Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
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| Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | |
|---|---|
| Name | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |
| Caption | Obverse and ribbon of the medal |
| Presenter | United States Department of Defense |
| Type | United States military award |
| Eligibility | United States Armed Forces |
| Awarded for | Service in designated operations in the Global War on Terrorism |
| Status | Superseded for some operations by theater-specific campaign medals |
| Established | March 12, 2003 |
| First awarded | 2003 |
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal was a United States decoration created to recognize military personnel who deployed abroad in designated operations after the September 11 attacks and during the broader Global War on Terrorism. It functioned alongside the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and later intersected with theater-specific awards such as the Iraq Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal. The medal's issuance involved policy determinations by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of the Army affecting service members across the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Army, and United States Air Force.
History and authorization
The medal was established by order of President George W. Bush and authorized by the Department of Defense in 2003, following Congressional and executive responses to operations stemming from the Al-Qaeda attacks on World Trade Center and Pentagon. Its creation paralleled authorizations for the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and responded to operational demands in theaters such as Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and other named campaigns directed by United States Central Command and United States Pacific Command. Policy guidance was issued by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and implemented through service-specific directives like Navy Administrative Messages and Army regulations, reflecting evolving classifications used by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Combatant Commands.
Eligibility criteria and qualifying operations
Eligibility required deployment to designated areas of eligibility in direct support of approved operations, typically for prescribed durations or under specific circumstances determined by the Secretary of Defense or designated combatant commanders. Qualifying operations initially included Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and were later adjusted to include actions in regions under commands such as United States Central Command, United States European Command, and United States Africa Command. Criteria intersected with statutory authorities like the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists and operational orders issued by commanders such as the Commander, U.S. Central Command. Determinations on concurrent award entitlement involved references to regulations from the Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, and Department of the Air Force, and coordination with award authorities in units including III Corps, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, and 2nd Infantry Division.
Design and symbolism
The medal’s obverse featured a central character and symbols representing expeditionary service, while the reverse displayed inscriptions denoting service in the Global War on Terrorism; the ribbon employed color bands symbolizing theaters and threats identified after September 11 attacks. The design work involved Institute of Heraldry (U.S. Army), which has responsibility for insignia used by institutions such as the United States Coast Guard and the U.S. Military Academy. Visual elements echoed motifs found on decorations like the Bronze Star Medal and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, situating the medal within the broader iconography of American military awards administered by the Department of Defense.
Awarding procedures and devices
Issuance of the medal followed administrative procedures codified in service regulations and notices from authorities such as the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of the Army. Service members received the medal through unit award officers and personnel centers like the Navy Personnel Command and the Army Human Resources Command. Devices denoting additional awards or participation included service stars and campaign stars similar to attachments used on the Iraq Campaign Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal; individual valor or merit could be recognized separately with decorations such as the Bronze Star Medal or the Purple Heart depending on the circumstances. Disputes over eligibility often invoked reviews by personnel boards and appeals to commanders in formations including U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Air Combat Command.
Subsequent changes and replacements
As theater-specific campaign medals were authorized—most notably the Iraq Campaign Medal in 2004 and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal—policy shifted to award those campaign medals in lieu of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for qualifying service in those theaters, governed by memoranda from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and decisions by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Retroactive award adjustments, conversion options, and coordination with service personnel records were managed by agencies such as the Defense Manpower Data Center and service personnel systems across the United States Marine Corps and United States Air Force. Subsequent debates in the United States Congress and among veteran organizations like the American Legion influenced guidance on retroactive conversion and archival documentation.
Notable recipients and unit citations
Recipients included personnel from operations under commands such as United States Central Command and units involved in named engagements like Fallujah and campaigns recognized by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army. High-profile awardees encompassed service members who later received decorations like the Silver Star or the Medal of Honor for actions during operations initially qualifying for the Expeditionary Medal. Units from formations such as the 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Marine Division, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), and SEAL Team Six received citations and were associated with periods when the medal was authorized. Veteran advocacy organizations including Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans have recorded and archived cases related to issuance and conversion of the medal.