Iraq Campaign Medal

The medal is bronze in appearance, 1+1⁄4 inches (32 mm) in diameter. The obverse depicts a north-oriented relief of the map of Iraq, surmounted by two lines representing the Tigris and Euphrates rivers throughout, superimposed over a palm wreath. Above is the inscription "IRAQ CAMPAIGN." On the reverse, the Statue of Freedom surmounts a sunburst, encircled by two scimitars pointing down with the blades crossing at the tips. Below is the inscription "FOR SERVICE IN IRAQ." The medal is suspended from a ribbon 1+3⁄8 inches (35 mm) wide. The stripes of the ribbon invoke the colors of the Iraqi flag and are: 5⁄32 inch scarlet at the edges, followed by 1⁄16 inch white, 1⁄32 inch green, and 1⁄16 inch white. The white is separated by a 5⁄32 inch black with a 7⁄16 inch stripe in chamois in the center.[5]

The Iraq Campaign Medal was awarded to any member of the U.S. military who performed duty within the borders of Iraq (or its territorial waters) for a period of thirty consecutive days or sixty non-consecutive days. The medal was awarded retroactively from 19 March 2003 until the end of Operation New Dawn on 31 December 2011.[6]

Personnel who engaged in combat with an enemy force, or personnel wounded in combat or wounded as a result of a terrorist attack within Iraq received the Iraq Campaign Medal regardless of the number of days spent within the country.

In addition, each day participating in aerial missions as a "regularly assigned air crewmember of an aircraft flying sorties into, out of, within or over Iraq and in direct support of the military operations" established a single day of eligibility. When the required minimum days of eligibility were accrued, the medal was then awarded.[7]

The medal was also awarded posthumously to any service member who died in the line of duty within Iraq, including from non-combat injuries such as accidents and mishaps.[8][9]

On 23 April 2012, an order terminating the award of the Iraq Campaign Medal was issued by the Department of Defense. The order is effective to 31 December 2011, the day Operation New Dawn ended.[1] U.S. military personnel serving inside the borders of Iraq after December 2011 will not be eligible to receive the ICM.[10]

The following are the approved campaign phases and respective inclusive dates for the Iraqi Campaign Medal:[17][18][19]

Examples of campaign stars worn on the Iraqi Campaign Medal service ribbon:

	Any one of the seven phases
	Two of the seven phases
	Three of the seven phases
	Four of the seven phases
	Five of the seven phases
	Six of the seven phases
	All seven phases

The following ribbon devices are authorized for wear on the Iraqi Campaign Medal:[11][10][20][21][22][23][24]

• Campaign stars (all branches)
• Arrowhead device (Army and Air Force)
• Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia (Navy personnel assigned to a Marine Corps unit in combat)

• Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces
• Afghanistan Campaign Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• Iraq Commitment Medal
• United Kingdom Iraq Medal (2003–2011)
• United Kingdom Iraq Medal (post-2003)

• Emering, Edward John (2012). The Decorations and Medals of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Claymont, DE: Orders and Medals Society of America. ISBN 978-1-890974-34-3.