Can you receive the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) In Kuwait?

2021-01-31T21:15:31-05:00

Is this medal presented to soldiers who have been on rotation in Kuwait?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2021 10:19 PM

2021-01-31T22:19:57-05:00

Short answer, yes

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2021 10:48 PM

2021-01-31T22:48:42-05:00

No, not now. The Expeditionary Medal is for the first wave into a place. It's not for rotations

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Jan 31 at 2021 10:52 PM

2021-01-31T22:52:49-05:00

I understanding is follow on rotations would get the service medal.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2021 11:12 PM

2021-01-31T23:12:30-05:00

If your orders to Kuwait support any of the listed operations other than "Spartan Shield" you qualify for the GWOTEM

Q5: Is it correct that a Soldier must be serving in direct support of ONS, OEF, OIF, OFS, OIR, or OND to qualify for the GWOTEM for service in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc.?

A5: Yes. If a Soldier is/was not serving in direct support of ONS, OEF, OIF, OFS, OIR or OND he/she is not authorized the medal. Soldiers who deploy on GWOT orders to any of the approved AOE's for the GWOTEM are assumed to be serving in support of OEF/OIF/OND/OFS/OIR/ONS.

Q26: All of the orders are TCS orders. The purpose then goes on to state, "Deployment will be in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (SPARTAN SHIELD)." This creates a strange situation. Is OSS a sub operation for OEF? Due to the TCS orders stating both, I feel the Task Force is authorized the GWOTEM. What is your interpretation?

A26: If the order states "OEF" then the GWOT-EM is authorized. If the order says "OSS" only, then the GWOT-EM is not authorized.

https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Global%20War%20on%20Terrorism%20Expeditionary%20Medal%20GWOTEM%20and%20Global%20War%20on%20Terrorism%20Service%20Medal%20GWOTSM

Global%2520War%2520on%2520Terrorism%2520Expeditionary%2520Medal%2520GWOTEM%2520and%2520Global%2520War%2520on%2520Terrorism%2520Service%2520Medal%2520GWOTSM

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2021 11:24 PM

2021-01-31T23:24:57-05:00

Look at HRC for this answer.
This is an award where the S1 has to dig into your records as well as the regulation, not just take the first thing offered in AR 600-8-22, Para 2-20 which supports awarding or not awarding the medal. I see this all the time. Everything in that must be taken into the correct analytical framework with the proper intent applied. Any questions or clarifications can be answered by HRC (I leverage the HRC Enlisted branch, but HRC will direct the question to the right area).

https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Global%20War%20on%20Terrorism%20Expeditionary%20Medal%20GWOTEM%20and%20Global%20War%20on%20Terrorism%20Service%20Medal%20GWOTSM

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Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2021 3:56 AM

2021-02-05T03:56:02-05:00

Yes