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United States Department of Defense News Release

          The Defense Department announced today the final approval of the Global War on Terrorism Medals.  These medals recognize the significant contributions members of the armed forces bring to bear in combating terrorism in all forms throughout the world -- for both current and future operations. 

          Presidential Executive Order 13289 previously authorized the medals, which come in expeditionary and service versions.  The expeditionary medal is for those who deploy to designated combat areas, and the service medal is for those who serve in support of operations to combat terrorism. 

• Be engaged in actual combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action, regardless of time in the area of eligibility;

• While participating in the designated operation, regardless of time, be killed, wounded or injured requiring medical evacuation from the area of eligibility; or

• Be regularly assigned aircrew member flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in direct support of Operations Enduring Freedom and/or Iraqi Freedom.  Each day that one or more  sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria shall count as one day toward the 30 or 60-day requirement.  

          Individuals authorized the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal must have participated in or served in support of Global War on Terrorism operations on or after Sept.11, 2001, and to a future date to be determined by the secretary of defense.  Initial award of the service medal will be limited to airport security operations (from Sept. 27, 2001, until May 31, 2002) and to servicemembers who support Operations Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, and Iraqi Freedom.  Each combatant commander has the authority to approve award of the service medal for units and personnel deployed to their theater of operations. 

         Servicemembers must be assigned, attached or mobilized to a unit participating in or serving in support of 

designated operations for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, or meet one of  the following criteria:

• Be engaged in actual combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action, regardless of time in the area of eligibility.

• While participating in the designated operation, regardless of time, be killed, wounded or injured requiring medical evacuation from the area of eligibility.

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          The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal will be positioned above the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal in precedence; both shall directly follow the Kosovo Campaign Medal.

          Each military department will prescribe appropriate regulations for processing awarding and wearing of the medals and ribbons for their servicemembers, to include application procedures for veterans, retirees, and next-of-kin.

          In consideration of new military roles in a post-Sept. 11^th environment, the department developed these awards for military members to provide flexible and tangible recognition for those serving in the current war against terrorism, a war that spans the globe and includes many diverse campaigns.

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20040226-1021.html