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Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

 The Armed Forces Expeditionary (AFEM) is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 1 July 1958, participated in US military operations, US operations in direct support of the United Nations, or US operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations (see tables 6.3, 6.4, and 6.5). The Joint Chiefs of Staff designates operations that qualify for the AFEM, specifies the degree of participation required, and defines the area of operations.

 Service members must be bona fide members of a unit participating in or be engaged in the direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive days in the area of operations (or for the full period when an operation is less than 30 days duration) or for 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involved entering the area of operations or meet one or more of the following criteria:

  1. Be engaged in actual combat, or duty which is equally as hazardous as combat duty, during the operation with armed opposition, regardless of time in the area;
  2. Is wounded or injured and requires medical evacuation from the area of eligibility while participating in the operation, regardless of time;
  3. Accumulate 15 days service (consecutive/nonconsecutive) while participating as a regularly assigned crewmember of an aircraft flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area in direct support of the military operation. One day’s service is credited for the first sortie flown on any day. Additional sorties flown on the same day receive no further credit.

 Prior to 1 December 1995, members on aircrew status were only required to fly over or into the AOE for one day during conflict to qualify for the award of the AFEM.

 The AFEM will be awarded only for operations for which no other U.S. campaign medal is approved. However, this does not prevent award eligibility for subsequent on-going operations if the associated campaign medal has been terminated. No member will be eligible for both the AFEM and a campaign medal awarded during a single tour in the designated operation. The military service of the service member on whom qualification for the award of the AFEM is based will have been honorable.

 Service members who earned the AFEM for service in Vietnam between 1 July 1958 and 3 July 1965 may elect to receive the Vietnam Service Medal instead of the AFEM. However, no service member may be issued both medals for service in Vietnam.

 Service members who earned the Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM) and subsequently became eligible, at any time, for the AFEM for Operation SOUTHERN WATCH may wear both awards, with the exception of those who became eligible for both awards during one tour in Southwest Asia (SWA). Service members who become eligible for both awards during their initial tour in SWA may elect to receive either the SWASM or the AFEM, but may not be issued both medals for a single tour in SWA. Service members who become eligible for both awards during their initial tour in SWA and elect to receive the SWASM may be awarded the AFEM for participation in Operation SOUTHERN WATCH during a subsequent tour in SWA under the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel Readiness Memorandum dated 7 February 1996.

 Service members who earned the AFEM for Operation FREQUENT WIND between 29 and 30 April 1975 may elect to receive the Vietnam Service Medal instead of the AFEM. No service member may be issued both medals for service in Vietnam.

 After 1 July 1958, the Joint Chiefs of Staff will designate U.S. military operations that qualify for the AFEM, and they will specify the degree of participation in designated operations warranting award of the medal.

 Service members who earned the AFEM for operations in Southwest Asia (SOUTHERN WATCH, Maritime Intercept, NORTHERN WATCH, and DESERT SPRING) and then became eligible for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-EM) between 11 September 2001 to 18 March 2003 can elect to receive either the AFEM or GWOT-EM, but they may not be awarded both for the same period.

 Authorized Device: A Service Star will be awarded for participation in subsequent operations. Participation in two or more engagements in the same operation does not qualify for the service star.

Category of Award: U.S. Campaign and Service Medal

Authorized by: Executive Order 10977, December 4, 1961

Device(s): Bronze Service Star

References:
AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program, Pages 173 to 178
AR 600-8-22, Army Regulation, Military Awards, Pages 25 to 27
DoD Manual 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Page 153

Page updated June 9, 2017

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