Recognizes service members who serve, or have served, in support of designated Afghanistan operations from 11 September 2001 to 31 August 2021.

ACM Replaces GWOT-EM

Effective 1 May 2005, members deployed to Afghanistan receive the respective campaign medal in lieu of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Iraq Campaign Medal

ICM Established

Established 29 November 2004. Recognizes service members who serve, or have served, in support of designated Iraq operations from 9 March 2003 to 31 December 2011.

ICM Replaces GWOT-EM

Effective 1 May 2005, members deployed to Iraq receive the respective campaign medal in lieu of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal

IRCM Date

Recognizes service members for qualifying service on or after 15 June 2014.

The area of eligibility and designated campaigns can be found in DAFMAN 36-2806.

Korean Defense Service Medal

KDSM Approval

In February 2004, the Department of Defense approved the Korean Defense Service Medal for RegAF, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard personnel as recognition for military service in the Republic of Korea and the surrounding waters after 28 July 1954 until a future date to be determined.

Kosovo Campaign Medal

KCM Date

Established 3 May 2000. Recognizes qualifying service members for service in Kosovo during the period of 24 March 1999 to 31 December 2013.

DoD Campaign Awards — AFSM, Humanitarian, MOVSM, AFRM

Armed Forces Service Medal

AFSM Criteria

Awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who participated as military members in a military operation deemed to be a significant activity by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and encountered no foreign armed opposition or imminent threat of hostile action.

Humanitarian Service Medal

HSM Criteria

Awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their Reserve Components who distinguished themselves as individuals or members of military units or ships by meritorious direct participation in a significant military act or operation of humanitarian nature.

Hands-On Required

Direct participation refers to any member assigned directly to the humanitarian operation providing hands-on participation.

Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

MOVSM Established

Established 9 January 1993 to recognize members of the U.S. Armed Forces who perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct, and consequential nature.

Armed Forces Reserve Medal

AFRM Criteria

Awarded to U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Component members or former members who have completed:

A total of 10 years of service within a period of 12 consecutive years
Or upon mobilization or contingency military personnel appropriation order to RegAF

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