JUNE 18, 2015, JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) – Active-duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen who earned the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for more than one of the five Defense Department approved Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal operations may now wear a service star device on the medal and service ribbon for the second and subsequent awards, Air Force officials said June 15.
The policy is retroactive to Sept. 11, 2001, and covers the following approved operations and inclusive dates:
– Operation Enduring Freedom, Sept. 11, 2001-date TBD
– Operation Iraqi Freedom, March 19, 2003-Aug. 31, 2010
– Operation Nomad Shadow, Nov. 5, 2007-date TBD
– Operation New Dawn, Sept. 1, 2010-Dec. 31, 2011
– Operation Inherent Resolve, June 15, 2014-date TBD
For example, an Airman who is awarded the GWOT-E for an Operation Enduring Freedom deployment and a second medal for an Operation Inherent Resolve deployment would wear the medal or service ribbon with one service star device.
Although the policy is retroactive, conversions are not authorized. Airmen who initially earned the GWOT-E and elected to accept the Iraqi Campaign, Afghanistan Campaign or Air Force Expeditionary Medal instead cannot convert back to the expeditionary medal and add a service star for subsequent awards.
Airmen awarded the GWOT-E who have completed a subsequent deployment to a qualifying area/operation should take supporting documents to their local military personnel section to have their records updated to reflect the award of a service star to their GWOT-E. Supporting documents include contingency exercise deployment orders or completed paid travel vouchers, or decoration citations which indicate the deployment dates, deployment area and/or name of the operation.
For more information about Air Force personnel programs go to myPers. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following the instructions on the Air Force Retirees Services website.