expeditionary medal / RIBBON WALL ART
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Explore the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal ribbon, its official award references, and an oversized wall display concept.

Ribbon reference (devices may vary). Image reference ↗ · Award chart ↗. Digital references guide the concept; they are not final production color or textile specifications.
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Add to my display planAbout this ribbon
Executive Order 13289 established both medals on 12 March 2003. Lists reflect ASD M&RA memorandum 18 March 2025. Campaign medals replace GWOTEM for the same qualifying action/time in specified Afghanistan/Iraq/Syria circumstances.
Service years and award dates
Years help surface possibilities. A date overlap does not show that someone earned an award. Some date rules describe completion, specific operations or retroactive eligibility, rather than a universal service window.
| Dates | What the source says |
|---|---|
| Sep 11, 2001 – End not specified | ENDURING FREEDOM; operation participation plus applicable geography/service requirements. Source ↗ |
| Mar 19, 2003 – Aug 31, 2010 | IRAQI FREEDOM; operation participation plus applicable geography/service requirements. Source ↗ |
| Nov 5, 2007 – End not specified | NOMAD SHADOW; operation participation plus applicable geography/service requirements. Source ↗ |
| Sep 1, 2010 – Dec 31, 2011 | NEW DAWN; operation participation plus applicable geography/service requirements. Source ↗ |
| Oct 1, 2011 – Sep 30, 2017 | OBSERVANT COMPASS; operation participation plus applicable geography/service requirements. Source ↗ |
| Sep 6, 2012 – End not specified | USAFRICOM CT Execute Order; operation participation plus applicable geography/service requirements. Source ↗ |
| Jun 15, 2014 – End not specified | INHERENT RESOLVE; operation participation plus applicable geography/service requirements. Source ↗ |
| Jan 1, 2015 – Aug 31, 2021 | FREEDOM’S SENTINEL; operation participation plus applicable geography/service requirements. Source ↗ |
| Aug 1, 2016 – Jan 17, 2017 | ODYSSEY LIGHTNING; operation participation plus applicable geography/service requirements. Source ↗ |
| Oct 5, 2017 – End not specified | PACIFIC EAGLE–PHILIPPINES; operation participation plus applicable geography/service requirements. Source ↗ |
| Sep 1, 2021 – End not specified | ENDURING SENTINEL; operation participation plus applicable geography/service requirements. Source ↗ |
| Dec 18, 2023 – End not specified | PROSPERITY GUARDIAN; operation participation plus applicable geography/service requirements. Source ↗ |
| Jan 11, 2024 – End not specified | POSEIDON ARCHER; operation participation plus applicable geography/service requirements. Source ↗ |
| May 13, 2024 – End not specified | PANDORA THROTTLE; operation participation plus applicable geography/service requirements. Source ↗ |
| May 23, 2017 – Oct 4, 2017 | Unnamed Philippines counterterrorism operations preceding Pacific Eagle; qualifying AOE and normal GWOTEM requirements. Source ↗ |
Research notes and remaining questions
- Operation date ranges alone do not establish entitlement; current approved areas, assignment and minimum-service criteria must be met.
- List is sourced to 2025 memorandum; later additions or operation closures after publication not exhaustively verified.
- Full operation-by-geography matrix not transcribed; comprehensive geographic windows unresolved.
Official award references
Consult the applicable service guidance for eligibility, precedence and authorized devices.
- Air Force Personnel Center: Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal ↗Background; Criteria; Ribbon Description
- ASD M&RA memorandum 18 March 2025 ↗Attachments: GWOTSM and GWOTEM approved operations; AOE notes
- Marine MARADMIN 435/24 ↗Paragraphs 15–16: OEF suboperations and new maritime CT operations
- DoDM 1348.33 Volume 2 ↗Award-specific criteria; approved operations lists must also be consulted
- Executive Order 13289, 12 March 2003 ↗Sections 1–2: establishes GWOTEM and GWOTSM
Not sure what they earned?
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