Posted on Dec 7, 2016
MILPER Message 16-303 mentions an Afghanistan Commemorative Service Medal. What the heck is that?
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Responses: 15
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LTC Stephen C.
A great movie LTC Jason Mackay! And we all know how Joanna ultimately "expressed herself" to Stan, the manager! SMSgt (Join to see)
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Suspended Profile
Sounds like what to buy when you have too much money.
Call me silly, but creating a commemorative medal for a country you have already been to and received a campaign medal for......not to mention all the memories (good and bad).....why would anyone want another reminder?
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You Kicked up a Crap Storm didn't you James. Interesting question though. I haven't been able to find anything definitive either.
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MAJ (Join to see)
That's my whole point. They authorized it for permanent acceptance and wear but no one knows or can find anything about it. Sneaky bastards....?
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COL Vincent Stoneking
MAJ (Join to see) - Just wait until you find out that it's mandatory wear for your DA Photo......
(for the record, just made that up.)
(for the record, just made that up.)
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I was looking a lot of links up regarding this, I didn't find anything absolute as to how and why a person gets this award. However 670-1 doesn't authorize privately produced commemorative medals to be worn at all, and I found in 600-8-22 (Military Awards) on Page 170, it only lists 1 commemorative medal which is the France Commemorative Medal. In the MILPER message it says to see Note 1: Note:
1. Honorary. Unless otherwise specified, this foreign badge or decoration may only be accepted
and retained; it is not allowed for wear on the U.S. Army uniform.
I still don't know how or why someone gets this award.
1. Honorary. Unless otherwise specified, this foreign badge or decoration may only be accepted
and retained; it is not allowed for wear on the U.S. Army uniform.
I still don't know how or why someone gets this award.
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CPT Jim Schwebach
If the medal you're referring to is the "France Commemorative Medal," it is a French decoration intended to recognize civilians and soldiers who took part in specific missions ordered by the French government carried out outside of French national territory after March 1, 1991. It may be awarded to French military and civilians as well as furriers who've served with French forces. General Petraeus wears one on the lower left corner of his rack in some pictures.
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Exactly what it says it is. Commemorative medals are issued from a wide variety of sources, sometimes even the US government, but they aren't authorized for wear on the uniform. They are more just keepsakes you put in a shadowbox and put on a shelf.
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CPT Jim Schwebach
There are commemorative medals and there are commemorative medals. Commercially produced commemorative medals are available from various vendors world wide. Some are produced under the auspices of veterans organizations, particularly true of British Commonwealth Nations, and some by outfits like Medals Of America et al. These are the items not authorized for wear on the uniform. BUT Some commemorative meals are equivalent to our campaign and service medals in that they are issued by the military of various nations for wear on the uniform of their armed forces to recognize service in specified areas or operations. Some nations sometimes use the word commemorative in the name of the medal. France, Belgium and Taiwan are examples of this practice. The key is the source , not the name, of the medal.
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LTC Jason Mackay
Except this one is a Foriegn award issued by GIROA , the MILPER message is the adds to permanent wear authority that will be in 600-8-22
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SFC (Join to see)
LTC Jason Mackay - I must be seeing a different version. The one I saw had it listed as token acceptance only and not authorized for wear.
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MAJ (Join to see)
That's the issue. According to the MILPER message, it is now authorized for wear on the uniform, but I can't find anything on it anywhere.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I wonder if it's the new name for the Afghanistan Freedom Medal they tried to give us a few years back...
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Sounds like something that was only awarded to the Generals and politicians.... like when VP Joe Biden was awarded the "Iraq Commitment Medal" (a Medal meant for the troops on the ground).
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A commemorative medal is not Government issued and must be bought at a commercial outlet. They are NOT authorized for wear on a Military uniform ! They can be worn on civilian attire only. There are commemorative medal for many military events or recognition but they have no official status IAW Military regulations or Instructions..
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MAJ (Join to see)
This one is apparently issued by the government of Afghanistan and is authorized for wear according to the MILPER message. I say apparently because no one knows what it is, only that it's mentioned in the message. Odd.
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Is this the long-rumored medal issued by the nation of Afghanistan, or something else?
Most commemorative medals are items that are not worn, but put in a shadowbox or some such.
Most commemorative medals are items that are not worn, but put in a shadowbox or some such.
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