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Iraq Campaign Medal

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by RUSMCUSA (talk | contribs) at 18:40, 6 June 2009 (change to date of award. the Aug 31 date is not set as a final ending date for the award as of this date. The WWII victory medal was given out until Dec 1946...the Aug 31 date means nothing). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Iraq Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
TypeCampaign Medal
StatusCurrent


Ribbon & Streamer
Precedence
Next (higher)Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Next (lower)Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
RelatedGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

The Iraq Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on May 28, 2004. The Iraq Campaign Medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry.

The Iraq Campaign Medal became available for general distribution in June 2005. The decoration is awarded to any member of the U.S. military who has performed duty within the borders of Iraq (or its territorial waters) for a period of thirty consecutive days or sixty non-consecutive days. The medal is retroactive to March 19, 2003 and is active until a date to be determined. Personnel who have been engaged in combat with an enemy force, or personnel who have been wounded in combat or wounded as a result of a terrorist attack within Iraq, may receive the Iraq Campaign Medal regardless of the number of days spent within the country. The medal is also awarded posthumously to any service member who dies in the line of duty within Iraq, including from non-combat injuries such as accidents and mishaps.

The Iraq Campaign Medal may be awarded with the Arrowhead device for qualified soldiers. The Iraq Campaign Medal may be awarded with the combat operation insignia for qualified sailors assigned to Marine Corps units. The following are the established combat campaigns authorized for service stars to the Iraq Campaign Medal[1].

  • Liberation of Iraq – March 19, 2003 to May 1, 2003.
  • Transition of Iraq – May 2, 2003 to June 28, 2004.
  • Iraqi Governance – June 29, 2004 to Dec. 15, 2005.
  • National Resolution – Dec. 16, 2005 to a date to be determined

This decoration replaces the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for service in Iraq and personnel who previously received the GWOTEM for Iraq service may elect to exchange the medal for the new Iraq Campaign Medal. Both medals may not be received for the same period of service in Iraq and any current Iraq service will be recognized only with the Iraq Campaign Medal.

Notes and references

U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) News Release