Can someone remind me of the difference between the GWOT Service and the GWOT Expeditionary Medals?

2018-06-04T22:58:06-04:00

I'm looking at getting a mini award rack for personal use in my office, and can't remember the difference between these two medals. It's also kinda late at night and my former junior officer brain doesn't want to look this up in the regs. ;-)

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jun 4 at 2018 11:08 PM

2018-06-04T23:08:42-04:00

Leave it to these NCOs to still be squaring me away even after I'm out of the Army, lol

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2018 1:00 AM

2018-06-05T01:00:44-04:00

GWOT-E: The GWOTEM was established by EO 13289, 12 March 2003. It is authorized for award to Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States who are deployed abroad for service in the Global War on Terrorism operations on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. Operations approved the GWOTEM are provided in paragraph 2–18d of AR 600-8-22

GWOT-S: The GWOTSM was established by EO 13289, 12 March 2003. It is authorized for award to Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States who have participated in or served in support of a Global War on Terrorism operations outside of the designated area of eligibility defined in paragraph 2–19d on or after 11 September 2001 to a future date to be determined. Operations approved for the GWOTSM are provided in paragraph 2–19c of AR 600-8-22

Response by CH (CPT) James L. Machado Workman made Jun 5 at 2018 7:42 AM

2018-06-05T07:42:05-04:00

The GWOT EM or Expetitionary Medal was awarded to those who deployed to a combat zone for more than 30days. It was replaced with the Iraq Campaign Medal. Those-such as myself-who we’re awarded the GWOT EM were given the option of keeping the GWOT EM or “trading” for the Iraq Campaign Medal. I kept the GWOT EM as one of the first units deployed to Iraq in 2003.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2020 8:43 AM

2020-03-08T08:43:31-04:00

Seems GWOT is a participation/period award. The other likely is for deploying to AO.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2020 8:53 AM

2020-03-08T08:53:11-04:00

GWOT E is for CENTCOM +
GWAT S is for not CENTCOM +

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2025 9:28 AM

2025-04-04T09:28:18-04:00

Check out: https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30935-AR_600-8-22-000-WEB-1.pdf

2–19. Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
a. The GWOTEM was established by EO 13289, 12 March 2003 to recognize Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States who are deployed abroad for service in the GWOT on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. The GWOTEM is only awarded once per named operation, regardless of the number of deployments and periods of service supporting that operation. Effective 9 February 2015 (retroactive to 11 September 2001), separate deployments and periods of service in support of different named operations are recognized by bronze service stars.
b. AOEs are designated as follows:
(1) The SECDEF, in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will designate approved operations on a case-by-case basis when requested by the combatant commanders.
(2) The general AOE encompasses all foreign land, water, and airspaces outside the 50 states of the United States and outside 200 nautical miles of the shores of the United States. The SECDEF, when recommended by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will designate the specific AOE in accordance with qualifying operation.
(3) Only Soldiers in a deployed status (for example, temporary change of station, TDY, or Worldwide Individual Augmentation System) are eligible for the GWOTEM. Personnel supporting the GWOT in a non-deployed status (for example, PCS), whether stationed at home in the United States or overseas, are eligible only for the GWOTSM.
(4) The GWOTEM will not be awarded to Soldiers who are deployed or mobilized to an approved AOE for the purpose of staging operations with follow-on movement into an area authorized its own campaign medal.
(5) Under no conditions will units or personnel within the United States or any area outside the approved AOE in paragraph 2–20 be deemed eligible for the GWOTEM.
c. Servicemembers must be assigned, attached, or mobilized to a unit participating in designated operations for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in the AOE or meet one of the following criteria:
(1) Be engaged in actual combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action, regardless of time in the AOE.
(2) While participating in the designated operation, regardless of time, is killed, wounded, or injured, requiring medical evacuation from the AOE.
(3) Servicemembers participating as a regularly assigned aircrew member flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the AOE in direct support of Operation Nomad Shadow, Operation Enduring Freedom, OIF, or Operation New Dawn are eligible to qualify for award of the GWOTEM. Each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria will count as 1 day toward the 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive day requirement.
d. Award of the GWOTEM is limited to Servicemembers deployed abroad in support of an approved operations in an approved AOE (see para 2–19g for a list of approved AOEs).
(1) Servicemembers qualified for the GWOTEM by reasons of service before 30 April 2005 in Afghanistan and Iraq will remain qualified for the medal. Any such Soldier may be awarded the ACM or the ICM in lieu of the GWOTEM for such service. Soldiers who elected to receive the ACM or ICM in lieu of the GWOTEM are not authorized to change their original election. Such elections are irrevocable. Additionally, any such Soldier authorized the arrowhead device may be awarded the ACM or ICM with arrowhead in lieu of the GWOTEM with arrowhead device. Soldiers who elect to keep the GWOTEM in lieu of the ACM or ICM are not authorized bronze service stars on the ACM or ICM for the campaign in which the GWOTEM is awarded. No Soldier will be entitled to both medals for the same act, achievement, or period of service.
(2) Effective 30 April 2005, Soldiers are only authorized award of the ACM or ICM for service in Afghanistan or Iraq.
e. Effective 15 June 2014 to a date to be determined, the GWOTEM is authorized for Servicemembers deployed abroad in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (see para 2–19d).
f. Effective 1 September 2021, the award of the GWOTEM is hereby authorized for Operation Enduring Sentinel for associated Operation Enduring Sentinel GWOTEM AOE, which includes the country of Afghanistan. Soldiers who are temporarily assigned to a location authorized the GWOTEM solely for professional military education purposes (for example, temporary assignment to the NCO Academy at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, to attend the Basic Leaders Course) are not authorized the GWOTEM since such presence is for professional development and is not in support of GWOT.
g. On or after 1 July 2022, Soldiers deployed to Iraq for Operation Inherent Resolve who meet eligibility criteria will be awarded the GWOTEM.
h. A complete list of operations and AOEs approved for award of the GWOTEM is available at
https://prhome.defense.gov/m-ra/inside-m-ra/mpp/oepm/.
i. Soldiers are authorized to wear a bronze service star on the GWOTEM for separate deployments and periods of service in support of different named operations.
j. The following rules apply to the GWOTEM:
(1) The GWOTEM may be awarded posthumously.
(2) Servicemembers may be awarded both the GWOTEM and the GWOTSM if they meet the criteria for both awards; however, the qualifying service used to establish eligibility for one award cannot be used to justify eligibility for the other award.
(3) The GWOTEM will be worn before the GWOTSM and both will directly follow the KCM (that is, KCM, GWOTEM, GWOTSM, KDSM, and so forth).

2–20. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
a. The GWOTSM was established by EO 13289, 12 March 2003. The GWOTSM is authorized for award to Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States who participated in or served in support of approved GWOT operations outside of the designated AOE or a designated counterterrorism operation.
(1) Eligibility criteria for Servicemembers serving on or after 11 September 2001 through 10 September 2022 in supported operations to counterterrorism in a nondeployed status, whether stationed in the United States or overseas, are as follows: the Servicemember must have served on active duty in the Military Services on or after 11 September 2001 for a minimum of 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, not including initial accession training; or regardless of time served, while on active duty in the Military Services on or after 11 September 2001—
(a) Was engaged in actual combat.
(b) Was killed, wounded, or died not due to negligence or wrongful misconduct.
(2) Eligibility criteria for Servicemembers serving on or after 11 September 2022 directly in a designated military (counterterrorism) operation are as follows:
(a) The Servicemember must have directly served in a designated military counterterrorism operation (for example, deployed on orders for a designated counterterrorism operation or directly supported a designed counterterrorism operation on a full-time basis while assigned to an organization conducting a counterterrorism operation) for a minimum of 30 days (consecutive or nonconsecutive).
(b) Regardless of time served, while on active duty was engaged in physical combat with or by a foreign terrorist or an individual inspired or motivated by a foreign terrorist organization.
b. Battalion (BN) commanders and commanders of separate units have the authority to validate eligibility for the GWOTSM for units and personnel within their command for approved operations.
c. All Soldiers on active duty, including RC Soldiers activated, or ARNG Soldiers activated on or after 11 September 2001 and having served 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days are authorized the GWOTSM. Soldiers must be assigned, attached, or mobilized to a unit supporting approved operations listed in paragraph 2–19g for 30 consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days; or, regardless of time served while on active duty in the Military Services on or after 11 September 2001, Servicemembers
must meet one of the following criteria: was engaged in actual combat or was killed, wounded, or died not due to negligence or wrongful misconduct. Soldiers in a training status (basic or advanced individual training) are not eligible for receipt of this award until assigned to their first duty station.
d. The military service of the Servicemember on which qualification for the award of the GWOTSM is based must have been honorable.
e. A complete list of operations and AOEs approved for award of the GWOTSM is available at
https://prhome.defense.gov/m-ra/inside-m-ra/mpp/oepm/.
f. Service in an operationally deployed status abroad within a designated AOE (as identified in para 2–19g) merits primary eligibility for the GWOTEM. Personnel supporting GWOT in a nondeployed status, whether stationed at home in the United States or overseas are eligible only for the GWOTSM.
g. The following rules apply to the GWOTSM:
(1) The GWOTSM may be awarded posthumously.
(2) Servicemembers may be awarded both the GWOTEM and the GWOTSM if they meet the criteria for both awards; however, the qualifying period used to establish eligibility for one award cannot be used to justify eligibility for the other award.
(3) The GWOTSM will be worn after the GWOTEM and will be followed by the KDSM (that is,
GWOTEM, GWOTSM, and KDSM).
h. Only one award of the GWOTSM may be authorized to any individual; therefore, second and subsequent awards will not be awarded.
i. The list of designated military counterterrorism operations authorized for award of the GWOTSM is available at https://prhome.defense.gov/m-ra/inside-m-ra/mpp/oepm/.

ARN30935-AR_600-8-22-000-WEB-1.pdf

Response by COL John McClellan made Apr 4 at 2025 3:48 PM

2025-04-04T15:48:22-04:00

GWOT Expeditionary means = boots on the ground. You went into an imminent danger zone. GWOT Service means = were in the military and supported GWOT from CONUS or, in a non-combat zone capacity. At VFW - this is a distinguisher for membership - you need the Expeditionary medal, or a Campaign medal.