WASHINGTON (Army News Service, April 8, 2005) -- Soldiers can begin putting on the new Iraq and Afghanistan campaign medals after the Department of the Army approved the final implementation rules for them April 8.

Soldiers are eligible for the Afghanistan Campaign Medal if they: served in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom on or after Oct. 24, 2001 until a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of the operation. The area of eligibility includes all the land area of Afghanistan and all the air space above the land.

Soldiers are eligible to receive the Iraq Campaign Medal if they: Served in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on or after March 19, 2003, to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of the operation. The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the country of Iraq, the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles and all air spaces above them.

Soldiers must serve 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in either area, or be engaged in combat during their service; be wounded or injured requiring evacuation from the area.

The medals replace the former Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Denise Harris, assistant chief of the policy section, military awards, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, said the currently serving Soldiers need no orders to receive the medals, and that battalion-level commanders generally determine eligibility.

"Typically, the commanders will send a service roster of the award to the personnel center, and it will be included in the Soldiers records," Harris said. "So the commanders will make the recommendation."

Soldiers who already have the GWOT Expeditionary Medal, for service in Iraq or Afghanistan, may apply for the new medal in lieu of the earlier one, Harris said.

"All they have to do is take their orders to their personnel office, and the personnel center will change the records," she said.

Once the new campaign medal is received, the old GWOT medal cannot be worn, Harris said.

Harris said the ribbons for the new awards are in the supply chain now, but the medals won't be available for issue until May 1.

"For the initial issue, the Soldiers should be able to go to their supply clerks, they shouldn't have to buy them out of their own pockets," Harris said.