Global War on Terrorism Service Medal The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal ( GWOTSM ) is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13289 on March 12 , 2003 by President George W . Bush . The award recognizes those military service members who have performed service in the War on Terror from September 11 , 2001 to a date to be determined . Criteria . To receive the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal , a military service member must perform duty in a designated anti - terrorism operation for a period of either 30 consecutive or 60 non - consecutive days of duty . For those who were engaged in combat , killed , or wounded in the line of duty the time requirement is waived . The initial authorized operation for the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal was the so - called " Airport Security Operation " which occurred between September 27 , 2001 and May 31 , 2002 . Additional operations , for which the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is authorized , include the active military campaigns of Operation Enduring Freedom , Operation Noble Eagle , and Operation Iraqi Freedom . Future operations are at the discretion of United States component commanders upon approval from the United States Department of Defense . Support duty . In 2004 , Defense Department and military service branches began publishing directives , messages , and orders , that specified that the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal would be awarded not only for direct participation in specific operations , for also to any personnel who performed support duty of an anti - terrorism operation but do not directly participate . The phrase " support " was further defined as any administrative , logistics , planning , operational , technical , or readiness activity , which provides support to an operation of the Global War on Terror . As a result of this blanket term , the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal became an eligible award for most personnel of the United States armed forces who performed service after September 11 , 2001 through March 2004 . With the orders granting the GWOTSM for " support duty " , the medal has essentially become almost the same type of award as the National Defense Service Medal and graduates of training schools , ROTC , and service academies are typically presented both awards at the same time . The primary difference between the NDSM and the GWOTSM is that the NDSM is automatic as soon as a person joins the military whereas the GWOTSM may only be presented after thirty days of duty ( or three months in the case of the reserves ) . The regulations for reservists are also not as well defined for the GWOTSM as they are for the NDSM , since the presentation of the NDSM to reservists was codified and clarified as far back as the Gulf War . Army . Army Regulations state that , " All Soldiers on active duty , including Reserve Component Soldiers mobilized , or National Guard Soldiers activated on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined having served 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days are authorized the GWOTSM . " The GWOTSM was awarded automatically to all service members on Active Duty between September 11 , 2001 and March 31 , 2004 . While the award is no longer automatic , the termination " date to be determined " has not been set . The Battalion Commander is the approval authority for the GWOTSM . Service members are still eligible for the medal provided they meet the criteria in AR 600 - 8 - 22 . Army Soldiers serving on active duty primarily in a training status ( basic training , advanced individual training , officer training courses , etc . … ) are not authorized award of the GWOTSM for the active duty time they are in training . The criteria for the awards specifically states that a Soldier has to serve on active duty in support of a designated GWOT operation ( Operation Noble Eagle ( " ONE " ) , Operation Enduring Freedom ( " OEF " ) , Operation Iraqi Freedom ( " OIF " ) , and Operation New Dawn ( " OND " ) ) for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days . Soldiers in a training status are “ not ” supporting these designated operations . Navy and Marine Corps . Regulations for rating the GWOT are the same in both the Navy and the Marine Corps for those who serve on both active and reserve duty . Essentially , 30 days of consecutive duty or 60 days of non - consecutive duty in support of approved organizations . Personnel who are still in their initial career training are not eligible . Eligibility begins when they reach their first permanent duty station . Air Force . Air Force service members were first awarded the GWOTSM for airport security operations in the fall and winter of 2001 . It was subsequently awarded for participation or support of operations Noble Eagle , Enduring Freedom , and Iraqi Freedom . Members must be assigned , attached or mobilized to a unit participating in or serving in support of these designated operations for thirty consecutive days or sixty nonconsecutive days . Personnel who are not deployed may be eligible for service in support of the Global War on Terrorism . Examples of these duties are maintaining and loading weapons systems for combat missions , securing installations against terrorism , augmenting command posts or crisis action teams , and processing personnel for deployment . Coast Guard . Coast Guard regulations concerning the award of this medal state , " From 11 September 2001 to 30 January 2005 : Awarded to all Coast Guard active duty and reserve member on active duty during the eligibility period . To qualify , members must have served on active duty for a period of not less than 30 consecutive days or 60 non - consecutive days following initial accession point training . Service while assigned to training duty as a student , cadet , officer candidate , and DUINS , does not count toward eligibility . This includes both training and summer cruises for the Coast Guard Academy and Officer Candidate School . For reservists , “ active duty ” includes ADT and IDT service in an operational vice classroom setting . From 31 January 2005 to a date to be determined : Eligible service members must be or have been assigned , attached , or mobilized to a unit participating in or serving in direct support of specified Global War on Terrorism operations ( e . g . , NOBLE EAGLE , LIBERTY SHIELD , NEPTUNE SHIELD , PORT SHIELD , ENDURING FREEDOM , IRAQI FREEDOM , or Area Commander - designated GWOT operations ) for 30 consecutive or 60 cumulative days , or meet one of the following criteria : ( a ) Be engaged in actual combat regardless of time served in the operation ; or ( b ) While participating in the operation , regardless of time , be killed , wounded , or injured requiring medical evacuation . " Appearance . The medal is a bronze color metal disc 1 . 25 inches in diameter . The obverse depicts an eagle with spread wings . On the breast of the eagle is a shield of thirteen vertical bars . In the eagle ' s right claw is an olive branch and in the left claw are three arrows . The eagle is surmounted by a terrestrial globe with the inscription above “ WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE MEDAL . ” On the reverse is a laurel wreath on a plain field . The medal is suspended from an Old Glory Blue ribbon 1 . 375 inches wide and consists of stripes of golden yellow , scarlet and white . Service and battle stars . Only one award of this medal may be authorized for any individual , therefore , no service star s are prescribed . Although qualifying circumstances would be extremely rare , battle star s may be applicable for personnel who were engaged in actual combat against the enemy involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury . Only a Combatant Command can initiate a request for a battle star . This request will contain the specific unit ( s ) or individual ( s ) engaged in actual combat , the duration for which combat was sustained , and a detailed description of the actions against the enemy . The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the approving authority for the specific battle stars . To date ( as of 2010 ) there have been no service or battle stars authorized for the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal . References . < br >