What is the status of the Iraq Commitment Medal? Is DoD still considering it?

2015-01-21T14:02:16-05:00

This medal, issued by Iraq, has apparently been awarded to one person: Vice President Joe Biden. Last I heard, it was being considered by DoD in early 2014. I was hoping that SECDEF Hagel's medals and decorations review would include this, but I've heard nothing as yet. Does anybody know anything about the status of this medal?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2015 6:09 PM

2015-01-21T18:09:34-05:00

CPO Greg Frazho, I read on Wikipedia (that noted authority) that as of August 2014 the medal was still awaiting approval. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_Commitment_Medal

Seems it has something to do with who's going to provide the medals:

http://www.armytimes.com/article/20130331/NEWS/303310001/OIF-veterans-still-waiting-Iraqi-Commitment-Medal

Iraq Commitment Medal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Iraq Commitment Medal is a military campaign award that was created on June 11, 2011 by the Government of Iraq. The Iraq Minister of Defense, Dr. Saadoun Al-Dlaimi offered the medal to Veterans of the Iraq War in a letter to the United States Secretary of Defense.[2] As of 4 years later, the award has still not been approved for wear for United States Iraq War Veterans. The Department of Defense made a statement that it is waiting for the...

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 17 at 2015 3:05 PM

2015-03-17T15:05:10-04:00

Perhaps our reinvolvement in Iraq will get the ball rolling on this again?

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made Mar 17 at 2015 8:16 PM

2015-03-17T20:16:58-04:00

An Iraq what medal????

Response by 1SG Joseph Yorski, MHS made Mar 30 at 2017 7:50 AM

2017-03-30T07:50:03-04:00

I realize this is an old conversation but for anyone interested, there's more up to date info, including a congressional response to a constituent on this issue here: https://www.facebook.com/Iraq-Commitment-Medal [login to see] 57958/

I don't believe Vietnam created the Vietnamese medals that our troops were awarded for that conflict, incidentally, yet they still got awarded.

Iraq Commitment Medal

Iraq Commitment Medal. 734 likes · 2 talking about this. Iraq’s Minister of Defense, Dr. Saadoun Al-Dlaimi, sent notice to the Secretary of Defense authorizing the Government of Iraq Commitment Medal.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2018 11:44 AM

2018-02-13T11:44:12-05:00

Agreed. What an insult this is to the Government of Iraq. They create a medal and we refuse to recognize and authorize it. The same thing goes for the Afghan Medal. Either we refuse foreign awards for those who served in foreign wars or recognize them. This strange middle ground where some countries awards are immediately accepted and others are only awarded to politicians is disrespectful to the granting country and those soldiers who served in that location.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 13 at 2018 5:41 PM

2018-02-13T17:41:10-05:00

Well, at least we know what the hold up is now...

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2019 11:24 PM

2019-08-14T23:24:00-04:00

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/iraqcommitmentmedal/iraq-commitment-medal?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=iraq

Trying to revive the medal made per DoD and IOH standards as was going to be approved

Iraq Commitment Medal

The Iraq Commitment Medal is a military campaign award that was created on June 11, 2011 by the Government of Iraq.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2019 7:59 PM

2019-08-19T19:59:50-04:00

https://lnkd.in/gJSCQGz

Our attempt to move it along

Iraq Commitment Medal

The Iraq Commitment Medal is a military campaign award that was created on June 11, 2011 by the Government of Iraq.

Response by PO2 Michael Martin made Aug 31 at 2019 8:21 PM

2019-08-31T20:21:32-04:00

Sorry Greg, I haven't heard a thing.

Response by SGT Topher Ross made Sep 14 at 2019 5:27 PM

2019-09-14T17:27:33-04:00

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/iraqcommitmentmedal/iraq-commitment-medal/posts/2621984?ref=ksr_email_backer_project_update_registered_users

Update 13: Bulk Purchases · Iraq Commitment Medal

Team,We have entered a new phase of the KS. We just had our first batch order of 100 medals and ribbons. I have another order pending and (2) others in talks. We are also starting to be solicited by medal shops. However, as you are the loyal backers we will open up bulk purchases to the group. For 100 (minimum) medal and ribbon sets with palm devices it will be $3200. Bigger the purchase deeper the discount. This is a 20% discount of the early...

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2019 7:26 PM

2019-09-17T19:26:49-04:00

DOD stated in a article that they are waiting for Iraqi government to provide the medals.

Response by LCDR Leonard LE Blanc made Jan 14 at 2020 6:38 AM

2020-01-14T06:38:29-05:00

Local man selling Iraq Commitment Medals
Bryan Richardson [login to see] 12 hrs ago
Iraq Commitment Medal
The front of an Iraq Commitment Medal. In 2011, the Iraq government created the medal for all U.S. and coalition troops who served during the Iraq War from 2003 to 2011. However, the Iraq government hasn’t manufactured the medals.

The new year has already brought joy to one local man.
Leonard Le Blanc is selling 1,500 Iraq Commitment Medals through his eBay store, SEATE Services, that commemorate those who served in the Iraq War.

Le Blanc, who worked two stints as a civilian contractor in Iraq in 2003-04 and 2005-06, said he secured a license from the Iraq government to produce the medals.

“Part of the problem is people don’t know about this,” he said. “It popped up in 2011 and then disappeared. A lot of people have no idea about this.”

In 2011, the Iraq government created the Iraq Commitment Medal for all U.S. and coalition troops who served during the Iraq War from 2003 to 2011. Officials said an estimated 1 million medals would be needed to fulfill the need.

However, the Iraq government never made the medals for mass distribution with only a single award given to then-Vice President Joe Biden on Dec. 1, 2011.

In August, Stars and Stripes reported that the Pentagon said the medals are the responsibility of the Iraq government.

“Traditionally when a foreign government authorizes a medal, that government provides the medal to eligible members as the medal is a foreign decoration, not a Department of Defense decoration,” the Pentagon said in a statement. “At this time, the Department of Defense has not received any (commitment medals) from the Government of Iraq to approve or distribute.”

However, there have been unofficial medals floating around.

Le Blanc, who received a bachelor’s degree in geography from K-State in 1973, said he was looking for medals on eBay in February when he found an Iraq Commitment Medal that someone was selling.

“It disappeared and sold out,” he said. “This guy had 50.”

While Le Blanc’s plan won’t fulfill the Defense Department’s requirement, it does provide an opportunity for those who want a medal. He is selling the medals for $20 plus shipping, and the medal plus an award certificate for $31.50.

“There will always be people who will not get issued a medal, but who want one,” Le Blanc said. “Museums, ribbon collectors, medals collectors, patriotic organizations.”

Le Blanc said he has an American intermediary who had “done business” with the Iraq government. “He was able to secure that for me,” he said.

Le Blanc said he told the Chinese manufacturer he’s working with to follow the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry’s standards when making the medals.

If things go well, he said he would make an additional 5,000 medals — both military and civilian versions.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2020 11:42 AM

2020-10-14T11:42:03-04:00

One would think that the US Ambassador to Iraq would be supporting this.