Can the GWOT-SM and GWOT-EM be awarded for the same time period?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 22:31:14 -0500

So from what I gather, GWOT-SM is awarded only for service in Afghanistan and Iraq, whereas the GWOT-EM is awarded for service in any other country in the GWOT theater of operations. Also after reading AR 600-8-22, I noticed that the 2 ribbons cannot be awarded for the same period of time, ie, deployment. Is this information right?

I ask because I transferred to a unit in Kuwait, and at the end of the deployment, it was blanket GWOT-SM and GWOT-EM for the whole Battalion. I'm certain this is wrong, and definitely takes off the gloss of the GWOT-SM I earned in Afghanistan, what with Kuwait being just a training rotation

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2016 10:32 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 22:32:59 -0500

I ask because I transferred to a unit in Kuwait, and at the end of the deployment, it was blanket GWOT-SM and GWOT-EM for the whole Battalion. I'm certain this is wrong, and definitely takes off the gloss of the GWOT-SM I earned in Afghanistan, what with Kuwait being just a training rotation.

Response by SGM Billy Herrington made Mar 5 at 2016 11:05 PM

SGM Billy Herrington — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 23:05:03 -0500

It depends on the period if service. If I remover correct around Apr-May 2005 the Iraq campaign medal was made. Before that time you received a GWOT-EM. You could trade it out since the ICM was retroactive and receive campaign stars in lieu of the gwot.

For example my first tour was Jan 2005-Dec 2005. I qualified for GWOT-EM and two stars on my ICM. I just chose to put three stars on my ICM, it looks cooler.....

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 5 at 2016 11:31 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 23:31:54 -0500

The SM is "often" awarded for Support Duties (30/60 days) and doesn't have a Country Requirement. It was originally issued for Airport Security Details STATESIDE.

Each branch defines "Support" differently, however the SM ends up being "similar" to the National Defense as many/most organizations support the GWOT. The USMC "policy" (loosely termed) was the entire USMC supports the GWOT therefore everyone rates it once they meet the time requirements.

The EM is an "in country" Campaign Medal.

The "blanket" award for both simultaneous is odd, unless it was the initial issue to that unit (first time they were designated as a "support" unit).

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2016 2:07 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 02:07:27 -0500

Seriously, SGT? You read the regs. You saw the answer and yet you still ask? Far be it from me to rib a fellow NCO like this, but damn. You literally found the answer. If you got awarded both, cakes and pie for you even though you said what the actual answer is. But, you need to pick one to wear. One or the other, never both.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Mar 6 at 2016 8:56 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 08:56:49 -0500

Yes but you got them ass backwards. GWOTEM is for those that deploy in theater. GWOTSM is for those that support those that deploy in theater.

2–18. Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
a. The GWOTEM was established by EO 13289, 12 March 2003. It is authorized for award to Service members of the Armed Forces of the United States who are deployed abroad for service in the Global War on Terrorism operations on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. Operations approved the GWOTEM are provided in paragraph 2–18d.

2–19. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
a. The GWOTSM was established by EO 13289, 12 March 2003. It is authorized for award to Service members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have participated in or served in support of a Global War on Terrorism operations outside of the designated area of eligibility defined in paragraph 2–19d on or after 11 September 2001 to a future date to be determined. Operations approved for the GWOTSM are provided in paragraph 2–19c.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2016 9:34 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 09:34:23 -0500

I deployed to Kuwait in support of OEF 13-14 and was awarded the GWOT-EM. I was already wearing the GWOT- SM because of the unit I was in. So now I wear both.

Response by SFC Arai Pooley made Mar 8 at 2016 11:29 AM

SFC Arai Pooley — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 11:29:33 -0500

There is a regulation that covers this. But I'll break it down for how it was originally awarded, since the requirements may have changed since then. When it first came out, everyone was awarded the GWOT-SM for being in service when the Global War On Terrorism began. Those of us who deployed in support that war, were also authorized the Expeditionary Medal in recognition for our direct contribution. Since then additional awards have come into existence. But the answer to your question is “YES” You can get both the service medal and the Expeditionary Medal for the same period of service. However, you cannot get the Iraq or Afghanistan Medal for the same period of service.

Response by SPC Scott Nichols made Mar 8 at 2016 3:11 PM

SPC Scott Nichols — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 15:11:52 -0500

It's my understanding that if a campaign medal is awarded for your deployment, you also get the GWOT-SM. If there is no campaign medal awarded, you get the GWOT-EM.

Response by SGT Stuart Griffin made Mar 8 at 2016 8:39 PM

SGT Stuart Griffin — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 20:39:19 -0500

The two medals can be awarded if the campaign changes during the deployment. For example, GWOT-SM for a deployment to Kuwait in 2002-2003. The war kicked off in March 2003 and a push into Iraq. Now the GWOT-EM applies. I asked the same question years ago and this was the explanation I was given.

Response by CPL Brian Clouser made Mar 12 at 2016 2:15 PM

CPL Brian Clouser — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 14:15:58 -0500

I received both medals at the end of my deployment. The way they did it was we got the GWOT from the time we was deployed to the start of the Iraq war. From start of the war to the end of the deployment we was received the GWOT-EM. I don't if that was legal or not, my BC had a habit of doing things his way and not the Army way. Even if that wasn't legal I earned one or the other on my 2nd tour in the sandbox

Response by SSG Dan Willmont made Mar 16 at 2016 6:31 AM

SSG Dan Willmont — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 06:31:27 -0400

Wow, there is a lot of horribly false information in here. The following information comes directly from HRC. To sum it all up, the GWOTSM is awarded to pretty much anyone that has served 30 consecutive, or 60 nonconsecutive days in the military outside of the areas authorized for the GWOTEM, after September 11, 2001. So pretty much you got your GWOTSM shortly after you arrived at your first unit. The GWOTEM is essentially a campaign medal awarded for all of the countries listed below in the explanation. You cannot be awarded the ICM or the ACM in conjunction with the GWOTEM, only 1 campaign medal per deployment. So, as long as you qualified for the GWOTEM, yes, you can be awarded both.

1. GWOTSM: The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM) was established by Executive Order 13289, 12 March 2003. It is authorized for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have participated in or served in support operations in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) operations outside of the designated areas of eligibility (AOE) for the GWOTEM (see GWOTEM Q&A), on or after 11 September 2001 to a future date to be determined. Battalion commanders and commanders of separate units have the authority to award the GWOTSM for approved operations to units and personnel within his or her command. Service members must be assigned, attached, or mobilized to a unit supporting designated operations for 30 consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days, or meet one of the following criteria:

a. Initial award of the GWOTSM. Limited to airport security operations (from 27 September 2001 through 31 May 2002) and Soldiers who supported Operations NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF).

b. All Soldiers on active duty, including Reserve Component Soldiers mobilized, or 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.

c. Service members may be awarded both the GWOTEM and the GWOTSM if they meet the criteria for both awards; however, the qualifying period used to establish eligibility for one award cannot be used to justify eligibility for the other award. The GWOTSM will be worn after the GWOTEM and both will directly follow the Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM) (that is, KCM, GWOTEM, GWOTSM, Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM), and so forth.)

d. Subsequent awards. Only one award of the GWOTSM may be authorized to any individual; therefore, second and subsequent awards will not be awarded.

2. GWOTEM: The GWOTEM was established by Executive Order 13289, 12 March 2003. It is authorized for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who deployed abroad for service in the GWOT Operations on or after 11 September, 2001 to a date to be determined. Operations approved the GWOTEM are provided in MILPER Message 09-026 also outlined in a below.

a. Initial award of the GWOTEM. Limited to Servicemembers deployed abroad in support of OEF, OIF, OND, OFS, and OIR in the following designated specific geographic AOE: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria (Bourgas), Burkina Faso, Chad, Columbia, Crete, Cyprus, Diego Garcia, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo (only specific GWOT 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 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees 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 degrees east longitude and boarding and searching vessel operations, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz, and Suez Canal.

b. Effective 30 April 2005, the GWOTEM is no longer authorized to be awarded for service in Afghanistan and/or Iraq. Soldiers are only authorized award of the ACM and ICM after this date. The GWOTEM is authorized for direct support deployments, such as Kuwait or Qatar. See list above.

c. 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 air crew member flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the AOE in direct support of ONS, OEF, OIF, OFS, OIR 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 one day toward the 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive day requirement.

d. The GWOTEM will not be awarded to Soldiers who are deployed/mobilized to an AOE for the purpose of staging operations, with follow on movement into Iraq or Afghanistan in support of Operation Nomad Shadow (ONS), OEF, OIF, OFS, OIR or OND.

e. Servicemembers qualified for the GWOTEM by reasons of service before 30 April 2005, in Afghanistan and Iraq, shall remain qualified for the medal. Any such Soldier may be awarded the ACM or the ICM in lieu of the GWOTEM for such service. Additionally, any such Soldier authorized the arrowhead device may be awarded the ACM or ICM with arrowhead in lieu of the GWOTEM with arrowhead device. Soldiers that elect to receive the GWOTEM in lieu of the ACM or ICM are not authorized service stars for those campaigns in which the GWOTEM is awarded. No Soldier shall be entitled to both medals for the same act, achievement, or period of service.

f. On 31 October 2014, the Under Secretary of Defense, Personnel and Readiness approved the GWOTEM for Operation INHERENT RESOLVE for the period beginning on 15 June 2014, and ending on a date to be determined for the following locations: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the Mediterranean Sea east of 25 degrees longitude, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea. Soldiers must be deployed abroad to one of these designated areas to qualify for the GWOTEM.

Response by Cpl Brian Fisher made Aug 2 at 2018 12:54 PM

Cpl Brian Fisher — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 12:54:31 -0400

What can I wear I was originally awarded the GWOT EM and the GWOT SM and then the Irag campaign OIF with 2devices

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 2 at 2018 2:06 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 14:06:54 -0400

If it says that in the regs, then it's gospel- why ask