The Afghanistan Campaign Medal became available for general distribution in June of 2005. The decoration is awarded to any member of the U.S. military who has performed duty within the borders of Afghanistan (or its airspace) for a period of thirty consecutive days or sixty non-consecutive days. The medal is retroactive to October 24, 2001 and is active until a date to be determined (most likely until the end of Operation Enduring Freedom). Note: Troops serving in Afghanistan after 30 April 2005 receive the Afghanistan Campaign Medal instead of the Terror Expeditionary Medal. Contact your command for specific eligibility details.
Personnel who have been engaged in combat with an enemy force, or personnel who have been wounded in combat within Afghanistan, may receive the Afghanistan Campaign Medal regardless of the number of days spent within the country. The medal is also awarded posthumously to any service member who dies in the line of duty within Afghanistan, including from non-combat injuries such as accidents and mishaps.
The Afghanistan Campaign Medal is awarded without device and is a one time issued medal. The decoration replaces the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for service in Afghanistan and personnel who previously received the GWOTEM for Afghanistan service may elect to exchange the medal for the new Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Both medals may not be received for the same period of service in Afghanistan and any future Afghanistan service will only be recognized with the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
