Afghanistan Campaign Medal

Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Defense Logistics Agency · Public domain · source
Name	Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Awarded by	United States Department of Defense
Type	Campaign medal
For	Service in the Afghanistan War
Status	Inactive
Established	Executive Order 13363, November 29, 2004
First award	October 24, 2001
Last award	December 31, 2014
Higher	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Lower	Iraq Campaign Medal

Afghanistan Campaign Medal. The Afghanistan Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces created by Executive Order 13363 signed by President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004. It was awarded to members of the U.S. military who performed duty within the borders of Afghanistan or its airspace in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) or subsequent operations. The medal recognizes service during a defined period of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) from October 24, 2001, to December 31, 2014.

Overview

The medal was established to specifically recognize the service of American military personnel in the prolonged conflict in Afghanistan, distinct from the broader Global War on Terrorism. It succeeded the initial award for the conflict, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, for service in that theater after May 1, 2005. The period of eligibility encompasses the major combat phases of Operation Enduring Freedom, the subsequent International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission, and operations leading up to the transition to Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Administration of the award falls under the purview of the United States Department of Defense and the individual military departments.

Criteria

To qualify for the medal, service members must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the defined area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. The area includes the total land area of Afghanistan and all air spaces above the country. Personnel serving on permanent assignment to Bagram Airfield, Kandahar Airfield, or other forward operating bases like Camp Leatherneck typically met the criteria. Exceptions to the time requirement were made for those engaged in actual combat, killed, or wounded in action, or for aircrew members accumulating flight hours over the region. Service members who qualified for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for service in Afghanistan prior to May 1, 2005, could elect to receive that medal instead.

Appearance and design

The medal's bronze disc features a relief map of Afghanistan superimposed by two crossed scimitars, points upward, with a rayed sun behind them. This central motif is encircled by a ring bearing the inscriptions “AFGHANISTAN CAMPAIGN” at the top and the years “2001-2014” at the bottom, separated by dots. The reverse displays an eagle with raised wings, adapted from the Great Seal of the United States, above a laurel wreath, with the words “FOR SERVICE IN AFGHANISTAN” along the rim. The ribbon is predominantly scarlet red, with thin stripes of black, green, and white on the edges, and a central stripe of blue flanked by white, echoing the colors of the Flag of Afghanistan and the Flag of the United States.

Order of wear and devices

In the order of precedence of United States military decorations, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal is worn after the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and before the Iraq Campaign Medal. Two campaign stars are authorized for wear on the medal's suspension and service ribbon to denote participation in designated campaign phases. The stars are for the “Liberation of Afghanistan” (October 24, 2001 – November 30, 2001) and the “Consolidation of Afghanistan” (December 1, 2001 – December 31, 2014). A bronze arrowhead device is authorized for those who participated in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, or amphibious assault landing in the theater. The arrowhead is worn on the suspension ribbon of the medal.

Recipients

Hundreds of thousands of service members from all branches of the United States Armed Forces, including the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, United States Air Force, and United States Coast Guard, received the medal. Notable units that participated include the 101st Airborne Division, 10th Mountain Division, 82nd Airborne Division, and III Marine Expeditionary Force. The medal was also awarded posthumously to those killed in action, such as personnel who died during the Battle of Marjah, the Battle of Wanat, or in incidents involving improvised explosive devices. Allied foreign military personnel serving under U.S. command or in joint operations were also eligible for the award.