| Afghanistan Campaign Medal | |
|---|---|
|
File:Afghanistan-campaign-medal.jpg Afghanistan Campaign Medal | |
| Awarded by United States Department of Defense | |
| Type | Campaign Medal |
| Status | Current |
| Statistics | |
| Established | EO 13363, November 29, 2004 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Kosovo Campaign Medal |
| Next (lower) | Iraq Campaign Medal |
| Related |
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal NATO Medal |
  Ribbon & Streamer | |
The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004.[1] The Afghanistan Campaign Medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry.[2][3]
The Afghanistan 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 Afghanistan (or its airspace) for a period of thirty consecutive days or sixty non-consecutive days. The medal is retroactive to October 24, 2001 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 Afghanistan, may receive the Afghanistan Campaign Medal regardless of the number of days spent within the country. The medal is also awarded posthumously to any service member who dies in the line of duty within Afghanistan, including from non-combat injuries such as accidents and mishaps.[4][5]
Campaign phases and devices[]
The following are the established campaign phases for the Afghanistan Campaign Medal:[6][7]
| Phase 1: Liberation of Afghanistan – September 11, 2001 to November 30, 2001 |
| Phase 2: Consolidation I – December 1, 2001 to September 30, 2006 |
| Phase 3: Consolidation II – October 1, 2006 to November 30, 2009 |
| Phase 4: Consolidation III – December 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011 |
| Phase 5: Transition I – July 1, 2011 to a date to be determined[8] |
For each campaign phase that an individual participates in, a bronze 3/16" service star is worn on the service ribbon, with a silver service star being worn in lieu of five bronze service stars:[6][9][10][11][12][13][14]
| Any one of the five phases |  |
| Two of the five phases | |
| Three of the five phases | |
| Four of the five phases | |
| All five phases |  |
The Afghanistan Campaign Medal may also be awarded with the combat operation insignia for qualified sailors assigned to Marine Corps units, as well as the arrowhead device for qualified soldiers.
Appearance[]
The medal is bronze in appearance, 1.25 inches in diameter. It depicts above a range of mountains a map of Afghanistan. Around the top is the inscription "AFGHANISTAN CAMPAIGN." On the reverse, a radiating demi-sun superimposed by an eagle’s head couped. Inscribed across the bottom half of the reserve side are the three lines "FOR SERVICE IN AFGHANISTAN", enclosed by a laurel wreath.
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal[]
The award replaces the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) for service in Afghanistan and personnel who previously received the GWOTEM for Afghanistan service may elect to exchange the medal for the new Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Both medals may not be received for the same period of service in Afghanistan and any current Afghanistan service will only be recognized with the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.[15]
See also[]
- Arrowhead device
- Awards and decorations of the United States military
- United Kingdom Afghanistan medal
References[]
- ↑ "Executive Order 13363 Establishing the Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals" White House
- ↑ The Institute of Heraldry Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- ↑ Air Force Personnel Center Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- ↑ "DoD Announces Criteria for Two New Campaign Medals" United States Department of Defense 07 April 2005
- ↑ "New Campaign Medals Recognize Iraq, Afghanistan Service" United States Department of Defense 07 April 2005
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Afghanistan Campaign Medal or Iraq Campaign Medal". Awards and Decorations Branch Article. Army Human Resource Command. https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Afghanistan%20Campaign%20Medal%20or%20Iraq%20Campaign%20Medal. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ↑ "News Release: Additional Phases Identified for Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals". Defense.gov. http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14619. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
- ↑ New Campaign phase approved
- ↑ "Department of Defense Manual 1348.33, Volume 3". Defense Technical Information Center. 23 November 2010. p. 51. http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134833vol3.pdf. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ↑ Army Regulation 600-8-22
- ↑ Air Force Instruction 36-2803
- ↑ Coast Guard Commandant Instruction 1650.25D
- ↑ 578.29 Afghanistan Campaign Medal
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The original article can be found at Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the edit history here.