Iraq Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Awarded by United States Department of Defense
Type	Campaign Medal
Status	Inactive[1]
Statistics
Established	November 29, 2004[2]
Precedence
Next (higher)	Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Next (lower)	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Related	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Ribbon & Streamer

The Iraq Campaign Medal 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.^[2] The Iraq Campaign Medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry.^[3]

  Criteria

The Iraq Campaign Medal became available for general distribution in June 2005.^[4] It was awarded to any member of the U.S. military who 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 was awarded retroactively from March 19, 2003 until the end of Operation New Dawn on December 31, 2011.^[5] Personnel who engaged in combat with an enemy force, or personnel wounded in combat or wounded as a result of a terrorist attack within Iraq received the Iraq Campaign Medal regardless of the number of days spent within the country.

In addition, each day participating in aerial missions as a "regularly assigned air crewmember of an aircraft flying sorties into, out of, within or over Iraq and in direct support of the military operations" established a single day of eligibility, when the required minimum days of eligibility were accrued, the medal was then awarded.^[6]

The medal was also awarded posthumously to any service member who died in the line of duty within Iraq, including from non-combat injuries such as accidents and mishaps.^[7][8]

On April 23, 2012, an order terminating the award of the campaign medal was issued by the Department of Defense. The order is effective to December 31, 2011, the day Operation New Dawn ended.^[1] Personnel serving in Iraq after 2011 will not be eligible to receive the Iraq Campaign Medal ^[9]

  Devices and campaigns

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.^[10] On June 23, 2011 a DOD announcement closed the Iraqi Sovereignty phase and authorized an additional service star for participation in Operation New Dawn.^[11]

• Liberation of Iraq – March 19 to May 1, 2003
• Transition of Iraq – May 2, 2003 to June 28, 2004
• Iraqi Governance – June 29, 2004 to December 15, 2005
• National Resolution – December 16, 2005 to January 9, 2007
• Iraqi Surge - January 10, 2007 to December 31, 2008
• Iraqi Sovereignty - January 1, 2009 to August 31, 2010
• New Dawn - September 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011

  Appearance

The medal is made of bronze and is 1.25 inches (32 mm) in diameter. The obverse depicts a relief of the map of Iraq, surmounted by two lines throughout, superimposed over a palm wreath. Above is the inscription “IRAQ CAMPAIGN.” On the reverse, the Statue of Freedom surmounts a sunburst, encircled by two scimitars pointing down with the blades crossing at the tips. Below is the inscription “FOR SERVICE IN IRAQ.” The medal is suspended from a ribbon 1.375 inches (34.9 mm) wide. The stripes of the ribbon are : 5/32 inch scarlet at the edges, followed by 1/16 inch white, 1/32 inch green and 1/16 inch white. The white is separated by a 5/32 inch black with a 7/16 inch stripe is chamois in the center.^[3]

  Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

The award replaced the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for service in Iraq from March 19, 2003, through April 30, 2005. Personnel who previously received the GWOTEM for Iraq service were given the option to exchange the medal for the Iraq Campaign Medal. Both medals were not authorized for the same period of service in Iraq and any Iraq service which followed the medals creation was recognized only with the Iraq Campaign Medal.^[1]

  See also

• Arrowhead device
• Awards and decorations of the United States military

  References

  External links

Inter-service awards and decorations of the United States military Federal military decorations Medal of Honor  · Silver Star  · Legion of Merit  · Distinguished Flying Cross  · Bronze Star Medal  · Purple Heart  · Meritorious Service Medal  · Air Medal DoD decorations Defense Distinguished Service  · Defense Superior Service  · Defense Meritorious Service  · Joint Service Commendation  · Joint Service Achievement  · Joint Meritorious Unit Federal service medals National Defense Service Medal  · Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal  · Humanitarian Service Medal  · Outstanding Volunteer Service  · Armed Forces Service Medal  · Armed Forces Reserve  · POW  · Antarctica Service  · Korean Service  · Korea Defense Service  · Vietnam Service  · Southwest Asia Service  · Kosovo Campaign  · Afghanistan Campaign Medal  · Iraq Campaign Medal  · GWOT Expeditionary Medal  · GWOT Service Medal