How does someone get a campaign medal with no campaign stars?

SrA Jared Hall — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 20:05:21 -0500

I have seen several service members who have campaign medal ribbons on their rack with no campaign star(s). How does that happen?

Response by TSgt David L. made Feb 4 at 2020 8:07 PM

TSgt David L. — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 20:07:42 -0500

The campaign star is for multiple awards as far as I know. My Iraq ribbon has a star for my second deployment to the theater.

Response by John H Green Jr made Feb 4 at 2020 8:15 PM

John H Green Jr — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 20:15:22 -0500

A bronze service star has a different meaning depending on the award. For example a National defense service medal uses a star to represent a person who served over multiple times our country has been at war. A campaign star represents multiple campaigns or in the case of the ICM PH
phases not necessarily deployments. I served during the "surge" so I have two stars (phase 4&5).

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 4 at 2020 9:21 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 21:21:19 -0500

The campaign stars are for participation For a particular campaign on the ICM, ACM and now the GWOT and GWSM. Contrary to popular misconception it works the same way with the NDSM as well.

One usually has to tell the personnel people which campaigns you participated in in order for the campaign stars to be applied to the appropriate document (for Army types the SRB/ORB).

It has nothing to do with how many trips you made to what country for those espousing that point.

Example 2-16 Afghan Campaign Medal AR600-8-22
....(4) One bronze service star will be worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the ACM for participation in each designated campaign (see para 6–8 for further information on the bronze service star). (The designated campaigns for Afghanistan are listed in app B.)

I participated in 3 campaigns for two deployments to Afghanistan during the qualifying period. Consolidation I, Consolidation II, and Transition I.

Being in country for 30 consecutive or 60 non consecutive days qualifies you for the medal. There was a push for people to put the right campaign stars on the medal. To the posed question how can people not have campaign stars: either didn't meet the qualification or they don't understand the rules for their particular campaign medal and they just don't.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2020 10:11 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 22:11:13 -0500

It could be that the person(s) in question does not know they are to have bronze service star devices on their campaign ribbons.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Feb 4 at 2020 10:43 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 22:43:59 -0500

SrA Jared Hall I Don't Know about Other Services but Stars or Oak Leaf on Navy Medals and Ribbons generally denote Subsequent Awards. My JMUC has an Oak Leaf, My MUC has a Star, GSM has 4 Stars, AFEM has a Star, SSR has a Star and OSR has 3 Stars.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 5 at 2020 11:54 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 11:54:42 -0500

Look the stars mean more than one phase of the campaign. Instance GF1- Desert Shield, Desert Storm, GF Reclamation- all 3 phases.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 8 at 2022 7:59 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sun, 08 May 2022 19:59:21 -0400

Simple. They don't know the regulations, failed to place the appropriate campaign stars on their awards, and are wearing them improperly.
Never assume a uniform implies competence or knowledge.