1. Description: On a bronze medal,
1 ¼ inches in diameter, an eagle, with wings addorsed and
inverted, standing on a sword loosened in its scabbard, and
super- imposed on a radiant compass rose of eight points, all
within the circumscription "ARMED FORCES" above and
"EXPEDITIONARY SERVICE" below with a sprig of laurel
on each side. On the reverse is the shield from the United
States Coat of Arms above two laurel branches separated by a
bullet, all within the circumscription "UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA."
2. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8
inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 3/16 inch
green 67129; 3/16 inch golden yellow 67104; 3/16 inch spicebrown
67196; 3/16 inch black 67138; 7/16 inch bluebird 67117; 1/8 inch
ultramarine blue 67118; 1/8 inch white 67101; 1/8 inch scarlet;
7/16 inch bluebird; 3/16 inch black; 3/16 inch spicebrown; 3/16
inch golden yellow; and 3/16 inch green.
3. Criteria: a. The Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed
Forces of the United States who after 1 July 1958 participate as
members of U.S. military units in a U.S. military operation in
which service members of any Military Department participate, in
the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), in significant
numbers and encounter during such participation foreign armed
opposition, or are otherwise place in such a position that in
the opinion of the JCS, hostile action by foreign armed forces
was imminent even though it does not materialize.
b. The Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal may be authorized for three categories of
operations: U.S. military operations; U.S. military operations
in direct support of the United Nations; and U.S. operations of
assistance to friendly foreign nations.
c. The medal shall be
awarded only for operations for which no other U.S. campaign
medal is approved.
4. Components: The following are
authorized components and related items:
a. Medal (regular size):
MIL-DTL-3943/230. NSN 8455-00-082-5638 for set which includes
regular size medal and ribbon bar.
b. Medal (miniature size):
MIL-DTL-3946/230. Available commercially.
c. Ribbon:
MIL-DTL-11589/12. NSN 8455-00-082-2344.
d. Lapel Button:
MIL-DTL-11484. Available commercially.
e. Streamers: MIL-S-14650.
Manual requisition in accordance with AR 840-10.
5. Background: a. During the late
1950’s, it became apparent that a medal was needed to
recognize the services of the Armed Forces who participated in
the increased involvement of the American military in
peacekeeping activities. As a result, President Kennedy
established the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, per Executive
Order 10977, dated 4 December 1961, for operations on or after 1
July 1958.
b. In a memorandum dated
20 December 1961, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
requested that The Institute of Heraldry submit proposed designs
as soon as possible. Proposed designs were submitted on 25
January 1962 and a design, created by Mr. Jay Morris, was
tentatively selected. The design was submitted to the Commission
of Fine Arts for comments prior to approval by the Deputy
Secretary of Defense on 24 April 1962.
c. The selected design
uses the eagle to represent the strength of our Armed Forces,
and the sword, loose in its scabbard, denotes the readiness to
serve wherever needed, as further suggested by the compass rose.
d. At the present time,
JCS has designated 22 operations for which the Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal may be awarded. A bronze service star is
worn to denote second and subsequent awards of the Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal. Each Service may authorize the use of
campaign streamers for operations in the designated areas. The
Army has authorized campaign credit and display of streamers for
three areas: Grenada, Panama and the Dominican Republic. The Air
Force has authorized display of streamers for all 22 operations.
The Navy authorizes display of three silver stars and four
bronze stars on the streamer representing 19 operations.
e. 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,
AR 840-10.
f. The following areas
have been designated for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary
Medal:
- Lebanon 1 Jul 58 - 1 Nov 58
- Quemoy and Matsu Islands 23 Aug 58 - 1 Jun 63
- Taiwan Straits 23 Aug 58 - 1 Jan 59
- Vietnam 1 Jul 58 - 3 Jul 65
- Congo 14 Jul 60 - 1 Sep 62
- Laos 19 Apr 61 - 7 Oct 62
- Berlin 14 Aug 61 - 1 Jun 63
- Cuba 24 Oct 62 - 1 Jun 63
- Cambodia 29 Mar 73 - 15 Aug 73
- Thailand (Support of Cambodia) 29 Mar 73 - 15 Aug 73
- Congo 23 Nov 64 - 27 Nov 64
- Dominican Republic 28 Apr 65 - 21 Sep 66
- Korea 1 Oct 66 - 30 Jun 74
- Cambodia 11 Apr 75 - 13 Apr 75
- Vietnam 29 Apr 75 - 30 Apr 75
- Mayaguez 15 May 75
- Grenada 23 Oct 83 - 21 Nov 83
- Lebanon 1 Jun 83 - 1 Dec 87
- Libya 12 Apr 86 - 17 Apr 86
- Persian Gulf 24 Jul 87 - 1 Aug 90
- Panama 20 Dec 89 - 31 Jan 90
- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq 1 Dec 95 - TBD
- Former Republic of Yugoslavia - pending