MARADMINS : 129/04
            
 R 190729Z MAR 04 
 FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc) 
 TO AL MARADMIN(uc) 
 MARADMIN 
 BT 
 UNCLASSIFIED 
 MARADMIN 129/04 
 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// 
 SUBJ/GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL (GWOTEM)// 
 REF/A/DOC/UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE/28OCT2003// 
 REF/B/DOC/PRESIDENT G. W. BUSH/12MAR2004// 
 REF/C/DOC/UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE/13FEB2004// 
 NARR/REF A IS MEMO FROM THE OFFICE OF UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 
 ANNOUNCING THE GWOTEM. REF B IS EXECUTIVE ORDER 13289 ESTABLISHING 
 THE GWOTEM. REF C IS MEMO FROM THE OFFICE OF UNDER SECRETARY OF 
 DEFENSE ANNOUNCING THE AREA OF ELIGIBILITY FOR THE GWOTEM. // 
 POC/MRS. D. M. MCKINNON/GS-9/CMC MMMA-3/-/TEL:703-784-9340 
 /EMAIL:MCKINNONDM@MANPOWER.USMC.MIL// 
 GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN MESSAGE IS TO 
 ANNOUNCE THE APPROVAL OF THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM EXPEDITIONARY 
 MEDAL (GWOTEM), AND TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDANCE AND 
 PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS AWARD. PER REFERENCES A AND 
 B, PRESIDENT BUSH APPROVED THE ESTABLISHMENT AND AWARD OF THE GLOBAL 
 WAR ON TERRORISM EXPEDITIONARY AND SERVICE MEDALS TO RECOGNIZE THE 
 ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN, OR 
 SUPPORTING OPERATIONS IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM (GWOT) WITHIN 
 THE ESTABLISHED AREA OF ELIGIBILITY (AOE) OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 2 OF 
 THIS MARADMIN MESSAGE. THE GWOT SERVICE MEDAL (GWOTSM) WILL BE 
 ANNOUNCED VIA SEPARATE MARADMIN MESSAGE.  
 2. TO QUALIFY FOR THE GWOTEM, MARINES MUST HAVE DEPLOYED ABROAD FOR 
 SERVICE IN SUPPORT OF GWOT OPERATIONS BEGINNING 11 SEPTEMBER 2001, 
 TO A FUTURE DATE TO BE DETERMINED (TBD). APPROVED OPERATIONS FOR 
 THE GWOTEM ARE OPERATIONS ENDURING FREEDOM AND IRAQI FREEDOM. 
  A. THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CHAIRMAN, 
 JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF (CJCS) HAS THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE/DESIGNATE 
 FUTURE OPERATIONS ELIGIBLE FOR THE GWOTEM. REQUESTS FOR FUTURE 
 OPERATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED FROM THE COMBATANT COMMANDER TO THE 
 SECRETARY OF DEFENSE VIA THE CJCS. FUTURE APPROVED OPERATIONS WILL 
 BE ANNOUNCED VIA MARADMIN MESSAGE.  
  B. PER REF A, THE GENERAL AOE FOR THIS AWARD ENCOMPASSES ALL 
 FOREIGN LAND, WATER AND AIR SPACES OUTSIDE THE FIFTY STATES OF THE 
 UNITED STATES AND OUTSIDE 200 NAUTICAL MILES OF THE SHORES OF THE 
 UNITED STATES. THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, UPON RECEIPT OF A 
 RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CJCS, SHALL DESIGNATE THE SPECIFIC AOE FOR 
 FUTURE OPERATIONS. AS OF THE DATE OF THIS MARADMIN MESSAGE, INITIAL 
 AWARD OF THE GWOTEM IS LIMITED TO PERSONNEL DEPLOYED OVERSEAS FOR 
 SERVICE IN OPERATIONS ENDURING FREEDOM AND IRAQI FREEDOM. 
  C. PER REF C, THE DESIGNATED, SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AOE RELATED 
 TO THESE OPERATIONS ARE: 
 AFGHANISTAN SAUDI ARABIA 
 BAHRAIN SOMALIA 
 BULGARIA (BOURGAS) SYRIA 
 CRETE TAJIKISTAN 
 CYPRUS TURKEY (EAST OF 35 DEGREES EAST LATITUDE) 
 DIEGO GARCIA TURKMENISTAN 
 DJIBOUTI UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 
 EGYPT UZBEKISTAN 
 ERITREA YEMEN 
 ETHIOPIA THAT PORTION OF THE ARABIAN SEA NORTH OF 10  
 IRAN DEGREES NORTH LATITUDE AND WEST OF 68 DEGREES 
 IRAQ LONGITUDE 
 SUEZ CANAL BAB EL MANDEB 
 ISRAEL GULF OF ADEN 
 JORDAN GULF OF AQABA 
 KAZAKHSTAN GULF OF OMAN 
 KENYA GULF OF SUEZ 
 KUWAIT THAT PORTION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA EAST OF 
 QATAR 28 DEGREES EAST LONGITUDE 
 KYRGYZSTAN PERSIAN GULF 
 LEBANON RED SEA 
 OMAN ROMANIA (CONSTANTA) 
 PAKISTAN STRAIT OF HORMUZ 
 PHILIPPINES  
 3. CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD: MERELY ESTABLISHING PRESENCE IN THE  
 AOE DOES NOT NECESSARILY QUALIFY A UNIT FOR THIS AWARD. FOR 
 EXAMPLE, A MARINE SECURITY GUARD UNIT ON EMBASSY DUTY WITHIN THE 
 AOE, MUST ALSO ESTABLISH THAT IT MEETS THE CRITERIA TO QUALIFY FOR 
 THIS AWARD OUTLINED IN THIS PARAGRAPH. MARINES MUST BE ASSIGNED, 
 ATTACHED OR MOBILIZED TO A UNIT PARTICIPATING IN OPERATION ENDURING 
 FREEDOM OR IRAQI FREEDOM FOR 30 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OR 60 
 NONCONSECUTIVE DAYS WITHIN THE DESIGNATED AOE, OR WHILE IN THE 
 DESIGNATED AOE, MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: 
  A. BE ENGAGED IN ACTUAL COMBAT AGAINST THE ENEMY AND UNDER 
 CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVING GRAVE DANGER OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY FROM 
 ENEMY ACTION. 
  B. WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE OPERATION, REGARDLESS OF TIME, IS 
 KILLED, WOUNDED OR INJURED REQUIRING MEDICAL EVACUATION FROM THE 
 OPERATION. 
  C. MARINES PARTICIPATING AS A REGULARLY ASSIGNED AIRCREW 
 MEMBER FLYING SORTIES INTO, OUT OF, WITHIN, OR OVER THE AOE IN 
 DIRECT SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS ENDURING FREEDOM AND/OR IRAQI FREEDOM 
 ARE ELIGIBLE TO QUALIFY FOR AWARD OF THE EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL. EACH 
 DAY THAT ONE OR MORE SORTIES ARE FLOWN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE 
 CRITERIA SHALL COUNT AS ONE DAY TOWARD THE 30 OR 60 DAY REQUIREMENT. 
 4. ADJUDICATION: THE COMBATANT COMMANDER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO 
 APPROVE THE GWOTEM FOR UNITS AND PERSONNEL DEPLOYED WITHIN HIS/HER 
 THEATER.  
  A. UNDER NO CONDITION WILL UNITS OR PERSONNEL WITHIN THE UNITED 
 STATES OR THE GENERAL REGION EXCLUDED IN PARAGRAPH 2B AND 2C ABOVE BE 
 DEEMED ELIGIBLE FOR THE GWOTEM.  
  B. UNIT COMMANDERS MUST IDENTIFY PARTICIPATING UNITS OR 
 PERSONNEL, TO INCLUDE LOCATION (WITHIN AOE) AND SPECIFIC DATES 
 SERVED IN THE OPERATION, TO THE COMBATANT COMMANDER (VIA THEIR CHAIN 
 OF COMMAND) FOR APPROVAL. 
  C. MARINE FORCE COMMANDERS SHALL ESTABLISH INTERNAL 
 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR PROPER PROCESSING AND DISSEMINATION OF 
 LISTS OF APPROVED UNITS OR PERSONNEL. 
 5. VERIFICATION: UNIT COMMANDERS WILL IDENTIFY ELIGIBLE MARINES 
 FROM THEIR SERVICE RECORD/OQR AND/OR ORDERS AND WILL RUN THE ENTRY 
 ON UD WITH CODE "WE." UNIT COMMANDERS THAT CANNOT RESOLVE 
 ELIGIBILITY FOR A MARINE, SHOULD SEEK GUIDANCE FROM THE RESPECTIVE 
 COMMAND FROM WHICH THE MARINE CLAIMED ELIGIBILITY.  
 6. THE GWOTEM MAY BE AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY.  
 7. MARINES MAY RECEIVE BOTH THE GWOTEM AND THE GWOTSM IF THEY MEET 
 THE REQUIREMENTS OF BOTH AWARDS, HOWEVER, THE QUALIFYING PERIOD USED 
 TO ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY FOR ONE CANNOT BE USED TO JUSTIFY 
 ELIGIBILITY FOR THE OTHER. THE GWOTEM IS A SERVICE AWARD. LIKE THE 
 ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL (AFEM) OR THE ARMED FORCES SERVICE 
 MEDAL, NOT ALL PERSONNEL IN AN APPROVED UNIT MAY BE ELIGIBLE -- 
 TIMING, PLACE AND ACTION ARE REQUIRED.  
 8. DEVICES: ONLY ONE AWARD OF THIS MEDAL MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR ANY 
 INDIVIDUAL, THEREFORE, NO DEVICES (SERVICE STARS) ARE AUTHORIZED. 
  A. BATTLE STARS MAY BE APPLICABLE FOR PERSONNEL WHO WERE 
 ENGAGED IN ACTUAL COMBAT AGAINST THE ENEMY UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES 
 INVOLVING GRAVE DANGER OF DEATH OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY FROM ENEMY 
 ACTION. ONLY A COMBATANT COMMANDER CAN INITIATE A REQUEST FOR A 
 BATTLE STAR. REQUESTS FOR BATTLE STARS WILL CONTAIN THE SPECIFIC 
 UNIT(S) OR INDIVIDUAL(S) ENGAGED IN ACTUAL COMBAT, THE DURATION FOR 
 WHICH ACTUAL COMBAT WAS SUSTAINED, AND A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE 
 ACTIONS AGAINST THE ENEMY. APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR BATTLE STARS 
 IS THE CJCS. 
  B. MARINE FORCE COMMANDERS MAY IDENTIFY UNITS OR PERSONNEL THAT 
 MEET THE CRITERIA FOR THE BATTLE STARS AND FORWARD A REQUEST TO THE 
 COMBATANT COMMANDER FOR SUBMISSION TO THE CJCS FOR DETERMINATION.  
 IF APPROVED, MARINE FORCE COMMANDERS SHALL PROVIDE THE LISTS OF 
 UNITS OR PERSONNEL APPROVED TO THE CMC (MMMA) FOR DISTRIBUTION AND 
 HISTORICAL PURPOSES. ONCE UNITS OR PERSONNEL ARE APPROVED TO 
 RECEIVE BATTLE STARS, UNIT COMMANDERS MUST ENSURE PERSONNEL ARE 
 QUALIFIED FOR THE DEVICE.  
 9. PRECEDENCE: THE GWOTEM WILL BE POSITIONED ABOVE THE GWOTSM IN 
 PRECEDENCE AND BOTH ARE BEFORE THE ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL. 
 10. THE GWOTEM MAY BE PROCURED FROM THE DEFENSE LOGISTIC AGENCY, 
 DEFENSE SUPPLY CENTER PHILADELPHIA VIA THE NORMAL SUPPLY CHANNELS.  
 THE NSN FOR THE GWOTEM IS 8455-01-506-7144. COMMANDERS ARE 
 AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE THE GWOTEM TO PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THEIR 
 COMMAND WHO HAVE MET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.  
 11. MARINES HONORABLY DISCHARGED OR RETIRED AFTER 11 SEPTEMBER 
 2001, THAT BELIEVE THEY MEET THE CRITERIA FOR THIS AWARD MUST FOLLOW 
 THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THIS PARAGRAPH FOR VERIFICATION OF 
 THEIR ENTITLEMENT. 
  A. MARINES WHO HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED WITHOUT FURTHER OBLIGATED 
 SERVICE OR RETIRED, MUST SUBMIT THEIR REQUEST FOR THE GWOTEM TO THIS 
 HEADQUARTERS VIA MAIL TO:  
  HEADQUARTERS U.S. MARINE CORPS  
  MILITARY AWARDS BRANCH (MMMA)  
  3280 RUSSELL ROAD 
  QUANTICO VA 22134-5103  
 OR VIA FAX TO (703) 784-9866.  
  B. MARINES WHO WERE DISCHARGED FROM ACTIVE DUTY WITH FURTHER 
 OBLIGATED SERVICE MUST SUBMIT THEIR REQUESTS TO THE:  
  MARINE CORPS RESERVE SUPPORT COMMAND  
  15303 ANDREWS ROAD  
  KANSAS CITY, MO 64147-1207 
 ALL REQUESTS MUST INCLUDE A COPY OF THE MARINE'S DD FORM 214. 
 12. A BATTLE STREAMER HAS BEEN APPROVED AND DESIGNED FOR THE 
 GWOTEM, BUT THE NSN HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED YET, AND IT IS NOT YET 
 AVAILABLE THROUGH THE MARINE CORPS SUPPLY CHANNEL. UNITS ELIGIBLE 
 FOR THIS STREAMER MAY OBTAIN IT THROUGH OPEN PURCHASE DIRECTLY 
 FROM THE VENDOR. 
 13. INDIVIDUAL MARINES SHOULD ADDRESS THEIR QUESTIONS REGARDING 
 THIS MARADMIN MESSAGE TO THEIR RESPECTIVE ADMIN PERSONNEL.  
 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY BE AVAILABLE ON THE HEADQUARTERS MARINE 
 CORPS AWARDS BRANCH WEB PAGE: AWARDS.MANPOWER.USMC.MIL. FOR 
 QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS MARADMIN MESSAGE, IT IS REQUESTED THAT 
 ONLY COMMAND REPRESENTATIVES AND AUTHORIZED ADMIN PERSONNEL CONTACT 
 THE CMC (MMMA) AT COML (703)784-9340 OR DSN 278-9340.//