1. Description: A bronze color metal disc
1 3/8 inches in diameter, charged with a shield adapted from the Great Seal of the United States surmounting two swords hilts
to base saltirewise enclosed within a wreath of laurel; overall an eagle, wings displayed, grasping in its claws a serpent.
On the reverse, the eagle, serpent and swords from the front of the medal with the encircling inscription "WAR ON TERRORISM
EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL."
2. Symbolism: The shield and eagle represent
the United States. The swords denote readiness and the resolve to fight international terrorism, which is symbolized by the
serpent crushed in the eagle’s claws. The wreath denotes honor and achievement.
3. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches
wide and consists of the following stripes: 5/32 inch Bluebird 67117; 3/32 inch Old Glory Blue 67178; 1/16 inch White 67101;
3/32 inch Old Glory Blue 67178; 1/16 inch Bluebird 67117; 1/16 inch Golden Yellow 67104; 1/16 inch Bluebird 67117; 3/16 inch
Scarlet 67111; 1/16 inch Bluebird 67117; 1/16 inch Golden Yellow 67104; 1/16 inch Bluebird 67117; 3/32 inch Old Glory Blue
67178; 1/16 inch White 67101, 3/32 inch Old Glory Blue 67178; 5/32 inch Bluebird 67117.
4. Criteria: a. Authorized to be awarded
to soldiers who deploy abroad for service in the Global War on Terrorism Operations on or after 11 September 2001 to a date
to be determined. Initial award is limited to soldiers deployed abroad in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in
the following Department of Defense designated specific geographic areas of eligibility (AOE): Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bulgaria
(Bourgas), Crete, Cyprus, Diego Garcia, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Romania (Constanta), Saudia Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan,
Turkey (East of 35 degrees east latitude), Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen, that portion of the Arabian
Sea north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees longitude, Bab El Mandeb, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf
of Oman, Gulf of Suez, that portion of the Mediterranean Sea east of 28 degrees east longitude, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait
of Hormuz and Suez Canal.
b.
To be eligible for the award, a soldier must be assigned, attached or mobilized to a unit participating in designated operations
for 30 consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days in the AOE, or meet one of the following criteria: 1) Be engaged in
actual combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy
action, regardless, of time in the AOE. 2) While participating in the designated operation, regardless of time, is killed
or wounded/injured requiring medical evacuation from the AOE. 3) Soldiers participating as a regularly assigned air crew member
flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the AOE in direct support of Operations Enduring Freedom and/or Iraqi Freedom.
Each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with the criteria shall count as one day towards the 30 consecutive
or 60 nonconsecutive day requirement.
c.
The medal may be awarded posthumously to any soldier who lost his/her life while, or as a direct result of, participating
in Global War on Terrorism Operations, without regard to length of such service, if otherwise eligible.
d.
Only one award of the GWOTEM may be authorized for any individual. A message will be transmitted at a later date by the Military
Awards Branch to address battle stars/service stars.
5. Components: The following are authorized components
and related items:
a.
Medal (regular size): MIL-DTL-3943/307. NSN 8455-01-506-7144 for set which includes regular size medal and ribbon bar.
b.
Medal (miniature size): MIL-DTL-3943/307. Available commercially.
c.
Ribbon: MIL-DTL-11589/579. Available commercially.
d.
Lapel Button (ribbon replica): MIL-DTL-11484/295. Available commercially.
6. Background: a. On 20 September 2002,
the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, requested the Institute provide suggested designs. This was accomplished
and the design was selected on 7 January 2003. Executive Order 13289, dated 12 March 2003, signed by President Bush, established
this medal.
b. In order of precedence, the GWOTEM will be worn before the GWOTSM and both shall directly follow the Kosovo Campaign
Medal (KCM) (i.e., KCM, GWOTEM, GWOTSM, KDSM, etc.).
c.
Soldiers may receive both the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) and the Global War on Terrorism Service
Medal (GWOTSM) if they meet the requirements of both awards; however, the same period of service establishing eligibility
for one cannot be used to justify service eligibility for the other.
d. Order of precedence and
wear policy for service medals awarded to Army personnel is contained in Army Regulation (AR) 670-1. Policy for awards, approving
authority and supply of medals is contained in AR 600-8-22. The policy for display of campaign streamers on guidons/flags
and supply of streamers is contained in Chapter 9, 840-10.