The Department of Defense campaign medal applies to active-duty, Reserve and Guard servicemembers deployed abroad on or after Sept.11, 2001, for operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom.
"The criterion is pretty clear, so members who believe they are eligible can begin wearing it," said Tech. Sgt. Jeff Simmons, superintendent of the Air Force Personnel Center’s recognition programs branch here.
To qualify, an individual must have been assigned or attached to a unit in OEF or OIF and served 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in specific geographic areas.
The medal will only be awarded once, regardless of how many times an individual returns to serve in OEF or OIF. There are no service stars or other devices authorized; however, battle stars may be authorized for servicemembers who engaged in actual combat. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the approving authority for battle stars.
Duty locations include these countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bulgaria (Bourgas), Crete, Cyprus, Diego Garcia, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Romania (Constanta), Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey (east of 35 degrees east latitude), Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
Other areas include:
- The portion of the Arabian Sea north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees longitude.
- Bab el Mandeb.
- The Gulf of Aden.
- The Gulf of Aqaba.
- The Gulf of Oman.
- The Gulf of Suez.
- The portion of the Mediterranean Sea east of 28 degrees east longitude.
- The Persian Gulf.
- The Red Sea.
- The Strait of Hormuz.
- The Suez Canal.
For more information, Airmen can contact the local MPF or call the Air Force Contact Center at (800) 616-3775.
