With Joe Biden being the only awardee of the Iraq Commitment Medal do you think the rest of us will see this award?

2021-03-01T18:23:12-05:00

It has been nearly ten years since the Iraq Commitment Medal has been given to our now President, Joe Biden. I recall other awards from other nations being given to our service members but this medal never made it's way to the rest of us. Is there any chance that this will change in the next four years?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2021 6:39 PM

2021-03-01T18:39:44-05:00

"The award has not been officially approved for acceptance or wear by the United States or other coalition partner governments, being still in the "Pending Approval" status. In 2013, the Department of Defense made a statement that it is still waiting for the initial group of medals to be received from the Government of Iraq. This award was presented to Vice President Joe Biden on December 1, 2011."

"The Department of Defense will not approve foreign campaign or expeditionary service medals for acceptance and wear by military personnel unless the medal is fully funded and provided by the awarding foreign government."

Also from 2019: https://www.stripes.com/news/us/vets-say-their-iraq-commitment-medals-never-arrived-so-they-re-raising-money-to-pay-for-their-own-1.596181

"Eight years later, the Department of Defense has yet to authorize servicemembers to wear the medals or taken steps to award them.

The Pentagon said in a statement Tuesday that it greatly appreciates the desire of the government of Iraq to recognize an estimated 1.2 million servicemembers who qualify for the medal.

“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 statement said. “At this time, the Department of Defense has not received any [commitment medals] from the Government of Iraq to approve or distribute.”"

"The service of American military personnel in Iraq is recognized through the Defense Department’s Iraq Campaign Medal. Plans and procedures for approving and distributing the Iraq Commitment Medal will be established once Iraq provides the medals, the Pentagon said.

Iraq’s embassy in Washington, D.C., did not respond to telephone and email messages this week."

"However, some veterans are moving ahead with their own plans to produce and award the medals.

An Iraqi Commitment Medal Facebook group includes posts from people lobbying the U.S. government to authorize the decorations."

Vets say their Iraq Commitment Medals never arrived — so they’re raising money to pay for their...

The Iraq Commitment Medal was intended to recognize the work of troops who served in Iraq following the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime — but the Department of Defense has yet to authorize servicemembers to wear the medals or taken steps to award them.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Mar 1 at 2021 6:46 PM

2021-03-01T18:46:06-05:00

Do you want a parade too?

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Mar 1 at 2021 6:53 PM

2021-03-01T18:53:19-05:00

I'm okay not having an award from the Iraqi government, thanks.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2021 8:22 PM

2021-03-01T20:22:44-05:00

I'm still waiting for my Atropiian Liberation Medal from my NTC deployment

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2021 8:55 PM

2021-03-01T20:55:12-05:00

It’s possible; I guess.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2021 11:51 PM

2021-03-01T23:51:27-05:00

I doubt it. Since it has been so long since it's proposal that I doubt it will move any further than what it has.