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Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon

 The Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (AFESR) is awarded as recognition for Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) deployed status. The ribbon is awarded to AF active duty, Reserve and Guard personnel credited with completion of a contingency deployment after 1 October 1999. Deployment credit is defined as either 45 consecutive days or 90 nonconsecutive days in deployed status.

 Criteria for Award to Permanent Party Personnel: Permanent party personnel assigned to air expeditionary units also are eligible to receive the AFESR after 1 October 1999. Permanent party members assigned to Air Expeditionary Task Force (AETF) units may qualify to receive both the AFESR and the Air Force Overseas Ribbon by meeting the 45 consecutive day requirement without adjustment to tour status. Permanent party members assigned to AETF units also qualify for the combat gold border providing they meet the criteria for the AFESR w/GB in AFI36-2803, paragraph 5.3.10.4., Page 156.

 Only one AFESR per deployment is authorized, regardless of the number of consecutive days over 45 the member deployed and only one AFESR is authorized after accumulating a total of 90 nonconsecutive days.

 In April 2004, the SECAF approved the wear of a gold border on the AFESR to represent participation in combat operations. Members who were engaged in conducting or supporting combat operations in a designated combat zone are eligible for the gold border.

  1. A combat zone is defined as a geographical area designated by the President via Executive Order, or a qualified hazardous duty area in which a member is receiving IDP/HFP.
  2. Combat action is defined as when a member is subject to hostile fire, explosion, or is engaged in employing lethal weapons (kinetic/non-kinetic).
  3. For award of the gold border, members must be/have been assigned to an AEF Plan Identification or on Contingency/Exercise/Deployment orders and have been receiving IDP/HFP. Aircrew members who engage in combat action must be assigned on aeronautical orders in direct support of a combat zone.
  4. Eligibility: Prior to the award of the gold border, members must have met the eligibility requirement for the award of the basic AFESR. The AFESR gold border may be awarded to current and former AF Active Duty, Reserve and Guard personnel, who since 1 October 1999 meet the requirements listed above.
  5. The time eligibility criteria for the award of the gold border can be waived if the member meets one of the following criteria:

   A. Be engaged in actual combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy actions.
   B. While participating in a designated operation is killed, wounded, or injured requiring medical evacuation from the combat zone.
   C. Be a regularly assigned crew member flying combat/combat support sorties into, out of, within or over a combat zone.
   D. Employ a kinetic or non-kinetic weapon from outside the designated combat zone, in a combat operation.

 Authorized Device: An Oak Leaf Cluster will be worn to denote subsequent awards, and the gold border.

Category of Award: Air Force Service Medals and Achievement Awards

Approved by: The SECAF on June 18, 2003

Authorized Device(s): Bronze and/or Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and Gold Border

References:
AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program, Pages 156 and 157
DoD Manual 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Page 157

Page updated November 17, 2016

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