Commissioning with GWOTSM?

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 21:38:13 -0400

I am wondering if anyone here has more information regarding the eligibility for the GWOTSM. It is my understanding that to receive this award a Soldier must be on active duty for 30 consecutive days, excluding IET. I ask because I have seen some Commissionees wearing this award to their commissioning, while others haven't. I don't believe that they would be eligible for this as the most time they have spent on AD would be LDAC/CLC. I have some prior service in the guard and my record doesn't reflect having this award, so I would assume that's the answer. Just interested in hearing if anyone has more knowledge on the subject.

Response by 2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2015 9:39 PM

2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 21:39:44 -0400

My detachment told me to wear it when I commissioned in May. Like many other things, it's a "det'ism". Good luck and congrats on your commission.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2015 9:40 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 21:40:09 -0400

Sup man. Yeah I have seen in the past cadets commissioning while wearing them. They're not supposed to not are you supposed to when graduating BOLC. When you commission you can wear the nation defense medal and when you graduate from BOLC you wear national defense and army service

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2015 9:47 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 21:47:15 -0400

We talked about awards in BOLC yesterday...Upon commissioning you're authorized to wear the Army Service ribbon as well as National Defense.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2015 9:52 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 21:52:31 -0400

My understanding is that you would have to make it through BOLC first and that you should not be wearing any ribbons for commissioning. I know when I commissioned in 04 we couldn't wear anything at commissioning but could later. You'd have to look at the regs. AR 670-1 and AR 600-8-22. The easiest thing is to ask your ROTC Battalion CSM.

Response by SSG Byron Hewett made Oct 27 at 2015 10:00 PM

SSG Byron Hewett — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 22:00:04 -0400

Try this you should get your answers this web address

http://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/global war on terrorism expeditionary medal gwotem and global war on terrorism service medal gwotsm

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2015 10:03 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 22:03:08 -0400

Here is the regulation from AR 600-8-22

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 Servicemembers 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.
b. Areas of eligibility are designated as follows:
(1) The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will designate approved operations on a case-by-case basis when
requested by the combatant commanders.
(2) At the request of the combatant commander, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff may approve specific
efforts that are rendered by unit(s) or individual(s) who meet all other requirements for award of the GWOTSM but are
not issued specific orders for the approved operation(s).
(3) All BN commanders and commanders of separate units have the authority to award the GWOTSM to units and
personnel within their command for approved operations.
c. Servicemembers must be assigned, attached, or mobilized to a unit supporting designated operations listed in
paragraph 2–18d for 30 consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days, or meet one of the following criteria:
(1) Initial award of the GWOTSM is limited to airport security operations (from 27 September 2001 through 31
May 2002) and Soldiers who supported Operation NOBLE EAGLE (11 September 2001 to date to be determined),
OEF (11 September 2001 to date to be determined), OIF (19 March 2003 through August 31, 2010), OND (1 September 2010 through 31 December 2011), OIR (15 June 2014 to date be determined) and OFS (1 January 2015 to
date to be decided).
(2) Service in an operationally deployed status abroad within a designated area of eligibility (as outlined in para
2–18d) merits primary eligibility for the GWOTEM; personnel supporting the Global War on Terrorism in a nondeployed
status, whether stationed at home (in the United States) or overseas, are eligible only for the GWOTSM.
d. 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 2–19c.
e. The following rules apply to the GWOTSM:
(1) The GWOTSM may be awarded posthumously.
(2) Servicemembers 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.
(3) The GWOTSM will be worn after the GWOTEM and will be followed by the KDSM (that is, GWOTEM,
GWOTSM, KDSM).
f. Only one award of the GWOTSM may be authorized to any individual; therefore, second and subsequent awards
will not be awarded.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2015 12:10 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 00:10:06 -0400

The GWOTSM is one of the most inconsistently awarded and improperly awarded medal I've seen so far. I've seen PVTs fresh from BCT who have been awarded it and I've seen active duty Soldiers who have never been awarded it. According to AR 600-8-22, section 2-19 (p.30):

(2) 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.

HRC's page on the GWOTSM can be found here:
https://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/global%20war%20on%20terrorism%20expeditionary%20medal%20gwotem%20and%20global%20war%20on%20terrorism%20service%20medal%20gwotsm

The Q&A portion should be particularly helpful for you:
Q1: Are Reserve or Active Component Soldiers on active duty, primarily for training, authorized to be awarded the GWOTSM?

A1: No. Soldiers serving on active duty primarily for training in Initial Entry Training (IET) or Basic Training (BT), Advanced Individual Training (AIT), and/or for Annual Training (AT), Officer training courses, Warrant Officer training courses, and/or any training not in direct support of the GWOT operations are not authorized award of the GWOTSM.

For you to qualify for the GWOTSM as a reserve component Soldier would have required mobilization under title 10 orders. LDAC does not "count" as active duty training, as Cadets are not Soldiers in the traditional sense under title 10 of the U.S. Code. In my opinion Cadets wearing the GWOTSM at commissioning without some active duty prior service are wrong.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2015 1:39 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 01:39:48 -0400

2LT Private RallyPoint Member, the short answer is no, because you were exclusively in a training environment.
Once you arrive in a unit, the element must be providing support to GWOT operation outside the AOR for the GWOTEM or ACM in order to be eligible. That judgment is made by the commander, and it is not automatic.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 28 at 2015 1:46 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 13:46:20 -0400

You may have some cadets that are prior service who deployed in support of GWOT then went to college on the ROTC or Green to Gold programs. W/o prior service you are not eligible to wear any Army awards until you get commissioned. I earned an AAM from my Guard unit after I got commissioned and prior to completing BOLC (back then it was OBC) and receiving the Army Service Ribbon, and in our case the NDSR as we were in OBC during the Gulf War.