Posted on Aug 26, 2019
Will the Iraq Commitment Medal ever get DoD approval?
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Deployment
Iraq
Infantry
Awards
DoD
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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"This medal is NOT authorized by the Department of Defense for wear. " I don't see the need.
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I don't see why not? There are already literally hundreds of approved foreign medals/ribbons authorized for wear on US military uniforms.
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TSgt David L.
CPT (Join to see) - That wouldn't be the problem. Getting the Iraqi government to shit them out will likely never happen. Time will tell I guess.
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TSgt David L. - The vet in the story launched a kickstarter to fund the awards in order to submit to DoD for recognition. The paperwork for the award was already issued by the Iraq government in 2011, just not the physical award.
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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.
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Not my concern at all, just passing on information. From the way the article reads, the DoD has said they cannot evaluate the award until they get the medals and ribbons to ensure they are compliant with US specs. The vet running the campaign to have them made is trying to raise funds to get an initial run of the awards created.
In my past experience, foreign medals/ribbons that have been approved for wear are NOT purchased by the US government and issued to soldiers. For example, I was just awarded the Holland Four Days Cross and all the awardees were required to pay for their own ribbon if they wanted it for wear on their ASUs.
In my past experience, foreign medals/ribbons that have been approved for wear are NOT purchased by the US government and issued to soldiers. For example, I was just awarded the Holland Four Days Cross and all the awardees were required to pay for their own ribbon if they wanted it for wear on their ASUs.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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Who knows? It took them 20 years to give my Uncle Matt urban a medal of honor.
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