The Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM) is awarded to recognizes service members who serve or have served in the country of Iraq in support of OIF or Operation NEW DAWN (OND).
The area of eligibility encompasses all land and air space of the country of Iraq, to include the contiguous water and air space out to 12 nautical miles.
The ICM period of eligibility is on or after 19 March 2003 to 31 December 2011.
To coincide with the change of mission for U.S. forces in Iraq, effective 1 September 2010, OIF was changed to OND.
Members who received the GWOT-E by reasons of service between 19 March 2003 and 30 April 2005, in an area for which the ICM was subsequently authorized, shall remain eligible for the GWOT-E or may exchange the GWOT-E for the ICM. No service member will be entitled to award of both the ICM and the GWOT-E for the same action, achievement, or period of service.
Service members must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or for 60 non-consecutive days or meet one of the following criteria:
1. Be engaged in combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the area of eligibility,
2. While participating in an operation or on official duties, is wounded or injured and requires medical evacuation from the area of eligibility. The ICM may be awarded posthumously.
Aircrew members accrue one day of eligibility for each day they fly into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in direct support of the military operation.
Under no condition shall personnel or units receive the ICM, the GWOT-E, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for the same action, time, or period of service. Airmen who forward deploy to units within the AOE may be considered for additional campaign awards on a case by case basis providing the member meets the minimum award criteria.
Authorized Device:
1. The campaign star is a bronze or silver five-pointed star, 3/16 inch in diameter. A silver campaign star is worn instead of five bronze campaign stars. One bronze campaign star shall be worn on the suspension and campaign ribbon of the ICM for one or more days of participation in each designated campaign phase. Designated ICM campaign phases and inclusive periods are listed below in Table 6.9.
2. An Arrowhead Device is authorized to denote participation in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing, while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission.
Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM) Designated Campaign Phases.
Liberation of Iraq 19 March 2003 - 1 May 2003
Transition of Iraq 2 May 2003 - 28 June 2004
Iraqi Governance 29 June 2004 - 15 December 2005
National Resolution 16 December 2005 - 9 January 2007
Iraqi Surge 10 January 2007 - 31 December 2008
Iraqi Sovereignty 1 January 2009 - 31 December 2011
New Dawn 1 September 2010 – 31 December 2011
Category of Award: DoD Campaign Medal
Established by: Public Law 108-234, May 28, 2004, and Executive Order 13363, November 29, 2004
Beginning Date: March 19, 2003
Ending Date: December 31, 2011
Authorized Device(s): Campaign Stars, Arrowhead Device
References:
AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program, Pages 184 and 185
AR 600-8-22, Army Regulation, Military Awards, Pages 29 and 30
SECNAVINST 1650.1H, Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, Page 4-26 to 4-27
COMDTINST M1650.25E, Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual, Pages 5-14 and 5-16
Page updated June 9, 2017