Global War on Terrorism Service
Military Medal & Military Ribbon

a. Authorization. E.O. 13289 of 12 March 2003.

b. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Eligibility Requirements

(1) Military personnel who participate in or serve in support of the Global War on Terrorism for specified operations on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined.

(2) Service members must be assigned, attached, or mobilized in CONUS or overseas, to a unit participating in or serving in support of (including indirect support) specified operations for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days, or meet one of the following criteria: (a) Be engaged in actual combat, regardless of the time period of service in the operation.

(b) While participating in the specified operation, regardless of time, be killed, wounded, or injured requiring medical evacuation.

(3) Personnel in initial accession training, including follow-on career specific training, are not eligible. Eligibility begins for these personnel once assigned to their first permanent duty station.

(4) The DoD has a long-standing policy that U.S. campaign and service medals shall not be awarded to members of foreign militaries. Therefore, coalition partners are not eligible to receive the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM)

c. Specified Operations. SECDEF, in consultation with the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), has the authority to designate future qualifying Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM) operations. The initial approved operations are as follows:

(1) Airport security (27 Sep 01 through 31 May 02)
(2) Operation NOBLE EAGLE (11 Sep 01 through TBD)
(3) Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (11 Sep 01 through TBD)
(4) Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (19 Mar 03 through TBD)

d. Awarding Authority

(1) Navy Units. Awarding authority rests with the CNO and Combatant Commanders.

(a) Combatant Commanders have awarding authority for personnel assigned to units within their command, and Joint activities and forces directly under their operational control.

(b) CNO authorizes award of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM) for Navy personnel attached to commands that either directly or indirectly supported the designated operations. Support is defined as administrative, logistical, planning, operational, technical, readiness, and any other support services related to the designated operations.

(c) Echelon 2 commands shall submit a list of organizations deemed qualified for the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM) to CNO for approval. Send all information electronically, to include a list in Excel format, with a signed cover letter in a PDF file to navyawards@navy.mil with the subject line "GWOTSM Qualified List Attached." Approved organizations will be posted on the Navy Awards website.

(d) Organizations reporting directly to SECNAV shall follow the procedures in subparagraphs (b) and (c) above to ensure proper documentation for qualified Navy personnel.

(e) Commanding officers shall ensure personnel eligible for the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM )currently assigned to their command are issued the medal and that proper service record entries are completed.

(2) Marine Corps Units. The awarding authorities are:

(a) Combatant Commanders for personnel assigned to units within their command, and Joint activities and forces directly under their operational control.

(b) The CJCS for personnel assigned to the Joint Staff and those Joint activities that report directly to the CJCS.

(c) The directors of defense agencies for service members assigned to their agencies. The Director of Administration and Management, Office of the DoD Field Activities is responsible for the Joint DoD activities that report directly to an OSD principal staff assistant; multilateral and bilateral organizations; and other offices in the Executive Branch, the executive agencies and departments, and independent establishments and government corporations.

(d) The CMC for personnel assigned to headquarters or direct subordinate commands and activities, direct reporting units, and field operating agencies. The CMC may also approve the award for service members assigned to forces directly under his operational control, who fall outside the jurisdiction of the Combatant Commanders. The CMC has approved the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM) for personnel assigned to HQMC, all operating forces, supporting establishments, and external elements that meet the eligibility criteria in subparagraph b. above.

(e) Commanders who have Marines assigned to the respective agencies, departments, and commands outlined in subparagraphs (a) through (d) above, will coordinate with these agencies, departments, and commands to ensure approval of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM) is documented in the service record of eligible Marines.

e. Subsequent Awards and Battle Stars. Subsequent awards of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM) are not authorized; therefore, service stars are not authorized. However, although qualifying circumstances will be extremely rare, the CJCS, upon the request of a Combatant Commander, may approve battle stars at a future date to recognize personnel who were engaged in actual combat against the enemy, under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury.

Authorized Devices: Bronze Star, Silver Star