How can a Veteran verify awards conferred after their exit from service?

2015-01-23T17:19:26-05:00

I got out of the Navy 16 Jan 2002. I'm told by former shipmates that our entire command was authorized the GWOT Service Medal after I was out (so it's obviously not on my DD-214), but encompassing the time I was serving. How can I verify this? (I've checked with NDAWS, but they only handle personal awards above the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.)

This is important to me because I'm looking to re-enter the service by the end of this year and I don't want to wear any awards I'm not authorized.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2015 7:16 PM

2015-01-23T19:16:54-05:00

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member, in the Army we would check with our S-1 or military personnel office to get a "call" on this question. I would think the Navy equivalent could provide an answer.

It's an interesting question: The award was presented after you left the service, but it covers a period when you were in the service.

Here's a page about Navy and the GWOTEM/GWOTSM:

https://awards.navy.mil/awards/webapp01.nsf/%28vwAwardsDisp%29/AW-10052085N47U?OpenDocument

I would think you might be able to use that to determine if you are authorized to wear the medal.

Response by Capt Michael Greene made Apr 26 at 2016 1:12 AM

2016-04-26T01:12:16-04:00

We received nearly the whole personnel record from the Nat Pers Records Center at 1 Archives Drive, St Louis MO 63138, http://www.archives.gov. [login to see] .

In reality, when I left the Navy and joined the USAF, I simply told the clerk what I had and they updated the record. :)

National Archives and Records Administration