Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM)

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.