Armed Forces Expeditionary

Armed Forces Expeditionary

Eligibility Requirements

Personnel Eligible. The AFEM, authorized by E.O. 10977 (reference (u)), may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who after July 1, 1958:

Participate, or have participated, 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, in significant numbers.

Encounter during such participation foreign armed opposition, or are otherwise placed, or have been placed, in such position that, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hostile action by foreign armed forces was imminent even though it did not materialize.

Categories of Operations. The AFEM may be authorized for the following three categories of operations:

U.S. military operations.

U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations (U.N.).

U.S. operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations.

The "area of operations" is defined as follows:

The foreign territory on which troops have actually landed or are present and specifically deployed for the direct support of the designated military operation.

Adjacent water areas in which ships are operating, patrolling, or providing direct support of operations.

The air space above and adjacent to the area in which operations are being conducted.

"Direct support" is defined as services being supplied to the combat forces in the area of operations by ground units, ships, and aircraft provided it involves actually entering the designated area. That includes ships and aircraft providing fire, patrol, guard, reconnaissance, or other military support.

Degree of Participation. Service members must be bona fide members of a unit engaged in the operation or meet one or more of the following criteria:

Be engaged in direct support for 30 consecutive days in the area of operations (or for the full period when an operation is less than 30 days duration) or for 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involves entering the area of operations.

Be engaged in actual combat, or duty that is equally as hazardous as combat duty, during the operation with armed opposition, regardless of time in the area.

Participate as a regularly assigned crew member of an aircraft flying into, out of, within, or over the area in support of the military operations.

Limitations on Awarding Medals. The medal shall be awarded only for operations for which no other U.S. campaign medal is approved. However, this does not prevent award eligibility for subsequent on-going operations if the associated campaign medal has been terminated. No individual shall be eligible for both the AFEM and a campaign medal awarded during a single tour in the designated operation. For operations in which personnel of only one Military Department participate, the medal shall be awarded only if there is no other suitable award available to that Department. The military service of the Service member on which qualification for the award of the AFEM is based shall have been honorable.

Election of the AFEM or Vietnam Service Medal. Service members who earned the AFEM for service in Vietnam between July 1, 1958 and July 3, 1965, may elect to receive the Vietnam Service Medal instead of the AFEM. However, no Service member may be issued both medals for service in Vietnam.

Wear of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) and Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM). Service members who earned the SWASM and subsequently become eligible at any time for the Operation SOUTHERN WATCH AFEM may wear both awards, with the exception of those who become eligible for both awards during one tour in Southwest Asia (SWA). Service members who become eligible for both awards during their initial tour in SWA may elect to receive either the SWASM or the AFEM, but may not be issued both medals for a single tour in SWA. Service members who become eligible for both awards during their initial tour in SWA and elect to receive the SWASM may be awarded the AFEM for participation in Operation SOUTHERN WATCH during a subsequent tour in SWA under the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Memorandum (reference (v)).

Approval of Operations. Subsequent to July 1, 1958, the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall designate U.S. military operations that qualify for the AFEM, and they shall specify the degree of participation in designated operations warranting award of the medal. Appendix 5 identifies those operations that have been approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff for award of the AFEM.

Subsequent Awards. No more than one medal shall be awarded to any one Service member. For each succeeding operation justifying such awards, a service star shall be awarded and worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal.

Manner of Wearing. The AFEM shall take precedence immediately after the Antarctica Service Medal.

Posthumous Awards. The AFEM may be awarded posthumously and, when so awarded, may be presented to such representative of the deceased, as may be deemed appropriate by the Secretary concerned.

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