Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Awarded by United States Department of Defense
Type	Expeditionary Medal
Eligibility	11 September 2001 – present
Awarded for	overseas direct service to the Global War on Terrorism
Status	Active
Statistics
Established	, 12 March 2003
First awarded	Retroactive to 11 September 2001
Last awarded	TBD
Precedence
Next (higher)	Iraq Campaign Medal
Next (lower)	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Ribbon bar & Streamer

The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) is a United States armed forces military award created by George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 by Executive Order 13289. It recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from September 11, 2001 to a date to be determined. Prior to April 30, 2005 the medal was awarded for service within Iraq and Afghanistan, but has been replaced with the Iraq Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal and now serves primarily as recognition for personnel who have deployed in support of the War on Terror to locations beyond Iraq and Afghanistan. In a similar fashion the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal is now issued instead for service in the fight against ISIS, with eligibility retroactive to June 15, 2014.

The following are the established operations for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (retroactive until 11 SEP 2001):

The GWOT-E is a Defense Department campaign medal. Award of this medal does not prevent award of other types of recognition (such as decorations) normally associated with deployment. This medal may be awarded posthumously. Effective February 9, 2015,  ³⁄₁₆ inch service stars are authorized for wear to recognize individual participation in each of the authorized operations.

To be awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal a military service member must perform duty in a deployed status and must participate in designated anti-terrorism operation for a period of either 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days of duty. For those who were engaged in combat, killed, or wounded in the line of duty, the time requirement is waived. The term "deployed status" indicates either temporary or permanent orders to a duty station outside the borders of the United States of America with such duty being in direct support of anti-terrorism operations. For a service member to receive the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the deployment must also have taken place in a nation which is currently recognized as a base for anti-terrorism operations by the United States Department of Defense.