Honoring Afghanistan Veterans: Unveiling The Campaign Stars

The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces. It was created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004, and became available for general distribution in June 2005. The medal is awarded to any member of the United States military who has served within the borders of Afghanistan (or its airspace) for a period of thirty consecutive days or sixty non-consecutive days. Campaign stars are worn on the ACM service ribbon, with one star representing one of the six phases of the campaign.

Bronze service stars are worn on the ACM ribbon to denote each campaign phase

The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces. It was created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004, and became available for general distribution in June 2005. The medal is awarded to any member of the United States military who has served 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 was active until Operation Allies Refuge ended on August 31, 2021.

The ACM is worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Bronze service stars, also known as campaign stars, are worn on the ACM ribbon to denote each campaign phase. The service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star, 3⁄16 inch (4.8 mm) in diameter. A silver star is worn instead of five bronze stars. The service star is sometimes mistaken for a Bronze Star (Bronze Star Medal) or Silver Star (Silver Star Medal).

The Army has defined the requirements for wearing bronze service stars with the ACM. One bronze service star should be worn on the suspension and campaign ribbon of the ACM to denote participation in each designated campaign. If a soldier's initial period of deployment overlaps one or more of the approved campaign phases, the soldier will be credited with participation in each campaign phase and will be entitled to a bronze service star for each campaign phase. Bronze service stars are not authorized for periods when the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal was awarded instead of the ACM.

The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) is awarded to US military personnel who have served in Afghanistan for 30 or 60 non-consecutive days

The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) is a military award created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004, and became available for general distribution in June 2005. The medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry. The ACM is awarded to any member of the United States military who has served within the borders of Afghanistan (including its airspace) for a period of 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. The medal is retroactive to October 24, 2001, and was active until Operation Allies Refuge concluded on August 31, 2021.

Personnel who have engaged in combat with an enemy force or have been wounded in combat within Afghanistan may receive the ACM regardless of the number of days spent within the country. The medal is also awarded posthumously to any service member who died in the line of duty within Afghanistan, including from non-combat injuries. The ACM replaces the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-EM) for service in Afghanistan. Personnel who previously received the GWOT-EM for Afghanistan service may elect to exchange the medal for the ACM. However, both medals cannot be awarded for the same period of service in Afghanistan, and any current Afghanistan service will only be recognized with the ACM.

The Defense Department has defined the requirements for the wearing of bronze service stars with the ACM. One bronze service star should be worn on the suspension and campaign ribbon of the ACM to denote participation in each designated campaign. Soldiers whose initial period of deployment overlaps with one or more of the approved campaign phases will be credited with participation in each campaign phase and will be entitled to a bronze service star for each campaign phase. Bronze service stars are not authorized for periods when the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal was awarded instead of the ACM.

The approved campaign phases and respective dates for the Afghanistan Campaign Medal include the Liberation of Afghanistan, Consolidation I, Consolidation II, Consolidation III, Transition I, and Transition II.

The ACM replaces the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for service in Afghanistan

The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) is a military award for members of the United States Armed Forces. It was created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004, and became available for general distribution in June 2005. The medal is awarded to military personnel who have served active duty within the borders of Afghanistan (or its airspace) for a period of 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. The ACM is retroactive to October 24, 2001, and was active until the conclusion of Operation Allies Refuge on August 31, 2021.

The ACM is awarded to personnel who have been engaged in combat with an enemy force, or wounded in combat within Afghanistan, regardless of the number of days spent in the country. The medal is also awarded posthumously to any service member who died in the line of duty within Afghanistan, including from non-combat injuries.

The ACM replaces the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-EM) for service in Afghanistan. Personnel who previously received the GWOT-EM for Afghanistan service may choose to exchange the medal for the ACM. The two medals cannot be awarded for the same period of service in Afghanistan, and any current Afghanistan service will only be recognized with the ACM.

The authorized campaigns for the ACM are:

• Enduring Freedom: September 11, 2001 - December 31, 2014
• Freedom's Sentinel: January 1, 2015 - to be determined
• Liberation of Afghanistan: September 1, 2001 - November 30, 2001
• Consolidation I: December 1, 2001 - September 30, 2006
• Consolidation II: October 1, 2006 - November 30, 2009
• Consolidation III: December 1, 2009 - June 30, 2011
• Transition I: July 1, 2011 - December 31, 2014
• Transition II: January 1, 2015 - to be determined

Campaign stars are worn on the Afghanistan Campaign Medal service ribbon

The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) is a military award given to members of the United States military who have served within the borders of Afghanistan (or its airspace) for a period of 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. The medal is also awarded posthumously to any service member who died in the line of duty within Afghanistan, including from non-combat injuries.

The Defense Department has identified several campaign phases for the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, including the Liberation of Afghanistan, Consolidation I, Consolidation II, Consolidation III, Transition I, and Transition II. Each of these phases has a specific date range, with the earliest phase, the Liberation of Afghanistan, beginning on September 1, 2001, and the latest phase, Transition II, starting on January 1, 2015, and ongoing.

The number of campaign stars worn on the Afghanistan Campaign Medal service ribbon will vary depending on the number of designated campaigns a soldier has participated in. A silver campaign star is issued in lieu of five bronze stars. It is important to note that bronze service stars are not authorized for periods when the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal was awarded instead of the ACM.

The Army defines the requirements for wearing bronze service stars with the ACM

The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces. It was created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004, and became available for general distribution in June 2005. The medal is awarded to any member of the US military who has served within the borders of Afghanistan (or its airspace) for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days. The medal is also awarded to those who have engaged in combat or been wounded in Afghanistan, regardless of the number of days spent in the country.

The Army has defined the requirements for wearing bronze service stars with the ACM. The Defense Department announced on February 13, 2015, that Operation Freedom Sentinel is a qualifying operation for the ACM, retroactive to January 1, 2015. Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan, which began on September 1, 2001, was terminated on December 31, 2014, along with the Transition I campaign phase. Transition II began on January 1, 2015, as a new campaign phase for the ACM.

Under the Army's military awards regulation, AR 600-8-22, one bronze service star should be worn on the suspension and campaign ribbon of the ACM to denote participation in each designated campaign. If a soldier's initial deployment overlaps with one or more approved campaign phases, they will be credited with participation in each phase and will be entitled to a bronze service star for each phase. Bronze service stars are not authorized for periods when the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal was awarded instead of the ACM.

The approved campaign phases for the ACM are:

• Enduring Freedom: September 11, 2001 - December 31, 2014
• Freedom's Sentinel: January 1, 2015 - to be determined
• Liberation of Afghanistan: September 1, 2001 - November 30, 2001
• Consolidation I: December 1, 2001 - September 30, 2006
• Consolidation II: October 1, 2006 - November 30, 2009
• Consolidation III: December 1, 2009 - June 30, 2011
• Transition I: July 1, 2011 - December 31, 2014
• Transition II: January 1, 2015 - to be determined

The ACM replaces the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for personnel who served in Afghanistan. Those who previously received the latter medal can choose to exchange it for the ACM. However, both medals cannot be awarded for the same period of service in Afghanistan, and current service will only be recognized with the ACM.

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