Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
President John Kennedy created the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal in 1961 as his first entry into the medals of America. These US military medals are presented to military personnel for participation in any military campaign for which no other service medal has been authorized. These military medals and ribbons have been awarded in 45 campaigns since their inception in the 1961, with the Cuban Missile Crisis being the first. Following their original issuance, these military decorations were made retroactive to 1958.
In 2003 the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal replaced the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait service theatres. After March of 2003 some personnel became eligible for both the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, although only one of these medals may be awarded to any individual for the same duty time. Since 1992, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal has been phased out in favor of campaign specific medals and the newer Armed Forces Service Medal. However, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is still considered an active service medal. The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is considered a very similar award, and was issued for service in Afghanistan and Iraq until it was replaced by the Iraq Campaign Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal in June of 2005. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is no longer issued for operations in the Middle East theaters.
The Navy and Marine Corps each issue a similar decoration. Service members in these branches may choose between the Navy Expeditionary Medal and Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, though they can’t receive both for the same duty. The Air Force also has the similar sounding Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon, but it is not related to the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
Additional awards of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal are denoted by Service Stars. The Army also authorizes Arrowhead Devices for participation in airborne or amphibious assaults, and sailors may earn the Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia. These military ribbons and medals are worn below the Antarctica Service Medals and above the Vietnam Service Medals in the general order of precedence which has been established for the proper display of all military ribbons and medals. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is generally available as Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard decorations, and can be worn as traditional full size military medals and mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. Like most military medals, it is available as traditional slide-on, full size military medals, mini-medals and slide-on military ribbons. While traditionalist may still prefer to purchase the traditional slide-on full size military medals, mini-medals, and slide-on military ribbons; the newer thin mini-medals, and ultra thin military ribbons commercial suppliers now provide have become extremely popular among up and coming military personnel who know how important it is to their career advancement to always maximize the neatness and smartness of their uniform appearance.
