Army defines Operation Freedom's Sentinel award criteria

The Army has spelled out eligibility criteria for the award of the Global War on Terrorism Medals to soldier's serving in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel, one of two follow-on missions to Operation Enduring Freedom.

Since 2001, Operation Enduring Freedom has been the umbrella term for GWOT campaigns in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, such as OEF-Afghanistan, OEF-Philippines and OEF-Horn of Africa.

Follow-on operations to OEF include Inherent Resolve, the campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorist organization, and Freedom's Sentinel, the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Soldiers deployed to Afghanistan for Freedom's Sentinel will continue to be awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, while those serving abroad outside the ACM area of eligibility will qualify for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

The new award authority for the GWOT medals is retroactive to Jan.1, 2015.

Specifically, the expeditionary medal is authorized for soldiers deployed in support of an approved operation in the designated areas of eligibility defined in Defense Department and Army regulations.

Click here for complete list of approved areas of eligibility.

There is no deployment requirement to qualify for the service medal, but soldiers must meet the eligibility criteria defined in paragraph 2-19 of AR 600-8-22, the Army's military awards regulation.

Soldiers may be awarded both of these medals, but the qualifying period used to establish eligibility for one award cannot be used to justify eligibility for the other award.

Soldiers who previously have been awarded the expeditionary medal are eligible to wear a service star on the medal and ribbon device.

The new award policies are effective immediately and will be incorporated into an upcoming change to AR 600-8-22.

The six approved operations and effective dates for the award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal are:

In Other News

Rollback of DOD anti-extremism efforts coming in 2025, experts predict

The piecemeal progress of extremism-prevention efforts during the past four years is more than can be expected out of the Pentagon in 2025, experts said.

New health care savings benefit coming to troops in 2025

This tax-savings benefit will help defray out-of-pocket costs for medical and dental services and items.

From Grinch greetings to Santa sightings, the holidays come to troops

Holiday helpers have been busy, as plenty of organizations and individuals have been working to make the days a bit brighter for troops and their families.

Will most troops move under new household goods program in 2025?

More than half of installations in the continental United States are moving troops' shipments under the new system.

VA to resume new electronic health record rollout in mid-2026

The project was scheduled to take 10 years and cost $16 billion. Nearly eight years later, only six of VA’s 170-plus medical sites are using the software.

Load More