The Southwest Asia Service Medal is awarded for service in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees North latitude and west of 68 degrees East longitude, as well as the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Individuals directly supporting combat operations between 17 January 1991, and 11 April 1991 in Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, and Jordan (including their air space and territorial waters) are also eligible.
To qualify for the award a service member must: be attached to or regularly serving for one or more days with an group participating in ground/shore military operations; attached to or regularly serving for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; actually participating as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations in the areas approved; or serving on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, unless a waiver is approved for those participating in actual combat.
