How are recruits receiving the NDSM without being assigned overseas?

Being in the military during time of conflict. I received mine in 1974. In 1975, after we were out of Viet Nam, I saw SM that were not issued the ribbon

I received my first NDSM upon graduation from basic in 1995 because the war act for the Gulf War was still active. The same goes for right now Obama is using Bush's decoration of war on Iraq for OEF to invade Syria because of this everyone going through basic still receives this award.