Iraq Campaign Military Medal
and Civilian Service Display Recognition

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      Military Branches

      Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy

      Replacement Types

      You have four display types to choose from:
      Black & White (No Color)
      Heavy Bond Enclosure

      Heavy Bond Enclosure
      Colors: Regal, Black, Navy
      Trimmed in Appearance Gold

      Ready for Mantle or Shelf Replacement

      Issue Requirements
      You must submit the following:

    • MILITARY: An unaltered photocopy of your DD-214 displaying your wartime Iraq service in excess of 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. If Iraq Service is not displayed on your DD-214 you must provide a copy of your DD-214 -AND- a copy of other military issued documentation clearly displaying your military assignment to Iraq.
    • CIVILIAN: An unaltered photocopy of your agency/company deployment letter -AND- a photocopy of your passport page stamping your Government Issue to Iraq.
    • NOTICE

      This Replacement Recognition is available ONLY to authorized recipients who have already received their award and possess orders, or authorization form, or release documentation as confirmation. (See "Issue Requirements"). To obtain either a Replacement Medal or a Replacement Recognition for your authorized award you will be required to provide military-issued documentation authorizing your award. There are no exceptions.

      WARNING!
      You must NOT submit a military issued document or photocopy that:

      • has been altered in any way by you after
        the original's official issue
      • contains information or corrections or
        additions that you entered
      • lists awards or training you knowingly did not receive
      • contains highlighting, colorizing or other markings you entered

      Be advised that on request any knowingly fraudulent document sent by you will be released to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that may result in prosecution and/or fine/imprisonment.

      Email Questions, or Phone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

      Personnel Branch
      Processing and Delivery

      Style Admin Shipping Total
      Full Color .PDF (Printable) $7.50 Emailed $7.50
      Published Document only (Full Color) $14.00 $10.50 USPS $24.50
      Published Document in Heavy Bond Enclosure (Full Color) $19.00 $10.50 USPS $29.50
      Full Color Printable Certificates
      on CD-Rom (minimum 20 Certificates)
      $7.50 $7.50 By Count

    • Total/Shipping fees, above, apply to 50 U.S. states
    • Contact The War Library for international shipping cost
    • How to Apply

      You may apply for your Replacement Recognition using a...

    • Check Debit card (* Shipped within 1 week)
    • Charge card (* Shipped within 1 week)
    • Personal or Business Check ( Shipped in 6 weeks)
    • Money Order (* Shipped in 6 weeks)
    • (* Upon reception of required documentation)

      Complete and MAIL this APPLICATION FORM.
      Don't forget to include an unaltered COPY of your WD AGO 53-55 or other pre-arranged document(s).

      DISPLAY RECOGNITION and/or MEDAL APPLICATION FORM

      Mailing Address

      Records Chief (REC-AMW)
      The American War Library
      817 East Via Carmelitos Ste 319
      Long Beach CA 90805-7549

      Questions?

      Click here for answers to common questions

      Email: Iraq Campaign Medal Replacement Recognition Inquiry

      Telephone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

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      Issue Regulations
      Iraq Campaign
      Go To Top of Page


      Click for larger image

      The Iraq Campaign Medal is authorized to US Military personnel who served in Iraq between 19 March 2003 and 31 Dec 2011.

      OBVERSE:

      Description: On a bronze disc 1 3/8 inches (3.49 cm) in diameter, a wreath of two palm fronds surmounted by a representation of the land mass of Iraq with the two primary rivers delineated, represents the area of operation. Above is the inscription IRAQ CAMPAIGN.

      SYMBOLISM: The lines symbolize the Tigris and Euphrates River, recalling Iraq's title as "the land of two rivers." The palm wreath denotes peace and honor.

      REVERSE:

      Description: A representation of the Statue of Freedom on the Capitol Building surmounting a sunburst, encircled by two scimitars points down crossed at tip of blades, all above the inscription "FOR SERVICE IN IRAQ."

      SYMBOLISM: The Statue of Freedom represents the ideals and goals of the campaign to bring stability and to improve the way of life for Iraq. The sunburst behind the figure symbolizes hope and success. The two scimitars in base recall an arch of swords erected by Saddam Hussein during his reign, and with the tip of the swords pointing down represent his fall from power and symbolize the goal for freedom of the Iraqi people.

      RIBBON: The right and left sides are the colors: Scarlet 67111, White 67101 with a narrow Green stripe 67129 in the middle, Black 67138 and Khaki 67142 in the middle. Black and green represent Iraq and its quest for freedom, white denotes idealism, and scarlet signifies courage and sacrifice. Khaki represents the desert.


      Executive Order 13363 of November 29, 2005

      Establishing the Iraq Campaign Medal

      By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including my authority as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States and Public Law 108 234, it is hereby ordered as follows:

      Sec. 2. Iraq Campaign Medal.

      There is hereby established the Iraq Campaign Medal with suitable appurtenances. Except as limited in section 3 of this order, and under uniform regulations to be prescribed by the Secretaries of the military departments and approved by the Secretary of Defense, or under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, the Iraq Campaign Medal shall be awarded to members of the uniformed services of the United States who serve or have served in Iraq or contiguous waters or air space, as defined by such regulations, on or after March 19, 2003, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.

      Sec. 3. Relationship to Other Awards.

      Notwithstanding section 1 of Executive Order 13289 of March 12, 2003, establishing the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, any member who qualified for that medal by reason of service in Iraq between October 24, 2001, and a terminal date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense, or in Iraq between March 19, 2003, and a terminal date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense, shall remain qualified for that medal. Upon application, a member by reason of service may be awarded either the Iraq Campaign Medal or the Iraq Campaign Medal in lieu of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. A member may be awarded either the Iraq Campaign Medal or the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal by reason of service in Iraq. A member may be awarded either the Iraq Campaign Medal or the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal by reason of service in Iraq. No member shall be entitled to the award of more than one of these three medals for the same period of service.

      Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 231 / Thursday, December 2, 2005 / Presidential Documents

      Sec. 4. Posthumous Award. The Iraq Campaign Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal may be awarded posthumously to any person covered by and under regulations prescribed in accordance with this order.

      THE WHITE HOUSE, November 29, 2005.

      Iraq Campaign

      Iraq Campaign Medal

      Establishing Authority

      The Iraq Campaign Medal was established by Public Law 108-234, signed into law by President George W. Bush on May 28, 2004 and implemented by Executive Order 13363, signed by President Bush on November 29, 2004.

      Effective Dates

      The Iraq Campaign Medal may be awarded to members of the Uniformed Services of the United States who serve, or who have served in Iraq or its contiguous waters and air space, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 19, 2003 to a date to be announced (or until the cessation of Operation Iraqi Freedom).

      Criteria

      -- The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the country of Iraq and the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land area of Iraq and above the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles.

      -- To be eligible for the Iraq Campaign Medal, a Service member must be assigned or attached to a unit participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq for 30 consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days or meet one of the following criteria:

      --- Be engaged in actual combat against the enemy under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action, regardless of the amount of time the individual has served in Iraq;

      --- While participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom or on official duties (regardless of the time spent in Iraq) is killed, wounded or injured to the extent that he or she requires medical evacuation from Iraq; or,

      --- While participating as a regularly assigned aircrew member flying sorties into, out of, within, or over Iraq in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria shall count as one day towards the 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive day requirement.

      -- Service members who qualified for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal by reason of service between March 19, 2003 and April 30, 2005 shall remain qualified for that medal. However, any such person may be awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal in lieu of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for that service, at his or her request. In addition, any Army soldier who was authorized the arrowhead device may be awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal with arrowhead device in lieu of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with arrowhead device.

      -- No service member shall be entitled to both the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal for the same act, achievement, or period of service.

      -- Only one award of the Iraq Campaign Medal may be authorized for any individual.

      -- The Iraq Campaign Medal may be awarded posthumously to any Service members who loses his or her life while, as a direct result of participating in qualifying operations, without regard to the length of time in the area of eligibility, if otherwise applicable.

      Order of Precedence

      The Iraq Campaign Medal is worn after the Iraq Campaign Medal and before the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

      Devices

      Service stars are not authorized for the Iraq Campaign Medal.

      Designer

      The basic design of the obverse of the Iraq Campaign Medal was executed by The Institute of Heraldry; the design of the reverse was suggested by the Awards and Decorations Branch of the US Marine Corps.

      Description and Symbolism

      Obverse

      In the center of a bronze medallion, a relief of Iraq surmounted by two lines throughout, surmounting a palm wreath. Above is the inscription, IRAQ CAMPAIGN. The relief of Iraq indicates the geographic area of operations, and the two lines represent the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, recalling Iraq's title, "the land of two rivers." The palm wreath denotes durability and strength of the efforts to establish the mission of Iraqi Freedom.

      Reverse

      In the center of a bronze medallion, the statue of Freedom surmounting a sunburst, enclosed by a laurel wreath over the inscription, FOR SERVICE IN IRAQ.

      Ribbon

      The ribbon consists of a khaki stripe in the center, which represents the desert. The khaki is bordered by black, which represents the success of Islam in the region. The black stripe is bordered on either side by a white stripe (denoting generosity), which is bisected by a pinstripe of green (the traditional color of Islam). The ribbon has red edge stripes, which honors courage in fighting for freedom in Iraq. These are also the collective colors of the Iraqi Flag.

      Campaign Stars

      • Liberation of Iraq: March 19 to May 1, 2003
      • Transition of Iraq: May 2, 2003 to June 28, 2004
      • Iraqi Governance: June 29, 2004 to December 15, 2005
      • National Resolution: December. 16, 2005 to January 9, 2007
      • Iraqi Surge: January 10, 2007 to December 31, 2008
      • Iraqi Sovereignty: January 1, 2009 to August 31, 2010
      • New Dawn: September 01, 2010 to December 31, 2011

      To qualify for your first campaign star, you must spend 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in country during one campaign period. But you can earn additional stars for subsequent campaign periods if you spend just one day in country during those periods.