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Edited. Question was answered by HRC.
Thanks everyone for the help! Just trying to take care of my Soldiers and make sure they receive their proper awards :)
Thanks everyone for the help! Just trying to take care of my Soldiers and make sure they receive their proper awards :)
Posted in these groups: 
Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Overseas
Deployment
Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR)
Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS) Overseas Deployment Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR)
Edited 12 mo ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
CPT (Join to see), a couple of things.
First, the GWOTEM IS still being issued. There seems to be some confusion about it not being eligible for award after 2005. This is incorrect. What changed in 2005 is that it is no longer eligible for award for service in Iraq or Afghanistan after 30 APR 05. This is because these missions changed from DoD missions to State department missions after that date.
Second, it's pretty cut and dried on eligibility. There are defined operations and areas of eligibility. The lists are at the following:
- Approved Operations:
https://prhome.defense.gov/Portals/52/Documents/MRA_Docs/OEPM/GWOT-E%20Medal%20-%20Approved%20Ops%20-%202022%2003%2018.pdf
- Approved AORs:
https://prhome.defense.gov/Portals/52/Documents/MRA_Docs/OEPM/GWOT-EM%20-%20Approved%20AOEs%20for%20Ops%20-%202022%2007%2001.pdf
Additionally, keep in mind that you can't be awarded "I was there" medals twice for the same period of service. If there is a specific award tied to the operation you are doing, then that's going to trump the GWOTEM (of course, you can decline that one and get the GWOTEM if you're eligible and so desire).
First step - see if the operation is covered. If it's not, then do not pass go, do not collect any service medal (at least the GWOTEM that is).
Second step - consult your location - "Middle East" and "within CENTCOM's AOR" doesn't cut it. Look up the specific country and read the remarks to see if there are any exceptions noted.
To your question about a reserve component Soldier with no active duty time and their eligibility for the GWOTSM. Pretty hard to do since it's only awarded for support to operations in the area and not for those done in a training status. Exact wording is, "Soldiers serving on active duty primarily for training in Initial Entry Training (IET) or Basic Training (BT), Advanced Individual Training (AIT), and/or for Annual Training (AT), Officer training courses, Warrant Officer training courses, and/or any training not in direct support of the GWOT operations are not authorized award of the GWOTSM." The only exception noted is that if you were a NG soldier called onto SAD for airport security, you might be eligible.
First, the GWOTEM IS still being issued. There seems to be some confusion about it not being eligible for award after 2005. This is incorrect. What changed in 2005 is that it is no longer eligible for award for service in Iraq or Afghanistan after 30 APR 05. This is because these missions changed from DoD missions to State department missions after that date.
Second, it's pretty cut and dried on eligibility. There are defined operations and areas of eligibility. The lists are at the following:
- Approved Operations:
https://prhome.defense.gov/Portals/52/Documents/MRA_Docs/OEPM/GWOT-E%20Medal%20-%20Approved%20Ops%20-%202022%2003%2018.pdf
- Approved AORs:
https://prhome.defense.gov/Portals/52/Documents/MRA_Docs/OEPM/GWOT-EM%20-%20Approved%20AOEs%20for%20Ops%20-%202022%2007%2001.pdf
Additionally, keep in mind that you can't be awarded "I was there" medals twice for the same period of service. If there is a specific award tied to the operation you are doing, then that's going to trump the GWOTEM (of course, you can decline that one and get the GWOTEM if you're eligible and so desire).
First step - see if the operation is covered. If it's not, then do not pass go, do not collect any service medal (at least the GWOTEM that is).
Second step - consult your location - "Middle East" and "within CENTCOM's AOR" doesn't cut it. Look up the specific country and read the remarks to see if there are any exceptions noted.
To your question about a reserve component Soldier with no active duty time and their eligibility for the GWOTSM. Pretty hard to do since it's only awarded for support to operations in the area and not for those done in a training status. Exact wording is, "Soldiers serving on active duty primarily for training in Initial Entry Training (IET) or Basic Training (BT), Advanced Individual Training (AIT), and/or for Annual Training (AT), Officer training courses, Warrant Officer training courses, and/or any training not in direct support of the GWOT operations are not authorized award of the GWOTSM." The only exception noted is that if you were a NG soldier called onto SAD for airport security, you might be eligible.
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CPT (Join to see)
Sir,
I am in Saudi Arabia, so GWOTEM is authorized from what I read. Second, my orders do not say in support of the operation, however the code for the orders is a wartime code.
Its all confusing.
I am in Saudi Arabia, so GWOTEM is authorized from what I read. Second, my orders do not say in support of the operation, however the code for the orders is a wartime code.
Its all confusing.
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COL Randall C.
CPT (Join to see), it may be that you are conducting operations in a hostile zone or that you're conducting operations in an approved AOR, but if your operation doesn't match one of the approved operations and there aren't any 'exception notes' that apply (for example, if you see the notes on the approved operations, it states that 'unnamed counterterrorism operations in the Philippine between 23 MAY 17 and 4 OCT 17 might be eligible), then you won't be able to get the GWOTEM for your time there.
Your complaint is a common one regarding the GWOTEM. There are a number of operations that are in the applicable AOR and are counter-terrorism operations, but don't qualify for the GWOTEM because they aren't on the list of operations that the SECDEF has approved.
The grey area is if you are conducting a sub-operation to a named operation that is authorized the GWOTEM. If they linkage is plain to see, you won't get any push-back from the personnel folks. For example, your orders say, "in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (Sub-operation name)" or you have orders assigning you to the sub-operation and an OPORD or such showing that the sub-op is part of the larger operation.
I say grey area because it's one of those things where you could get different answers depending on who you ask. For example, HRC says on their website that Operation Octave Shield (OOS) is not eligible for a GWOTEM, but OOS was the sub-operation to OEF in East Africa (mainly Djibouti) ... technically a "sub-sub-op" since OEF-HOA was the sub-op to OEF for the Horn of Africa and OOS was a sub to OEF-HOA ... too many confusing linkages for HRC I guess.
Your complaint is a common one regarding the GWOTEM. There are a number of operations that are in the applicable AOR and are counter-terrorism operations, but don't qualify for the GWOTEM because they aren't on the list of operations that the SECDEF has approved.
The grey area is if you are conducting a sub-operation to a named operation that is authorized the GWOTEM. If they linkage is plain to see, you won't get any push-back from the personnel folks. For example, your orders say, "in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (Sub-operation name)" or you have orders assigning you to the sub-operation and an OPORD or such showing that the sub-op is part of the larger operation.
I say grey area because it's one of those things where you could get different answers depending on who you ask. For example, HRC says on their website that Operation Octave Shield (OOS) is not eligible for a GWOTEM, but OOS was the sub-operation to OEF in East Africa (mainly Djibouti) ... technically a "sub-sub-op" since OEF-HOA was the sub-op to OEF for the Horn of Africa and OOS was a sub to OEF-HOA ... too many confusing linkages for HRC I guess.
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One thing I have found is that what is stated on orders is set in stone, unless you can get that "stone" changed. GWOTEM is no longer, so that is out. You should get the GWOTSM, as it was not related to a theater of war. With proof of service during this time, you should be able to apply to HRC to get it. The key to your problems is how the orders are worded. I have found the Military can get around lots of things as special duty payment, awards by the way they word the orders. I have once, fought the wording of my orders once and won.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
CPT (Join to see) - I am sorry, when I read your reply, I had to laugh, 23yrs in the army, retired in 2006, and nothing has really changed. I REALLY hope you get it all squared away. Seek out a good WO in the G1, he/she will get this squared away.
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COL Randall C.
How's the old saying go?
When you assume...the Army needs to screw up your stuff even more so you don't do that again.
When you assume...the Army needs to screw up your stuff even more so you don't do that again.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
COL Randall C. - Also when you assume something you make an ASS ouT of U and ME. ASS/U/ME
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SSG Carlos Gonzalez
SGM Mikel Dawson So True SGM. It points to shitty leadership. As NCO’S we are taught from day one to Always take care of our Soldiers and then the Army turns around and those shit like this. This said, it’s been my experience the admin types ALWAYS make mistakes which the rest of us end up paying for.
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SFC John Kraft
CPT (Join to see) - Sounds like you are attached to USASATMO, or SATMO, or USMTM. I was in your situation back in 2003-2004, but after we arrived, we were instructed put on the CENTCOM patch and fell under 3rd Army for other things. Our original orders were a short-tour (1 year) PCS move, but ended up qualifying for HFP/IDP, GWOTEM, SSI-FWTS, due to some of our missions and in-country threats. We were at KKMC for the most part.
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SFC John Kraft
CPT (Join to see) - Thought that sounded familiar :) We also earned 2 overseas service bars. We did take a 4 or 5 day vacation trip and drove in to Jordan and went to Petra, Jarash, Dead Sea, Jordan River, Madaba, and several other places.
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