Global Expeditionary Medal

Introduction to the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-EM) is a military award that was created to recognize members of the United States Armed Forces who have participated in overseas operations in the War on Terror. The medal was established by President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003, and is awarded to service members who have deployed to a foreign country or area in support of operations in the War on Terror.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the GWOT-EM, service members must have been deployed to a foreign country or area in support of operations in the War on Terror for a period of at least 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. The deployment must have occurred on or after September 11, 2001, and the service member must have been assigned to a unit or organization that was engaged in operations against terrorism. The medal can be awarded to members of all branches of the United States Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

Awards and Devices

The GWOT-EM is a bronze medal that features a globe with an eagle in the center, surrounded by a wreath of laurel leaves. The reverse of the medal features the inscription “WAR ON TERRORISM EXPEDITIONARY” above a sprig of laurel. The medal is suspended from a ribbon that is primarily green, with a narrow stripe of black in the center and narrower stripes of white and red at the edges. The GWOT-EM can be awarded with a Bronze Service Star device, which is used to indicate multiple deployments in support of the War on Terror.

Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom

The GWOT-EM was awarded to service members who participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), which were the primary military operations in the War on Terror. OIF was the invasion of Iraq in 2003, while OEF was the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Service members who participated in these operations were eligible for the GWOT-EM, as well as other awards and decorations such as the Iraq Campaign Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

Comparison to Other Medals

The GWOT-EM is similar to other military awards, such as the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) and the Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM). However, the GWOT-EM is specific to the War on Terror, while the AFEM and SWASM are more general awards that can be earned for participation in a variety of military operations. The GWOT-EM is also different from the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-SM), which is awarded to service members who have supported the War on Terror but have not deployed to a foreign country or area.

📝 Note: The GWOT-EM is not the same as the GWOT-SM, and the two medals have different eligibility criteria and award requirements.

Table of Eligible Operations

The following table lists some of the eligible operations for the GWOT-EM:

Operation	Location	Dates
Operation Enduring Freedom	Afghanistan	2001-present
Operation Iraqi Freedom	Iraq	2003-2011
Operation Inherent Resolve	Iraq and Syria	2014-present
Operation Freedom’s Sentinel	Afghanistan	2015-present

In summary, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is a military award that recognizes service members who have participated in overseas operations in the War on Terror. The medal is awarded to members of all branches of the United States Armed Forces who have deployed to a foreign country or area in support of operations in the War on Terror. The GWOT-EM is a bronze medal that features a globe with an eagle in the center, surrounded by a wreath of laurel leaves, and is suspended from a ribbon that is primarily green with a narrow stripe of black in the center and narrower stripes of white and red at the edges.