New Air Force Award Unveiled

[Megan]

And this:

Executive Order 13363 of November 29, 2004 Establishing the Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including my authority as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States and Public Law 108?234, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Afghanistan Campaign Medal. There is hereby established the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with suitable appurtenances. Except as limited in section 3 of this order, and under uniform regulations to be prescribed by the Secretaries of the military departments and approved by the Secretary of Defense, or under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal shall be awarded to members of the uniformed services of the United States who serve or have served in Afghanistan or contiguous air space, as defined by such regulations, on or after October 24, 2001, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.

Sec. 2. Iraq Campaign Medal. There is hereby established the Iraq Campaign Medal with suitable appurtenances. Except as limited in section 3 of this order, and under uniform regulations to be prescribed by the Secretaries of the military departments and approved by the Secretary of Defense, or under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, the Iraq Campaign Medal shall be awarded to members of the uniformed services of the United States who serve or have served in Iraq or contiguous waters or air space, as defined by such regulations, on or after March 19, 2003, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.

[Ed_Haynes]

It does get confusing, Im wearing at the moment the GWOTSM ,GWOTEM AND the Iraq campaign medal.... most don't get both (Iraq and GWOTEM) mot guys got the expeditionary medal which means no Iraq campaign or vice versa. I was stuck in Kuwait for a little over a month which earned me the GWOTEM then once in Iraq I got the campaign medal which technically is a different Theatre.....wheeeew not sure if that makes much sense

Eric

Absolutely, Eric, my understanding is that it is:

1- Expedtiionary

2- Iraq

3- Afghanistan

Pick two.

At least that is how it was (seems to have been) at first. The planning and forethought seems scant (on medals too).

Obviously, there was no original intent of instituting the two specific theater medals and using the one-size fits all expeditionary medal. Moreover, I don't think there was the belief that these wars would go on the way they have. So far, I have heard nothing on campaign stars (or redeployment numbers, like the UN medals?). As multiple tours, in either or both, become universal, here's something else that wants reexamination.

[Eric K.]

It does get confusing, Im wearing at the moment the GWOTSM ,GWOTEM AND the Iraq campaign medal.... most don't get both (Iraq and GWOTEM) mot guys got the expeditionary medal which means no Iraq campaign or vice versa. I was stuck in Kuwait for a little over a month which earned me the GWOTEM then once in Iraq I got the campaign medal which technically is a different Theatre.....wheeeew not sure if that makes much sense

Eric

But of course if you have the GWOTEM you can "trade it in for the IraqAfghan campaign, but like most people they just wait for the next tour to get the campaign medals.

Eric

[Eric K.]

[

Edited July 20, 2007 by Eric K.

[Eric K.]

Absolutely, Eric, my understanding is that it is:

1- Expedtiionary

2- Iraq

3- Afghanistan

Pick two.

At least that is how it was (seems to have been) at first. The planning and forethought seems scant (on medals too).

Obviously, there was no original intent of instituting the two specific theater medals and using the one-size fits all expeditionary medal. Moreover, I don't think there was the belief that these wars would go on the way they have. So far, I have heard nothing on campaign stars (or redeployment numbers, like the UN medals?). As multiple tours, in either or both, become universal, here's something else that wants reexamination.

AHHH the campaign star, Alot of us are wondering whenif this is going to happen, as of now theres no word but it would make sense, I mean I have a star on my NDM so why not put a couple more on the Iraq

Afghan medals?

And then what about the stars on the CIB??? ( I know a little off topic) Afghanistan and Iraq are the same theatre so it's not authorized BUT pertaining the the GWOTEM Kuwait is a different theatre???? The pain!!!!!

Eric

Edited July 20, 2007 by Eric K.

[Ed_Haynes]

And here is an effort at "clarification".

ACM_and_ICM_Implementing_Instructions_CHANGE_1.pdf

[Eric K.]

Ed,

you see that in para 3. it says Your not entitled to the GWOTEM as a staging unit in Kuwait ....but if your there longer than the 2 week in processing your considered permanent party...which entitles you the GWOTEM

Eric

[Ed_Haynes]

To drag us back toward topic -- and we are really not THAT far off -- all of this, the new Air Force doo-dad and the overlapping mess of awards and policies for service in Iraq and Afghanistan, just show how the US awards "system" is like a runaway locomotive, with no planning, no direction, no forethought. The designers and the implementers of policy are simply designing THINGS on a computer with no understanding of phaleristic or heraldic standards (much less coherent and logical award regulations). However much people may (reasonably) complain about recent UK, Canadian, Australian, ____ awards, they have a way to go to descend to the depths of the USA.

[Paul R]

everyone in the Army gets one as soon as you graduate basic, the expeditionary medal you actually have to "earn" well at least go overseas for 1 day hahaha

Eric

It is not a day. I think that it is 30 days consecutive or 60 days non consecutive, like any other campaign medal.

Also, the GWOTEM and a campaign medal cannot be earned at the same time. For example, when I was deployed there, I was awarded the GWOTEM. The campaign medal was not even around then. Now if someone is deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, they would be awarded EITHER the campaign medal or the GWOTEM. Not both.

In order to get both, the member would have to have two separate deployments.

Today, members who deploy get:

Campaign medal OR GWOTEM(dependent on Geographical locations)

Everyone gets(deployed or not):

National Defense

GWOTSM

Paul

[Guest Darrell]

For Iraq

Ed, is this medal yours? What;s the maker? VANGUARD ... something or other? That's a new one on me

[Paul R]

The maker is Vanguard. They make most of our medals and and ribbon bars.

[Tiger-pie]

To drag us back toward topic -- and we are really not THAT far off -- all of this, the new Air Force doo-dad and the overlapping mess of awards and policies for service in Iraq and Afghanistan, just show how the US awards "system" is like a runaway locomotive, with no planning, no direction, no forethought. The designers and the implementers of policy are simply designing THINGS on a computer with no understanding of phaleristic or heraldic standards (much less coherent and logical award regulations). However much people may (reasonably) complain about recent UK, Canadian, Australian, ____ awards, they have a way to go to descend to the depths of the USA.

A very long way Ed...

I can't speak for the UK system because I don't have a great deal of knowledge about it, but at least the Commonwealth countries have straight forward rules with little or no grey area to create confusion. I have been in contact with both the Canadian and New Zealand Honours and Awards high level staff seeking their advice and they came across as very switched on, and their rules are similar to our own.

Sidenote: I have put in a proposal for an Australian Memorial Cross similar in design to the Canadian and NZ type, thus needed their advice on rules and regulations so that my proposal look more polished.

When I joined I only ever expected to be wearing a long service medal when I got out. You didn't see many multiple medal groups among Aussies, except for the Vietnam blokes who were still about (you still see the occasional Vietnam group/modern combo with some of the older reserves doing desk jobs).

Now the world is a much changed place and the younger generation want visual recognition of their achievements, so now not only do we have medals, but things such as (using Navy as an example, though it applies to all services) Sea Readiness Badge, Commendation Badges in Bronze, Silver or Gold for those who have "picked from the crowd" and qualification badges for various branches of the officer corp and some specialist trade badges for NCO's. This all adds up to a lot of holes in your shirt!

Most of these have only been relatively recent developments, though it has caused a bit of friction (read jealous) among those who left prior to their implimentation.

Personally I don't think we get much more than what our forebears did, it is just that the qualification times in "war" or "war-like" areas have decreased to reflect the reduced combat times of modern warfare (well until we got bogged down in a couple of places anyway), and we get at least one shiny badge to pin on.

Then there is peace-keeping/humanitarian missions medals, but I think that is outside of the scope of this discussion as they are usually non-military awards, or come from an external agency such as the UN.

Regards;

Johnsy

Edited July 24, 2007 by Tiger-pie

[Ulsterman]

Decadent! Decadent!

That top medal looks like the OMSA award.

[Ed_Haynes]

Decadent! Decadent!

That top medal looks like the OMSA award.

Come on, the OMSA awards aren't THAT bad.

[Andwwils]

I know that right now upon completion of Army BCT every newly trained soldier graduates with 3 ribbons.

National Defense Service Medal

WOTSM

Army Service Ribbon

Direct-commission officers automatically receive the Army Achievement Medal upon completion of their various OBC's.

The Air Force Honor Graduate Ribbon is very hard to get, don't know about the other AF awards new recruits are eligible for upon completion of basic training.

[Paul C]

What a darn joke! The number os BS medals that are being given out these days is obsurd. Medal and decoration should be given for real acts of valor, nit just for showing up. While I agree a campaign is a nice idea I don't think it should be given for just being in the service. My niece graduated from USMC bootcamp and already had a campaign ribbon. I really think when decorations are given out like candy it demeans those who have really earned their decoration.

[Guest Darrell]

Ribbon Bars are available on e-bay already. If anyone sees the medals for sale please send me a link

[David S]

Here's a close up of a pic (too big to post) of one of the first awards in June

[Guest Darrell]

Here's a close up of a pic (too big to post) of one of the first awards in June

Good pic David

[Ed_Haynes]

Just noticed that Medals of America has it for sale.

[Ed_Haynes]

The thing:

[David S]

I still think they could have done a much better job with medal itself, and the ribbon.

The medal is very similar the the Defense DSM and Superior Svc.

I would have made the ribbon a AF blue with white stripes, not red and gold. It's kinda hard on the eyes

[Ed_Haynes]

I would have made the ribbon a AF blue with white stripes, not red and gold. It's kinda hard on the eyes

Interestingly, the ribbon is based on the colors used by Billy Mitchell for his own WWI aircraft insignia (and the first Air Corps patches). (Per the lecture at the '07 OMSA by the head of the DoD department that designed it.) We may not like it, but there is a conscious link back to history. And, for that, I give them points, many points, maybe enough points.

Some design aspects may irritate those with a five-year jingoistic historical perspective, but . . . ???

I don't like it, much, but like it better, knowing all this, I think? It grows on me, I think.

(Though the ribbon is tacky-synthetic-nasty, but how else to make it these days?! And the stripes are more gold-yellow than the metallic gold they appear to be.)

Edited October 18, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[David S]

Interestingly, the ribbon is based on the colors used by Billy Mitchell for his own WWI aircraft insignia (and the first Air Corps patches). (Per the lecture at the '07 OMSA by the head of the DoD department that designed it.) We may not like it, but there is a conscious link back to history. And, for that, I give them points, many points, maybe enough points.

Dang . . .they actually used a historical perspective on the ribbon design. Gives them a great deal of points in my book

Thanks for the history lesson . . . now where's that good swift kick smiley (for me !)

[Mortyr]

From the site,

a little quote from the criteria..

"The Air Force released in writing Monday the criteria for receiving the Combat Action Medal, the Air Force's equivalent to the Army's Combat Action Badges and Marine Corps and Navy Combat Action Ribbon."

So where others get a badge or a ribbon, the airforce, who are already really the clerks of the whole defence, will get a medal, just to have another jingle jangle going on.

I think that they feel they get too few medals compared to the army or other departments.....

Well, let's say that's another medal we can collect legally as it isn't mentioned in the stolen valor act.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Kind regards,

Jacky

Clerks? Really, tell me more, it seems when I was in Iraq standing at a memorial ceremony for the postumous award of a bronze star to Airman First Class Leebernard Chavez last year from being killed by a sniper he didn't appear to be a "clerk." You need to do your homework before you make such an ignorant comment and save yourself the embarasment.