Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Awarded by U.S. Department of Defense
Type	Service medal
Eligibility	September 11, 2001 – present
Awarded for	Direct support in service to the Global War on Terrorism
Status	Active
Statistics
Established	, March 12, 2003
Precedence
Next (higher)	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Next (lower)	Korea Defense Service Medal
Related	National Defense Service Medal
Ribbon bar & Streamer

The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-S) is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13289 on March 12, 2003 by President George W. Bush. The award recognizes those military service members who have performed service in the War on Terror from September 11, 2001, to a date yet to be determined.

In September 2002, the U.S. Department of Defense sent a request to the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry to provide a design for a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. In January 2003, a design was completed, which was then approved and made official in March 2003.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal will cease being awarded when the from September 2001 is rescinded by the U.S. president.

The following are the seven established operations for the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal recognized by the Department of Defense:

The Coast Guard awards the medal for different operations (qv).

To receive the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a military service member must perform duty in a 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 initial authorized operation for the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal was the so-called "Airport Security Operation" which occurred between September 27, 2001 and May 31, 2002. Additional operations, for which the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is authorized, include the active military campaigns of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Future operations are at the discretion of United States component commanders upon approval from the United States Department of Defense.