Iraq Campaign Medal

Criteria For The Iraq Campaign Medal

Individuals must have served in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM) period of eligibility is on or after 19 March 2003 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of OIF. The area of eligibility (AOE) encompasses all land area of the country of Iraq, all air spaces above the land area of Iraq and the contiguous waters of Iraq out to 12 nautical miles.

a. Minimum time period. Service members must have been assigned, Attached, or mobilized to units operating in the AOE for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days or meet one of the following criteria:

1) Be engaged in actual combat during an armed engagement, Regardless of time in the area of eligibility.
2) While participating in an operation or on official duties, is killed, wounded or injured requiring medical evacuation from the AOE. Non-combat medical evacuation does meet the qualification criteria.

b. Air crew qualification. Must participate as a regularly assigned air crew flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the AOE in direct support of military operations. Each day that one or more sorties are flown into, out of, within or over the AOE shall count as one day toward the 30 or 60 day requirement.