{"id":19472,"date":"2015-09-05T20:33:12","date_gmt":"2015-09-05T20:33:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2015\/09\/05\/two-new-missions-qualify-for-gwot-e-medal\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:10:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:10:56","slug":"two-new-missions-qualify-for-gwot-e-medal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2015\/09\/05\/two-new-missions-qualify-for-gwot-e-medal\/","title":{"rendered":"Two new missions qualify for GWOT-E Medal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sailors and Marines serving in two missions may now receive the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. was upgraded this past year from the Department of Defense, authorizing more operations under the eligibility list for the award and refining policy for multiple awards.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, as the Afghanistan mission is now known, as well as Operation Inherent Resolve, the missions against the brutal so-called Islamic State group, are now approved for the GWOT-E Medal, according to ALNAV 062\/15, signed July 31 by the Navy secretary. The changes were approved February 9 by Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Jessica Wright in a DoD memorandum. But it wasn\u2019t until July 31, when Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus signed ALNAV 062\/15 that the changes became effective for the Navy and the Marine Corps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s <\/span>What you need to know about the new award details:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.\u00a0The medal.\u00a0<\/strong>The GWOT-E Medal\u00a0was created by President George W. Bush\u2019s Executive Order 13289<\/span> on March 12, 2003, to recognize troops\u00a0military service members <\/span>who have deployed overseas in operations directly supporting the global war on terror from September 11, 2001 out <\/span>to a date to be determined in the future<\/span>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. War service.\u00a0<\/strong>Prior to April 30, 2005, the GWOT-E\u00a0Medal was awarded only for service within Iraq and Afghanistan. Anyone who served inside those countries after that date now are awarded Iraq or Afghanistan Campaign Medal instead<\/span>. Today, the award is given mostly to recognize those who have deployed overseas during the GWOT <\/span>in locations other than Iraq and Afghanistan. No one qualifies for the medal by servingsupporting those operations<\/span> inside the continental United States \u2014 or on waters within 200 miles of the U.S. coast \u2014\u00a0the rates the medal<\/span>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To qualify, a sailor or Marine must deploy in direct support of the Global War on Terrorism in one of six operations in designated “ares of eligibility” for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days starting September 11, 2001. Because some of these operations are still ongoing, the end eligibility date has yet to be determined.\u00a0 \u00a0 For aircrew members flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the AOE in direct support of the designated operations <\/span>may also qualify for the medal. Each day that one or more sorties are flown counts as one\u00a0day towards<\/span> the 30-day consecutive or 60-day non-consecutive requirement. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 The exception to the 30\/60 day rule is made for sailors and Marines engaged in actual <\/span>combat against the enemy where they faced grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action. In addition, those killed, or <\/span>wounded or who have sustaineding<\/span> injuries that require\u00a0\u00a0or injuries that in injuries. requiring \u00a0<\/span>medical evacuation out of the area of eligibility <\/span>also qualify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Qualifying Operations.\u00a0<\/strong>Sailors and Marines must deploy to the AOE in direct support of a qualifying operation. The approved operations and their effective dates: se are:\u00a0must not only deploy in direct support of a qualifying operation, that deployment must take them to a qualifying area of eligibility for that operation, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n