View source for Iraq Campaign Medal

{{short description|American campaign medal}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox award
|name=Iraq Campaign Medal
|image=Iraq Campaign Medal.png
|image_size=230px
|caption='''[[Obverse and reverse]]'''
|presenter=[[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]]
|type= [[Campaign medal]]
|eligibility=U.S. military personnel
|awarded_for=Service in Iraq during the [[Iraq War]] (from 19 March 2003 to 31 December 2011)
|status=Inactive<ref name=armytimes/>
|established=29 November 2004<ref name=EO13363/>
|firstawarded=2005 (retroactive to 19 March 2003)
|lastawarded=
|total_awarded=
|total_awarded_posthumously=
|total_recipients=
|individual=
|higher=[[Afghanistan Campaign Medal]]<ref name=AR600-8-22>{{cite web|title=Army Regulation 600–8–22 Military Awards|url=https://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf|publisher=Army Publishing Directorate|access-date=24 January 2016|page=17|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722181345/http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf|archive-date=22 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|lower=[[Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal]]<ref name=AR600-8-22/>
|related=[[Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal]]
|same=
|image2=[[File:Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|border|106px]]<br />[[File:Iraq Campaign streamer (USMC).svg|250px]]
|caption2=[[Service ribbon]] and [[campaign streamer]]
}}

The '''Iraq Campaign Medal''' ('''ICM''') was a [[Awards and decorations of the United States military|military award]] of the [[United States Armed Forces]] which was created by [[Executive order (United States)|Executive Order]] [[s:Executive Order 13363|13363]] of [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]] on 29 November 2004,<ref name=EO13363>{{cite web|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2004/11/20041129-11.html |title=Executive Order: Establishing the Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals |publisher=Georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov |access-date=2012-05-31}}</ref> and became available for general distribution in June 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/julqtr/32cfr578.30.htm|title=Iraq Campaign Medal.|website=edocket.access.gpo.gov|access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref> The medal was designed by the [[United States Army Institute of Heraldry|U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry]] and was awarded during the [[Iraq War]], from 19 March 2003 to 31 December 2011.<ref name="tioh">{{cite web |title=Iraq Campaign Medal |url=https://tioh.army.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=15311&CategoryId=4&grp=4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221090208/https://tioh.army.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=15311&CategoryId=4&grp=4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 February 2024 |access-date=21 Feb 2024 |website=The Institute of Heraldry |publisher=}}</ref>

==Appearance==
The medal is bronze in appearance, {{convert|1+1/4|in|mm}} in diameter. The [[obverse and reverse|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 {{convert|1+3/8|in|mm}} wide. The stripes of the ribbon invoke the colors of the [[Flag of Iraq|Iraqi flag]] and are: {{frac|5|32}} inch scarlet at the edges, followed by {{frac|1|16}} inch white, {{frac|1|32}} inch green, and {{frac|1|16}} inch white. The white is separated by a {{frac|5|32}} inch black with a {{frac|7|16}} inch stripe in chamois in the center.<ref name=tioh/>

==Criteria==
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 [[Iraq War#2010: US drawdown and Operation New Dawn|Operation New Dawn]] on 31 December 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Afghanistan%20Campaign%20Medal%20or%20Iraq%20Campaign%20Medal |title=MILPER Message 12-148 |publisher=[[United States Army]]|access-date=2 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911070806/https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Afghanistan%20Campaign%20Medal%20or%20Iraq%20Campaign%20Medal |archive-date=11 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2005-11-02/html/05-21519.htm|title=Federal Register, Volume 70 Issue 211 (Wednesday, November 2, 2005)|website=gpo.gov|access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref>

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.<ref>[http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=8371 "DoD Announces Criteria for Two New Campaign Medals"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530074418/http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=8371 |date=30 May 2011 }} [[United States Department of Defense]] 7 April 2005</ref><ref>[https://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11848 Campaign Stars to Adorn Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530062007/http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11848 |date=30 May 2011 }}  [[United States Department of Defense]] 7 April 2005</ref>

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.<ref name=armytimes/> U.S. military personnel serving inside the borders of Iraq after December 2011 will not be eligible to receive the ICM.<ref name=medalfaq>{{cite web|title=Afghanistan Campaign Medal or Iraq Campaign Medal |url=https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Afghanistan%20Campaign%20Medal%20or%20Iraq%20Campaign%20Medal |work=Awards and Decorations Branch Article |publisher=Army Human Resource Command |access-date=3 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911070806/https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Afghanistan%20Campaign%20Medal%20or%20Iraq%20Campaign%20Medal |archive-date=11 September 2015 }}</ref>

===Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal===
The Iraq Campaign Medal replaced the [[Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal]] (GWOT-EM) for service in Iraq from 19 March 2003, through 30 April 2005.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>  Personnel who previously received the GWOT-EM for Iraq service were given the option to exchange the medal for the Iraq Campaign Medal. The medals were not authorized for the same period of service in Iraq, and any Iraq service which followed the Iraq Campaign Medal's creation was recognized only with the ICM.<ref name=armytimes>{{cite web|url=http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/05/army-iraq-campaign-medal-ended-053112/ |title=DoD terminates Iraq Campaign Medal – Army News &#124; News from Afghanistan & Iraq |publisher=Army Times |access-date=2012-05-31}}</ref>

===Operation Inherent Resolve===
{{main article|American-led intervention in Iraq (2014–present)}}

U.S. military personnel serving post-2014 in the Iraq conflict were originally awarded the [[Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal]] (GWOT-EM) and not the Iraq Campaign Medal as the latter conflict had ended and the former conflict was nameless at the time and the U.S. government did not designate the fighting to be a military campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/219402-service-members-not-eligible-for-medals-in-isis-campaign/|title=Troops not eligible for campaign medal in fight against ISIS|first=Garrett|last=Evans|date=1 October 2014|website=thehill.com|access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref> However, the U.S. government dubbed their operations in Iraq post-2014 as "Operation Inherent Resolve", and in March 2016, the [[Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal]] (IRCM) was created. The IRCM is now awarded to those who have served in missions in Iraq against ISIL from 15 June 2014 to the 30 JUNE 2022.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Those who were awarded the GWOT-EM for serving in Iraq from 15 June 2014 to 30 March 2016, request the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal instead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/708382/carter-announces-operation-inherent-resolve-campaign-medal |title=Carter Announces Operation Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal |date=30 March 2016 |first=Jim |last=Garamone |work=DoD News |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Defense Media Activity |access-date=30 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413045428/http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/708382/carter-announces-operation-inherent-resolve-campaign-medal |archive-date=13 April 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
 |title=Inherent Resolve Campaign medal available to military service personnel 
 |work=Coin World 
 |url=http://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2016/04/inherent-resolve-campaign-medal-authorized.all.html 
 |date=8 April 2016 
 |last=Gilkes 
 |first=Paul 
 |access-date=8 April 2016 
 |page=2 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413045821/http://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2016/04/inherent-resolve-campaign-medal-authorized.all.html 
 |archive-date=13 April 2016 
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/03/isis-military-medal-crusades/476214/|title=The New Anti-ISIS Medal: A Bit Too Crusadery?|work=The Atlantic|date=March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/uniforms/uniformregulations/Pages/NavyAwardsPrecedenceChart.aspx |title=Navy Awards Precedence Chart |access-date=8 April 2016 |date=2016 |work=Navy Personnel Command |publisher=United States Department of the Navy |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409012144/http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/uniforms/uniformregulations/Pages/NavyAwardsPrecedenceChart.aspx |archive-date=9 April 2016 }}</ref>

==Campaign phases and devices==
The following are the approved campaign phases and respective inclusive dates for the Iraqi Campaign Medal:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://prhome.defense.gov/Portals/52/Documents/RFM/MPP/OEPM/Docs/ICM%20-%20Approved%20Campaign%20Phases%20-%20Apr%202012.pdf|title=Iraqi Campaign Medal – Approved Campaign Phases|website=PRHome.Defense.gov|access-date=30 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=13366|title=Additional Phases Identified for Iraq Campaign Medal|website=defense.gov|access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14619 |title=News Release: Additional Phases Identified for Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals |publisher=Defense.gov |access-date=2012-05-31 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115161028/http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14619 |archive-date=15 January 2012 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Phase
!From
!To
|-
| Liberation of Iraq 
| 19 March 2003 
| 1 May 2003
|-
| Transition of Iraq 
| 2 May 2003 
| 28 June 2004
|-
| Iraqi Governance 
| 29 June 2004 
| 15 December 2005
|-
| National Resolution 
| 16 December 2005 
| 9 January 2007
|-
| [[Iraq War troop surge of 2007|Iraqi Surge]] 
| 10 January 2007 
| 31 December 2008
|-
| Iraqi Sovereignty 
| 1 January 2009 
| 31 August 2010
|-
| New Dawn
|1 September 2010
|15 December 2011
|}

Examples of campaign stars worn on the Iraqi Campaign Medal service ribbon:
{| class="wikitable"
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon, 1st award.svg|width=106}} || Any one of the seven phases 
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=106}} || Two of the seven phases 
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon, 3rd award.svg|width=106}} || Three of the seven phases 
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon, 4th award.svg|width=106}} || Four of the seven phases 
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon, 5th award.svg|width=106}} || Five of the seven phases
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=6|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} || Six of the seven phases
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=7|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} || All seven phases 
|}

The following ribbon devices are authorized for wear on the Iraqi Campaign Medal:<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|title=Department of Defense Manual 1348.33, Volume 3|url=http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/134833v2_dodm_2016.pdf|publisher=Defense Technical Information Center|access-date=13 September 2017|pages=43–45|date=21 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912013545/http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/134833v2_dodm_2016.pdf|archive-date=12 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=medalfaq/><ref name="Army">[https://web.archive.org/web/20040115025353/http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf Army Regulation 600-8-22] </ref><ref name="AirForce">[http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/afi36-2803.pdf Air Force Instruction 36-2803] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216113644/http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI36-2803.pdf |date=16 February 2013 }}</ref><ref name="NavyAdminMsg141/08">{{cite web|title=NAVADMIN 141/08|url=http://www.public.navy.mil/ia/Documents/NAV08141.txt|access-date=21 May 2008|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919132151/https://www.public.navy.mil/IA/Documents/NAV08141.txt|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=NavyStoryNNS>{{cite web|last=Two Bulls|first=Richard|title=Campaign Stars Established to Recognize Multiple Deployments|url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=37650|publisher=Naval Media Center Public Affairs|access-date=5 June 2008|archive-date=29 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929114609/https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=37650|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="CoastGuard">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080916083532/http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/1000-1999/CIM_1650_25D.pdf Coast Guard Commandant Instruction 1650.25D]</ref>{{refbomb|date=March 2025}}

* [[File:Silver and Bronze Service Stars.PNG|50px]] [[Service star|Campaign stars]] (all branches)
* [[File:Arrowhead device.svg|25px]] [[Arrowhead device]] (Army and Air Force)
* [[File:Fleet Marine Force Combat Insignia.svg|25px]] [[Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia]] (Navy personnel assigned to a Marine Corps unit in combat)

== Notable recipients ==
*[[Phyllis J. Wilson]], 5th Command Chief Warrant Officer of the United States Army Reserve<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= |title= Chief Warrant Officer 5 Phyllis Wilson - Command Chief Warrant Officer|url= https://www.usar.army.mil/Leadership/Article-View/Article/580314/chief-warrant-officer-5-phyllis-wilson/|website= [[United States Army Reserve]]|location= |publisher= [[United States Army]]|access-date= August 10, 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[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]]
*[[Iraq Medal (United Kingdom)|United Kingdom Iraq Medal]] (2003–2011)
*[[Iraq Reconstruction Service Medal|United Kingdom Iraq Medal]] (post-2003)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book
| last     = Emering |first= Edward John|title= The Decorations and Medals of Operation Iraqi Freedom
| location = Claymont, DE |publisher= Orders and Medals Society of America|year= 2012| isbn= 978-1-890974-34-3}}

{{US interservice decorations}}
{{United States Campaign Medals}}
{{Portal bar|Heraldry|Iraq|United States}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:United States campaign medals]]
[[Category:Awards established in 2004]]