Afghanistan Campaign Medal

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Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Obverse and reverse
TypeCampaign medal
Awarded forService in Afghanistan from October 24, 2001 to August 31, 2021.
Presented bythe U.S. Department of Defense[1] and Department of Homeland Security[2]
EligibilityU.S. military personnel
StatusInactive
EstablishedEO 13363, November 29, 2004; 19 years ago (2004-11-29)
First awardedJune 2005 (retroactive to October 24, 2001)


Service ribbon and campaign streamer
Precedence
Next (higher)Kosovo Campaign Medal[3]
Next (lower)Iraq Campaign Medal[3]
RelatedGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
NATO Medal

The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004, and became available for general distribution in June 2005.[4][5] The medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry.[6][7]

The Afghanistan Campaign Medal is awarded to any member of the United States military who has performed duty within the borders of Afghanistan (or its airspace) for a period of thirty consecutive days or sixty non-consecutive days. The medal is retroactive to October 24, 2001, and was active until the conclusion of Operation Allies Refuge on August 31, 2021.[8] Personnel who have been engaged in combat with an enemy force, or personnel who have been wounded in combat within Afghanistan, may receive the ACM regardless of the number of days spent within the country. The medal was also awarded posthumously to any service member who died in the line of duty within Afghanistan, including from non-combat injuries such as accidents and mishaps.[9][10]

Campaign phases and devices[edit]

The following are the approved campaign phases and respective dates for the Afghanistan Campaign Medal:[11][12][13][14][15]

Phase From To
Liberation of Afghanistan September 11, 2001 November 30, 2001
Consolidation I December 1, 2001 September 30, 2006
Consolidation II October 1, 2006 November 30, 2009
Consolidation III December 1, 2009 June 30, 2011
Transition I July 1, 2011 December 31, 2014
Transition II (Note 1) January 1, 2015 August 31, 2021[16]
Note 1: For Operation FREEDOM's SENTINEL pursuant to USD(P&R)
memorandum dated February 13, 2015, titled, "Afghanistan Campaign Medal –
Operation FREEDOM’s SENTINEL and Transition II Campaign Phase."

Examples of campaign stars worn on the Afghanistan Campaign Medal service ribbon:

Bronze star
 One of the six phases
Bronze star
Bronze star
 Two of the six phases
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
 Three of the six phases
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
 Four of the six phases
Silver star
 Five of the six phases
Silver star
Bronze star
 All six phases

The following ribbon devices are authorized for wear on the Afghanistan Campaign Medal:[4][17][12][18][19][20][21][22]

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal[edit]

The Afghanistan Campaign Medal replaces the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-EM) for service in Afghanistan and personnel who previously received the GWOT-EM for Afghanistan service may elect to exchange the medal for the ACM.[23] Both medals may not be received for the same period of service in Afghanistan and any current Afghanistan service will only be recognized with the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.[24]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Issuances" (PDF). www.esd.whs.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-12. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  2. ^ "Data" (PDF). media.defense.gov. 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Army Regulation 600–8–22 Military Awards" (PDF). Army Publishing Directorate. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Department of Defense Manual 1348.33, Volume 2" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. 21 December 2016. pp. 20–21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Executive Order: Establishing the Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals". 29 November 2004. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Error". Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Factsheets : Afghanistan Campaign Medal". Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Afghanistan Campaign Medal - Campaign Phases" (PDF). United States Department of Defense. 14 April 2022.
  9. ^ "DoD Announces Criteria for Two New Campaign Medals" Archived 2011-05-30 at the Wayback Machine United States Department of Defense 07 April 2005
  10. ^ "New Campaign Medals Recognize Iraq, Afghanistan Service" Archived April 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine United States Department of Defense 07 April 2005
  11. ^ "Afghanistan Campaign Medal - Approved Campaign Phases" (PDF). PRHome.Defense.gov. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Afghanistan Campaign Medal or Iraq Campaign Medal". Awards and Decorations Branch Article. Army Human Resource Command. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  13. ^ "News Release: Additional Phases Identified for Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals". Defense.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-01-15. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  14. ^ "New Campaign phase approved" (PDF).
  15. ^ DoD News, Defense Media Activity. "Operation Freedom's Sentinel Qualifies for Campaign Medal". Department of Defense. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
    Tilghman, Andrew (19 February 2015). "Despite war's end, Pentagon extends Afghanistan campaign medal". MilitaryTimes. Gannett. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  16. ^ "Afghanistan Campaign Medal for Operation Freedom's Sentinel". Archived from the original on 2024-01-06.
  17. ^ "Department of Defense Manual 1348.33, Volume 3" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. 23 November 2010. p. 51. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  18. ^ Army Regulation 600-8-22 Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ Air Force Instruction 36-2803 Archived 2013-02-16 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "NAVADMIN 141/08". Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2008.
  21. ^ Two Bulls, Richard. "Campaign Stars Established to Recognize Multiple Deployments". Naval Media Center Public Affairs. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  22. ^ Coast Guard Commandant Instruction 1650.25D
  23. ^ "Department of Defense Manual 1348.33, Volume 2" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. 21 December 2016. pp. 32–35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  24. ^ "Afghanistan Campaign Medal". edocket.access.gpo.gov.
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