Service members must have been assigned, attached or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or meet the following criteria:
- Participate in actual combat against the enemy and under conditions involving severe danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action, irrespective of the time in AOE.
- While taking part in the designated operation, regardless of time, is killed, wounded or injured necessitating medical evacuation from AOE.
- While serving as a regularly designated aircrew member flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area of AOE in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom and/or Iraqi Freedom; each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria shall count as one day towards the 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive day requirement.
Individuals who serve in operations and exercises taking part in the AOE are considered qualified for the award if the time criteria is met. Because of the extensive time period for KDSM eligibility, the nonconsecutive service period for eligibility remains cumulative throughout the entire period.
The medal may be awarded after death to any soldier who lost his/her life while, or as a direct result of, taking part in Global War on Terrorism Operations, regardless of length of such service, if otherwise entitled.
