Posted on Dec 3, 2016
SPC Member
52.8K
89
81
6
6
0
B2afc181
My Active buddies have been questioning why I don't have a GWOTSM. To which I was under the impression that I had to deploy or be part of an Operation involving the War on Terror.

It has been suggested that I go to my Supervisor and ask to have this corrected on my ERB and be awarded the medal. I have checked AR 600-8-22 and HRC online which seems a bit vague so looking for confirmation.
Posted in these groups: US ARNG4f97c0e5 NGBReserves logo ReservesRibbons banner2 Medals
Edited 9 y ago
Avatar feed
Responses: 27
LTC Stephen B.
1
1
0
Your State G1 office should have an awards section that would also have access to all your personnel records. I would recommend having them run through your orders and make a determination for you. I had to do that after they changed the dates for campaign stars on some of mine so my DD-214 would be as up to date as possible as I retired. Very helpful people, at least in the Great State of Arizona.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
LTC Stephen Conway
1
1
0
And on top of that don't you qualify for your National Defense service medal?
(1)
Comment
(0)
MAJ Bn S1
MAJ (Join to see)
>1 y
Everyone serving during a given time AC/RC/NG qualify for NDSM, GWOTSM is a whole different award and criteria.
(1)
Reply
(0)
LTC Stephen Conway
LTC Stephen Conway
>1 y
MAJ (Join to see) - yes I have it I have one of the global war on terrorism but not the other and have National Defense twice since the first award was in 1994 at the tail end of Somalia.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SPC Member
SPC (Join to see)
>1 y
I have my NDSM but not the GWOT since I enlisted a touch late. So in order to get it I need to support an operation involving the war on terror. So just waiting to do that.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Public Affairs Specialist
1
1
0
After basic training in 2008 I was given the GWOT, Army Service Ribbon, and the National Defense ribbon. Every person graduating from basic was given those 3 awards.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
MSgt Bill Loveli
1
1
0
What is a GWOT? Sounds like a fart gone bad
(1)
Comment
(0)
MAJ Ronnie Reams
MAJ Ronnie Reams
>1 y
Global War On Terrorism, the latest non-war war we are involved in. So many conflicts end up being called wars, I can see the confusion. The last war was WWII. Since we've had UN Chapter 7 Police actions, Korea and Kuwait come to mind, undeclared conflicts such as RVN, GWOT, etc and on and on.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SPC Member
SPC (Join to see)
>1 y
Right now we have...
- National Defense Service Medal
- Global War on Terror Service Medal
- Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Iraq Campaign Medal
- Operation Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal (Iraq/Syria)

So yeah lot's of tin.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
MSG John Duchesneau
0
0
0
For a medal that "everybody" gets the regs are unnecessarily complex. Basically, you need 30 days of active service in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Sorry, but you time in drill status does not count as active service. If you are a medal hound I suggest you volunteer to go on a deployment or an active duty tour on MOBCOP and you should get it then.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CPT Special Forces Officer
0
0
0
The U.S. Army's regulations state that all soldiers "on active duty, including Reserve Component Soldiers [sic] mobilized, or Army National Guard Soldiers activated on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined having served 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days are authorized the GWOTSM." The GWOT-SM was awarded automatically to all service members on Active Duty between 11 September 2001 and 31 March 2004. While the award is no longer automatic, the termination "date to be determined" has not been set. The Battalion Commander is the approval authority for the GWOT-SM. Service members are still eligible for the medal provided they meet the criteria in AR 600-8-22.

U.S. Army soldiers serving on active duty primarily in a training status (basic training, advanced individual training, officer training courses, etc.…) are not authorized award of the GWOT-SM for the active duty time they are in training. The criteria for the awards specifically states that a Soldier has to serve on active duty in support of a designated GWOT operation (Operation Noble Eagle ["ONE"], Operation Enduring Freedom ["OEF"], Operation Iraqi Freedom ["OIF"], Operation New Dawn ["OND"], Operation Inherent Resolve ["OIR"], and Operation Freedom's Sentinel ["OFS"]) for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. Army soldiers in a training status are not considered to be supporting these designated operations.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CPL Motor Transport Operator
0
0
0
It was awarded to most BCT/AIT classes until 2013. Active or reserve. however, as it's been said before, the BN CMDR is the approval authority. My unit is on rotation in Korea right now and ours gave every soldier the GWOT.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht
0
0
0
I have no idea,. being Air Force, I wish all Rally troops would stop using accronyms. Never could spell. has to be a spell check on this system some place!! Help.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SPC Medical Laboratory Specialist
0
0
0
My NCO support channel told me I was awarded the GWOTSM during AIT. I mean it's in my DD 214 now but idk when I got it. I was on orders as a resverist activated for 11 months.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close