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.
f. Multiple GWOT Medal Guidance. Personnel may receive
both the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM) and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary
Medal (GWOTEM) provided they meet the requirements for both
awards and the qualifying periods used to establish eligibility
do not overlap.
Authorized Devices: Bronze Star, Silver Star |