Posted on Jan 31, 2021
Can you receive the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) In Kuwait?
16.8K
27
14
3
3
0
Is this medal presented to soldiers who have been on rotation in Kuwait?
Posted in these groups: 
Kuwait
Camp Arifjan
Kuwait Camp Arifjan
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 6
6
6
0
3
3
0
2
2
0
Look at HRC for this answer.
This is an award where the S1 has to dig into your records as well as the regulation, not just take the first thing offered in AR 600-8-22, Para 2-20 which supports awarding or not awarding the medal. I see this all the time. Everything in that must be taken into the correct analytical framework with the proper intent applied. Any questions or clarifications can be answered by HRC (I leverage the HRC Enlisted branch, but HRC will direct the question to the right area).
https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Global%20War%20on%20Terrorism%20Expeditionary%20Medal%20GWOTEM%20and%20Global%20War%20on%20Terrorism%20Service%20Medal%20GWOTSM
This is an award where the S1 has to dig into your records as well as the regulation, not just take the first thing offered in AR 600-8-22, Para 2-20 which supports awarding or not awarding the medal. I see this all the time. Everything in that must be taken into the correct analytical framework with the proper intent applied. Any questions or clarifications can be answered by HRC (I leverage the HRC Enlisted branch, but HRC will direct the question to the right area).
https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Global%20War%20on%20Terrorism%20Expeditionary%20Medal%20GWOTEM%20and%20Global%20War%20on%20Terrorism%20Service%20Medal%20GWOTSM
The security accreditation level of this site is UNCLASSIFIED and below. Do not process, store, or transmit any Personally Identifiable Information (PII), UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO or CLASSIFIED information on this system.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
If your orders to Kuwait support any of the listed operations other than "Spartan Shield" you qualify for the GWOTEM
Q5: Is it correct that a Soldier must be serving in direct support of ONS, OEF, OIF, OFS, OIR, or OND to qualify for the GWOTEM for service in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc.?
A5: Yes. If a Soldier is/was not serving in direct support of ONS, OEF, OIF, OFS, OIR or OND he/she is not authorized the medal. Soldiers who deploy on GWOT orders to any of the approved AOE's for the GWOTEM are assumed to be serving in support of OEF/OIF/OND/OFS/OIR/ONS.
Q26: All of the orders are TCS orders. The purpose then goes on to state, "Deployment will be in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (SPARTAN SHIELD)." This creates a strange situation. Is OSS a sub operation for OEF? Due to the TCS orders stating both, I feel the Task Force is authorized the GWOTEM. What is your interpretation?
A26: If the order states "OEF" then the GWOT-EM is authorized. If the order says "OSS" only, then the GWOT-EM is not authorized.
https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Global%20War%20on%20Terrorism%20Expeditionary%20Medal%20GWOTEM%20and%20Global%20War%20on%20Terrorism%20Service%20Medal%20GWOTSM
Q5: Is it correct that a Soldier must be serving in direct support of ONS, OEF, OIF, OFS, OIR, or OND to qualify for the GWOTEM for service in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc.?
A5: Yes. If a Soldier is/was not serving in direct support of ONS, OEF, OIF, OFS, OIR or OND he/she is not authorized the medal. Soldiers who deploy on GWOT orders to any of the approved AOE's for the GWOTEM are assumed to be serving in support of OEF/OIF/OND/OFS/OIR/ONS.
Q26: All of the orders are TCS orders. The purpose then goes on to state, "Deployment will be in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (SPARTAN SHIELD)." This creates a strange situation. Is OSS a sub operation for OEF? Due to the TCS orders stating both, I feel the Task Force is authorized the GWOTEM. What is your interpretation?
A26: If the order states "OEF" then the GWOT-EM is authorized. If the order says "OSS" only, then the GWOT-EM is not authorized.
https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Global%20War%20on%20Terrorism%20Expeditionary%20Medal%20GWOTEM%20and%20Global%20War%20on%20Terrorism%20Service%20Medal%20GWOTSM
(2)
(0)
SGT(P) (Join to see)
Sir, My orders state in support of operation enduring Freedom Spartan shield. So I believe that follows under what you stated. So thank you
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
No, not now. The Expeditionary Medal is for the first wave into a place. It's not for rotations
(2)
(0)
MAJ (Join to see)
Please reference AR 600-8-22, Para 2-20. There are still areas where the GWOTEM is still authorized, and those areas are well past the first wave of rotations.
(1)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
MAJ (Join to see) there are still GWOTEM areas, but Kuwait is no longer an Expeditionary area. Wikipedia has a nice little table listing all the qualifying periods
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_War_on_Terrorism_Expeditionary_Medal#:~:text=To%20be%20awarded%20the%20Global,non%2Dconsecutive%20days%20of%20duty.&text=The%20GWOT%2DEM%20is%20a%20Defense%20Department%20expeditionary%20medal.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_War_on_Terrorism_Expeditionary_Medal#:~:text=To%20be%20awarded%20the%20Global,non%2Dconsecutive%20days%20of%20duty.&text=The%20GWOT%2DEM%20is%20a%20Defense%20Department%20expeditionary%20medal.
(1)
(0)
MAJ (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) - Why use an open-source like Wikipedia? Anybody can write anything there. Wikipedia is not considered a legitimate resource for research. Use the regulation.
My statement was in response to your statement, "No, not now. The Expeditionary Medal is for the first wave into a place. It's not for rotations", which is not correct.
My statement was in response to your statement, "No, not now. The Expeditionary Medal is for the first wave into a place. It's not for rotations", which is not correct.
(1)
(0)
SSG (Join to see)
e. Effective 15 June 2014 to a date to be determined, the GWOTEM is authorized for Servicemembers deployed abroad in support of OIR in the following designated specific geographic AOE: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mediterranean Sea (east of 25 degree longitude), Qatar, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. After 30 March 2016, the GWOTEM is no longer authorized for service in Iraq or Syria (such service is only recognized by the IRCM).
(2)
(0)
1
1
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google