Will the Iraq Commitment Medal ever get DoD approval?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 19:43:07 -0400

One vet is trying to make it happen.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/iraqcommitmentmedal/iraq-commitment-medal/description

https://taskandpurpose.com/iraq-commitment-medal-kickstarter

description

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. To this day, the award has still not been approved for wear for United States Iraq War Veterans. In 2013, the Department of Defense made a statement that it is still waiting for...

Response by TSgt David L. made Aug 26 at 2019 7:46 PM

TSgt David L. — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 19:46:51 -0400

First I have heard of it. Probably never going to happen though.

Response by CPL Douglas Chrysler made Aug 26 at 2019 7:49 PM

CPL Douglas Chrysler — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 19:49:23 -0400

If it happens, I hope everyone who deserves one is recognized.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2019 8:00 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 20:00:58 -0400

Is your concern getting it approved for wear or fundraising for manufacture, because if it was approved for wear I'm pretty sure the government would put in a purchase order large enough to fund the initial run.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Aug 26 at 2019 8:02 PM

CW5 Jack Cardwell — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 20:02:03 -0400

"This medal is NOT authorized by the Department of Defense for wear. " I don't see the need.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Aug 26 at 2019 8:04 PM

PVT Mark Zehner — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 20:04:10 -0400

I'd be surprised if they do

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2019 8:08 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 20:08:41 -0400

And if it is ever approved, they'll be issued, so why give money away.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Aug 26 at 2019 8:28 PM

CW4 Craig Urban — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 20:28:34 -0400

Who knows? It took them 20 years to give my Uncle Matt urban a medal of honor.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2019 8:47 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 20:47:47 -0400

Seems scammy

Response by SSgt Robert Matlock made Aug 26 at 2019 9:03 PM

SSgt Robert Matlock — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 21:03:03 -0400

I'm still waiting for my Cold War Service Medal to be approved.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2019 10:19 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 22:19:17 -0400

The guy making the push for this medal tweaked its original design. Per the article, “The Iraqis actually had it a bit different, they had the stripes going horizontal, vice vertical, and that's not in accordance with DoD or mil/spec standards..”.

Um..huh? There are several awards, past and present, at both guard/reserve and Active duty levels with both horizontal and diagonal stripes. Following, we see a list of a few them.
Air Force Combat Action Medal Ribbon,
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon,
Kentucky National Guard Recruiting Ribbon,
Merchant Marine Combat Bar Ribbon,
Nevada National Guard Governor's Outstanding Unit Award,
Pennsylvania National Guard Governor's Unit Citation,
South Carolina National Guard Governor's Unit Citation

Is it possible he tweaked the design because he didn’t want a medal in what was essentially the pattern of the Iraqi flag? (As the Iraqis designed it, it’s an unsurprising design). However, it’s their medal. Unless they change the design, I would imagine that no amount of Kickstarting would matter.

Seems fishy.

Response by LCDR Leonard LE Blanc made Jan 14 at 2020 6:39 AM

LCDR Leonard LE Blanc — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 06:39:26 -0500

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.