Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Ribbon

History - Established 2003

Established on March 12, 2003, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal honors military personnel who have carried out service on overseas deployments in support of efforts in the War on Terror on or after September 11, 2001. It is used primarily to recognize service in countries other than Iraq and Afghanistan, which have their own corresponding campaign medals.

To qualify, individuals must serve in designated operations for a minimum term of either 30 days consecutively or 60 days non-consecutively. In lieu of the term requirement, service involving combat engagement with hostile forces and danger of bodily harm may qualify, and service members participating in flight sorties in eligible areas may also qualify.

Eligible land, air, and maritime regions and time periods are listed below:

Beginning February 13, 2004:
-Afghanistan (see note 1)
-Arabian Sea
-Bab el Mandeb
-Bahrain
-Bulgaria
-Crete
-Cyprus
-Diego Garcia
-Djibouti
-Egypt
-Eritrea
-Ethiopia
-Gulf of Aden
-Gulf of Aqaba
-Gulf of Oman
-Gulf of Suez
-Iran
-Iraq
-Israel
-Jordan
-Kazakhstan
-Kenya
-Kuwait
-Kyrgyzstan
-Lebanon
-Mediterranean Sea
-Oman
-Pakistan
-Persian Gulf
-Philippines
-Qatar
-Red Sea
-Romania (Constanta)
-Saudi Arabia
-Somalia
-Strait of Hormuz
-Suez Canal
-Syria
-Tajikistan
-Turkey
-Turkmenistan
-United Arab Emirates
-Uzbekistan
-Yemen
Beginning March 21, 2005:
-Algeria
-Bosnia-Herzegovina
-Chad
-Georgia
-Hungary
-Kosovo
-Mali
-Mauritania
-Niger
-Uganda

Beginning July 14, 2005:
-Colombia
-Guatanamo Bay, Cuba

Beginning December 1, 2006,
-Azerbaijan
-Nigeria
-Senegal
-Sierra Leone
-Tanzania
-Tunisia

Beginning october 8, 2008
-Burkina Faso
-Northern Iraq (for Operation Nomad Shadow)
-Morocco
-Turkey (for Operation Nomad Shadow)

Details

The medal features the image adapted from the United States Seal with swords crossed behind the eagle and shield and a laurel wreath encircling the image. The ribbon is bisected by a vertical red stripe and flanked on either side by thinner stripes proceeding outward in light blue,yellow, light blue, dark blue, white, dark blue, and a thicker stripe of light blue on each edge.