How can I go about being awarded the GWOT-SM Ribbon in 2023?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 13:16:11 -0500

Hello everyone,

I was recently told that because I never deployed when I was in the national guard that I am not eligible for the GWOT-SM.

If I am now active duty and work indirectly with missions that would support those kinds of operations what would I need to do to get the ribbon awarded to me?

My unit seemed to be confused and thinks it’s just not awardable anymore.

Thank you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2023 1:42 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 13:42:42 -0500

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/2022/07/29/no-more-automatic-gwot-service-medals-dod-says/

Dated 29 July 2022: "Signaling the end of a 21-year era, the Department of Defense has told the military services to sharply restrict the award of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal beginning Sept. 11, according to a memo obtained by Military Times.

The June 24 memo, signed by the DoD’s undersecretary for personnel and readiness, Gilbert Cisneros, also limits award of the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal to just troops who serve on the ground in Syria or operate within 12 nautical miles of its coast or airspace. The policy went into effect July 1."

"But after Sept. 11, “the service member must have directly served in a designated military [counter-terrorism] operation” for at least 30 days, the memo says.

It clarifies that direct service doesn’t include the previous “support” loophole as well. The memo describes direct service as someone who “deployed on orders for a designated CT operation [or] directly supported a [designated] CT operation on a full-time basis while assigned to an organization conducting a CT operation.”

According to a DoD list last updated in March, ongoing CT operations eligible for the award include:

Operation Noble Eagle, a North American airspace patrol mission.
Operation Enduring Freedom, which continues in East Africa.
Operation Enduring Sentinel, the over-the-horizon CT mission focused on potential threats in post-withdrawal Afghanistan.
Operation Inherent Resolve, the long-running fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
Operation Pacific Eagle — Philippines, a dormant CT operation that has not had a new inspector general oversight report since November 2020."

No more automatic GWOT service medals, DoD says

The Defense Department has restricted the anti-ISIS campaign medal as well.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Nov 6 at 2023 2:10 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 14:10:08 -0500

Do you meet the eligibility criteria for the award? Read up on it. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/2022/07/29/no-more-automatic-gwot-service-medals-dod-says/

No more automatic GWOT service medals, DoD says

The Defense Department has restricted the anti-ISIS campaign medal as well.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Nov 6 at 2023 3:15 PM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 15:15:09 -0500

My remembrance is that Guardsmen also got it for guarding airports and infrastructure here in CONUS, not necessarily for going overseas.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2023 7:12 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 19:12:48 -0500

For the GWOT-SM in AR 600-8-22, while dated before 24 Jun 2022 MFR, states:

"Servicemembers must be assigned, attached, or mobilized to a unit supporting designated operations listed in paragraph 2–20d for 30 consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days."

2-20d: OEF, OIF, OND, OFS in the following designated specific geographic areas of eligibility: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria (Bourgas), Burkina Faso, Chad, Colombia, Crete, Cyprus, Diego Garcia, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo (only specific
Global War on Terrorism operations not associated with operations qualifying for the KCM), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Romania (Constanta), Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen, that portion of the Arabian Sea north of 10 north latitude and west of 68 degree longitude, Bab El Mandeb, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Suez, that portion of the Mediterranean Sea east of 28 degree east longitude and boarding and searching vessel operations, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz, and Suez Canal.

"All Soldiers on active duty, including RC Soldiers mobilized, or ARNG Soldiers activated on or after 11 September 2001 until a date to be determined and having served 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days are authorized the GWOTSM. All Soldiers in a training status (basic or advanced individual training) are not eligible for receipt of this award until assigned to their first duty station and meet the requirements in paragraph 2–20c.:

2-20c: Servicemembers must be assigned, attached, or mobilized to a unit participating in designated operations for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in the AOE or meet one of the following criteria:
(1) 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 AOE.
(2) While participating in the designated operation, regardless of time, is killed, wounded, or injured, requiring medical evacuation from the AOE.
(3) Servicemembers participating as a regularly assigned aircrew member flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the AOE in direct support of Operation Nomad Shadow (ONS), OEF, OIF, or OND are eligible to qualify for award of the GWOTEM. Each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria will count as 1 day toward the 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive day requirement.

If NONE of the above apply to you while you were National Guard nor during your current time on Active Duty, then you will not be eligible for the GWOT-SM......until such time as you deploy to any one of the above listed countries for one of the above listed approved operations, as per the regulations and the updated MFR. Working indirectly for those operations won't cut it, either. We all indirectly support those operations in one fashion or another. It has to be DIRECT support.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2023 12:42 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 00:42:52 -0500

They are correct and you are still not eligible. You will have to get on some type of orders supporting an operation to get them now.