CAMPAIGN STARS - Iraq & Afghanistan Campaign Medals (ICM & ACM)

SGM Matthew Quick — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 00:59:29 -0500

Upon reviewing a few dozen records, this was a common error.

Every Iraq or Afghanistan Campaign Medal (and it's ribbon) must have AT LEAST ONE campaign star affixed.

HRCs Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medal page:
https://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/afghanistan%20campaign%20medal%20or%20iraq%20campaign%20medal

Response by LTC Jason Bartlett made Dec 17 at 2013 1:11 AM

LTC Jason Bartlett — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 01:11:17 -0500

As in people wearing no stars or more then they were entitled too?

Response by SFC James Rigdon made Dec 17 at 2013 5:18 AM

SFC James Rigdon — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 05:18:49 -0500

Damn, I think I am short one star for Iraq. I thought so but MPD keeps telling me I was wrong.

MAR 2003 - Aug 2003 = 2

Dec 2007 - Feb 2009 = 2

Total 4 is that correct?

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 17 at 2013 9:08 AM

SFC James Baber — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 09:08:45 -0500

MSG Quick,

My question to you would be if I received the GWOTEM, would I still be required to wear or authorized to have the 1st 2 phase campaigns stars, I have been told yes and no by different CSMs before I retired. My wife is looking to make a shadow box of my rack along with other items, and I want to ensure she has it all made correctly.

Response by SFC James Rigdon made Dec 17 at 2013 9:36 AM

SFC James Rigdon — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 09:36:07 -0500

MSG, that slipped my mind you are correct I did earn a GWOTEM so my record is correct lol

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2014 2:54 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 02:54:30 -0500

I still see folks wearing it without a star, it comes with one star at a minimum.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2014 3:08 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 03:08:05 -0500

It sounds like cheating the system but wouldn't anyone on a Afghan tour after an Iraq tour have qualified for an OIF star when flying over Iraq (durring the qualifying period) out of Kuwait on mid tour?

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Mar 8 at 2014 10:26 AM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 10:26:12 -0500

Excellent resource for those confused about the campaign stars. It is confusing at first as with regular awards the ribbon counts for (1) award, but these ALL have a minimum of one star for the first campaign served, good information!

Response by CCMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2014 4:30 PM

CCMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 16:30:58 -0500

Thanks for posting... I constantly see this (and correct) in the Air Force too (mainly folks with no campaign star).

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 8 at 2014 4:45 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 16:45:55 -0500

Great topic, and thanks for sharing the information.

I remember one of my S-1s had a tool he used to use to caluclate the correct number of stars based on the dates you served in each theater, I believe it was a calculation he had as part of a spreadsheet.

If you have a similar tool I'd appreciate you sharing it, it would be very helpful for us to get out to the Squad Leaders and Platoon Sergeant/Platoon Leaders.

Response by SGT Shon D. Hill made May 5 at 2014 2:04 AM

SGT Shon D. Hill — Mon, 05 May 2014 02:04:08 -0400

Wow, thank you for informing us so well, I really had no idea! Been out for 7 years now, but excellent to keep correct on it all ;)

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 5 at 2014 1:13 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 05 May 2014 13:13:58 -0400

The other one that drives me nuts is seeing the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with no devices...

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 23 at 2014 12:42 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 00:42:31 -0400

I'm in violation. Thank you.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2015 2:07 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 14:07:50 -0500

Great graphic, but how would you wear the ICM if the SM has 4 combat stars and an arrowhead device?

Response by Stephen Poole made Nov 10 at 2017 10:28 AM

Stephen Poole — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 10:28:55 -0500

Could someone explain to me how this is any different than the case with the Southwest Asia Service Medal?

According to regulations, the Southwest Asia Service Medal should also be automatically worn with a star—or at least such a conclusion is inevitable based on the regulations regarding (a) awarding of the medal, and (b) requirements for a service star. (The Wikipedia entry that says “Each recipient of the medal should wear at least one campaign star,” but of course it is Wikipedia….)

Per AR 600-8-22, the SWASM is “awarded to all Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in SWA and contiguous waters or airspace there over, on or after 2 August 1990 to 30 November 1995.” Further, one bronze service star will be worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the SWASM for participation in each designated campaign:

Defense of Saudi Arabia 2 August 1990 to 16 January 1991
Liberation and Defense of Kuwait 17 January 1991 to 11 April 1991
Southwest Asia Cease-Fire 12 April 1991 to 30 November 1995

Note that the contiguous range of dates of those campaigns matches the eligibility date period for the SWASM. In other words, anyone who earned the SWASM must have earned it during one of those campaigns and thus should wear at least one star.

The DoD instructions for the medal uses different phrasing—"Individuals authorized for the award must have served in support of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, or the Cease Fire Campaign”—but has the same dates and geographical areas of eligibility as AR 660-8-22, and all those operations were part of the designated campaigns listed above.

So...am I missing something, or should the same rule apply to the SWASM?

Response by Catherine B made Mar 13 at 2018 2:19 PM

Catherine B — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 14:19:34 -0400

Hi,
Is there any way to get a list of people who did (to prove that there is someone that did NOT) receive medals for the years 2006-2010? This person claims to have been awarded: Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Expeditionary War on Terror Medal, Nation Defense Medal, Global War on Terror medal....all during his 'training' in the US Navy.

Response by SPC Joseph Wojcik made Mar 13 at 2018 2:35 PM

SPC Joseph Wojcik — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 14:35:59 -0400

So, if you were in Iraq during Iraqi Sovereignty and New Dawn as a single deployment, you should wear the award with two stars?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2018 8:19 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 08:19:56 -0400

What is the problem with HRC that so many of their webpages go constantly down without a link to the new information?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2018 8:21 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 08:21:16 -0400

Please anyone : if I deployed DEC 2007 to MAY 2009 how many campaign stars is it... can someone send me a FUnctional HRC link , lol?