Service members are now authorized to wear service stars on their Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medals, according to a Feb. 9 Pentagon release. The stars represent deployments in support of Operations Enduring Freedom (Sept. 11, 2001-TBD), Iraqi Freedom (March 19, 2003-Aug. 31, 2010), Nomad Shadow—surveillance operations based from Turkey— (Nov. 5, 2007-TBD), New Dawn (Sept. 1, 2010-Dec. 31, 2011), and Inherent Resolve (June 15, 2014-TBD), states the release. Only one GWOT-EM can be awarded for each operation, so if a service member receives a second award for another approved operation, he or she would wear a single service star on the GWOT-EM to represent both medals. The change does not adjust criteria for either the Afghanistan Campaign Medal or the Iraq Campaign Medal.
When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rolled out an expansive acquisition reform agenda earlier this month, he promised aggressive implementation and reorganization aimed at transforming the way the Pentagon develops and fields weapons and platforms. The plan appears to have been well-received by past administration officials and lawmakers from both parties who…
