Posted on Dec 17, 2013
CAMPAIGN STARS - Iraq & Afghanistan Campaign Medals (ICM & ACM)
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Upon reviewing a few dozen records, this was a common error.<br><br>Every Iraq or Afghanistan Campaign Medal (and it's ribbon) must have AT LEAST ONE campaign star affixed.<br><br>HRCs Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medal page:<br><a href="https://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/afghanistan%20campaign%20medal%20or%20iraq%20campaign%20medal">https://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/afghanistan%20campaign%20medal%20or%20iraq%20campaign%20medal</a> <br>
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Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 18
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Could someone explain to me how this is any different than the case with the Southwest Asia Service Medal?
According to regulations, the Southwest Asia Service Medal should also be automatically worn with a star—or at least such a conclusion is inevitable based on the regulations regarding (a) awarding of the medal, and (b) requirements for a service star. (The Wikipedia entry that says “Each recipient of the medal should wear at least one campaign star,” but of course it is Wikipedia….)
Per AR 600-8-22, the SWASM is “awarded to all Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in SWA and contiguous waters or airspace there over, on or after 2 August 1990 to 30 November 1995.” Further, one bronze service star will be worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the SWASM for participation in each designated campaign:
Defense of Saudi Arabia 2 August 1990 to 16 January 1991
Liberation and Defense of Kuwait 17 January 1991 to 11 April 1991
Southwest Asia Cease-Fire 12 April 1991 to 30 November 1995
Note that the contiguous range of dates of those campaigns matches the eligibility date period for the SWASM. In other words, anyone who earned the SWASM must have earned it during one of those campaigns and thus should wear at least one star.
The DoD instructions for the medal uses different phrasing—"Individuals authorized for the award must have served in support of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, or the Cease Fire Campaign”—but has the same dates and geographical areas of eligibility as AR 660-8-22, and all those operations were part of the designated campaigns listed above.
So...am I missing something, or should the same rule apply to the SWASM?
According to regulations, the Southwest Asia Service Medal should also be automatically worn with a star—or at least such a conclusion is inevitable based on the regulations regarding (a) awarding of the medal, and (b) requirements for a service star. (The Wikipedia entry that says “Each recipient of the medal should wear at least one campaign star,” but of course it is Wikipedia….)
Per AR 600-8-22, the SWASM is “awarded to all Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in SWA and contiguous waters or airspace there over, on or after 2 August 1990 to 30 November 1995.” Further, one bronze service star will be worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the SWASM for participation in each designated campaign:
Defense of Saudi Arabia 2 August 1990 to 16 January 1991
Liberation and Defense of Kuwait 17 January 1991 to 11 April 1991
Southwest Asia Cease-Fire 12 April 1991 to 30 November 1995
Note that the contiguous range of dates of those campaigns matches the eligibility date period for the SWASM. In other words, anyone who earned the SWASM must have earned it during one of those campaigns and thus should wear at least one star.
The DoD instructions for the medal uses different phrasing—"Individuals authorized for the award must have served in support of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, or the Cease Fire Campaign”—but has the same dates and geographical areas of eligibility as AR 660-8-22, and all those operations were part of the designated campaigns listed above.
So...am I missing something, or should the same rule apply to the SWASM?
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Great graphic, but how would you wear the ICM if the SM has 4 combat stars and an arrowhead device?
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CSM Mike Maynard
SSG (Join to see) , according to AR 670-1, the arrowhead is not authorized on the ICM yet, but if it was, AR 670-1 says that service stars are worn to the left of the arrowhead, so the arrowhead would be to the right of the 4 bronze service stars. There is no "only 4 appurtenances" rule for services stars & arrowhead like there is with oak leaf clusters.
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SSG (Join to see)
Thanks CSM! The SM in question is former USMC so not sure if that is part of the problem.
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Great topic, and thanks for sharing the information.
I remember one of my S-1s had a tool he used to use to caluclate the correct number of stars based on the dates you served in each theater, I believe it was a calculation he had as part of a spreadsheet.
If you have a similar tool I'd appreciate you sharing it, it would be very helpful for us to get out to the Squad Leaders and Platoon Sergeant/Platoon Leaders.
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Thanks for posting... I constantly see this (and correct) in the Air Force too (mainly folks with no campaign star).
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Excellent resource for those confused about the campaign stars. It is confusing at first as with regular awards the ribbon counts for (1) award, but these ALL have a minimum of one star for the first campaign served, good information!
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It sounds like cheating the system but wouldn't anyone on a Afghan tour after an Iraq tour have qualified for an OIF star when flying over Iraq (durring the qualifying period) out of Kuwait on mid tour?
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TSgt (Join to see)
Sir:
Usually when flying out of A'Stan (redeploying) you would go through Manas, Kyrgyzstan which is Northeast of A'Stan, so you wouldn't cross through Iraqi airspace, which according to the reg, you WOULD qualify for if you had.
If you were deployed to Iraq and flew out of Ali Al Salem Airbase in Kuwait, even if you fly through Iraqi airspace, you are still in the same campaign period (unless the campaign period ended the day before or the same day you flew) and thus no additional campaign star.
Both my OIF and OEF deployments straddled two campaigns each. So I have 2 stars on each ribbon. People see 4 campaign stars and think I'm some sort of badass... I tell them I'm not.
Usually when flying out of A'Stan (redeploying) you would go through Manas, Kyrgyzstan which is Northeast of A'Stan, so you wouldn't cross through Iraqi airspace, which according to the reg, you WOULD qualify for if you had.
If you were deployed to Iraq and flew out of Ali Al Salem Airbase in Kuwait, even if you fly through Iraqi airspace, you are still in the same campaign period (unless the campaign period ended the day before or the same day you flew) and thus no additional campaign star.
Both my OIF and OEF deployments straddled two campaigns each. So I have 2 stars on each ribbon. People see 4 campaign stars and think I'm some sort of badass... I tell them I'm not.
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LTC (Join to see)
When I took mid tour out of Afghanistan on my first tour I went thru Ali and when I redeployed on my 2nd Afghan tour as an individual. That would turn my 2 Iraq stars into 4. (If i did that)
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<p>MSG Quick,</p><p><br></p><p>My question to you would be if I received the GWOTEM, would I still be required to wear or authorized to have the 1st 2 phase campaigns stars, I have been told yes and no by different CSMs before I retired. My wife is looking to make a shadow box of my rack along with other items, and I want to ensure she has it all made correctly.</p>
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SFC William Swartz Jr
SFC Baber, I would go with what is on your DD214, that is supposed to show everything you were awarded/authorized when you retired..IMHO.
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CPT Scott Anderson
SFC William Swartz Jr - not all DD-214s are correct - many are missing awards and campaign medals that can still be worn if the soldier has the paper to back it up. Correcting a 214 can take years. Amending mine was a 3 year process and involved my Congressman. It was for VA benefits so I had to - for a campaign star? No way.
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SFC William Swartz Jr
CPT Scott Anderson - you are correct about that, however if one was diligent, especially as an NCO throughout one's career and more so upon retirement, then the DD-214 would be the best reflection of one's awards and decorations.
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CPT Scott Anderson
SFC William Swartz Jr - Yes, and no. Technically you are correct - in my case, we could say that my DD-214 AND my DD-215 (amendment) is the best reflection of my awards and decorations.
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