Posted on Dec 3, 2016
Can National Guard soldiers still receive GWOTSM?
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My Active buddies have been questioning why I don't have a GWOTSM. To which I was under the impression that I had to deploy or be part of an Operation involving the War on Terror.
It has been suggested that I go to my Supervisor and ask to have this corrected on my ERB and be awarded the medal. I have checked AR 600-8-22 and HRC online which seems a bit vague so looking for confirmation.
It has been suggested that I go to my Supervisor and ask to have this corrected on my ERB and be awarded the medal. I have checked AR 600-8-22 and HRC online which seems a bit vague so looking for confirmation.
NGB
Reserves
Medals
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 27
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Here is your challenge: U.S. Army regulations state that all soldiers "on active duty, including Reserve Component Soldiers mobilized, or Army National Guard Soldiers activated on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined having served 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days are authorized the GWOTSM." The GWOTSM was awarded automatically to all service members on Active Duty between September 11, 2001 and March 31, 2004. While the award is no longer automatic, the termination "date to be determined" has not been set. The Battalion Commander is the approval authority for the GWOTSM. Service members are still eligible for the medal provided they meet the criteria in AR 600-8-22.
So, 60 days of active duty, including Annual Training periods but not Basic Training, AIT, NCOES or OES, could meet the requirement. The problem is with the additional language about supporting the named operation (Operation Noble Eagle ("ONE"), Operation Enduring Freedom ("OEF"), Operation Iraqi Freedom ("OIF"), Operation New Dawn ("OND"), Operation Inherent Resolve ("OIR"), and Operation Freedom's Sentinel ("OFS")).
The final decision is with the Battalion Commander.
So, 60 days of active duty, including Annual Training periods but not Basic Training, AIT, NCOES or OES, could meet the requirement. The problem is with the additional language about supporting the named operation (Operation Noble Eagle ("ONE"), Operation Enduring Freedom ("OEF"), Operation Iraqi Freedom ("OIF"), Operation New Dawn ("OND"), Operation Inherent Resolve ("OIR"), and Operation Freedom's Sentinel ("OFS")).
The final decision is with the Battalion Commander.
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SSG (Join to see)
COL (Join to see), we received the NDSM, ASM and GWOTSM for one reason or another. This trend continued until about mid-2011 when the new Soldiers reporting to our unit only sometimes having been awarded the GWOTSM.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I don't believe that Annual Training would qualify you for the GWOTSM. I am pretty sure that you have to be on Federal Title 10 Active Duty Orders, not Active Duty for Training, ADT Orders. I am pretty sure it depends on who is paying you. ADT you are still being paid by the Army Reserve or National Guard Bureau, Title 10 puts you on the Big Army payroll, and that is what gets you your GWOTSM.
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MAJ (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - If you were at OSUT and then going Active Duty, that is why you would have been issued the GWOTSM. All AD were issued the GWOTSM. Now if you were there with the Guard you probably should not have received it.
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Unfortunately your AD friends are mistaken as the GWOTSM is not an automatic award. As alluded to by others, you have to honorably serve on federal active duty for the consecutive 30 days or cumulative 60 days for the GWOTSM. Any "training" orders or schools do not count. Others have said AT counts, but I dispute that claim. The intention is that you have stood ready to deploy either as a member of a QRF or preparing for your deployment, mobilized stateside, or are serving in an AGR position. Unless that has been done, as a reservist you have not served the time required for award of the GWOTSM. The BN CDR is the award authority for the GWOTSM.
Refer to the Army HRC website for a few Q&A explanations for further details.
Refer to the Army HRC website for a few Q&A explanations for further details.
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SPC Robert House Jr.
I got my GWOT award do to spending 30 consecutive days in Kuwait.. While i was Federal Activated under title 10. I was a reserve component at the time. I met the requirements for it. do to both of the above reasons.
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SGT Chester Beedle
CPT (Join to see) - My understanding is that the DD214 is not considered a "source document." The actual orders awarding the award are what are considered to be the source, or proof it happened.
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CPT (Join to see)
SGT Chester Beedle - Good catch SGT Beedle. That is my understanding as well. When a Soldier doesn't have a memorandum in their record showing the GWOT Service medal, but they have it on a DD 214 following a deployment or mobilization, that gives the Soldier and their S1 a time period to start from for looking for orders. Technically items should only end up on a DD 214 after being verified from the Soldier's permanent record, but I've seen a few Soldiers with records that required fixing.
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CPT (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) - *Clarification from initial response to SGT Beedle above:
The DD 214 shows discharge status and awards up to that point so it is important to ensure the DD 214 accurately reflects your service. Reserve Soldiers may serve a qualifying stint or have multiple orders that meet the cumulative requirement without receiving a DD 214. So it is important that the next DD 214 a Soldier receives fully reflects an accurate permanent record of their service.
The DD 214 shows discharge status and awards up to that point so it is important to ensure the DD 214 accurately reflects your service. Reserve Soldiers may serve a qualifying stint or have multiple orders that meet the cumulative requirement without receiving a DD 214. So it is important that the next DD 214 a Soldier receives fully reflects an accurate permanent record of their service.
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If you were in Title 10 status, Federal duty, not Title 32 status, State duty, then you should be awarded the medal.
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