Afghanistan Campaign Medal
In November of 2004 President George W. Bush issued an Executive Order that established the Afghanistan Campaign Medal as his newest entry into the hallowed halls of the medals of America. These US military medals are presented to all military personnel who have performed duty within the borders of Afghanistan for a period of 30 consecutive days, or a period of 60 non-consecutive days. These military ribbons and medals are currently retroactive to October of 2001 and are still being presented. These military medals are awarded to personnel who have engaged in actual combat or been wounded in combat regardless of the number of days of duty service completed. These military decorations replace the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for Afghanistan service, and both medals may not be received for the same period of duty.
The Arrowhead Device and the Fleet Marine Corps Combat Operation Insignia may be worn on these military ribbons and medals for participation in certain designated assaults. The Defense Department divides this war into 3 campaigns so far, and Service Stars may be worn to denote participation in one or more of them. The Afghanistan Campaign Medal is worn below the Southwest Asia Service Medal and above the Iraq Campaign Medal in the general order of precedence that has been established by the Pentagon for the proper display of all military ribbons and medals.
The Afghanistan Campaign Medal is generally available as Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Awards, and can be worn as traditional full size military medals or mini medals, military ribbons and lapel pins. 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. SPECIAL CAMPAIGN STARS NOTE: Effective immediately, bronze campaign stars are now required on the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. At least one bronze campaign star must be on this award. If a service member has served at least one single day in any designated campaign (see below), that service member has earned a bronze campaign star for that period. Multiple deployments during the same time period/campaign are only authorized one star. However, it is possible to earn more than one bronze campaign star during a single deployment if that deployment spans multiple designated campaigns. Designated campaigns: Liberation of Afghanistan - September 11, 2001 to November 30, 2001; Consolidation I December 1, 2001 to September 30, 2006; Consolidation II - October 1, 2006 to a date yet-to-determined.
