1. Description: On a bronze medal, 1 ¼ inches in diameter, an eagle, with wings addorsed and inverted, standing on a sword loosened in its scabbard, and super- imposed on a radiant compass rose of eight points, all within the circumscription "ARMED FORCES" above and "EXPEDITIONARY SERVICE" below with a sprig of laurel on each side. On the reverse is the shield from the United States Coat of Arms above two laurel branches separated by a bullet, all within the circumscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". 

2. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 3/16 inch green 67129; 3/16 inch golden yellow 67104; 3/16 inch spicebrown 67196; 3/16 inch black 67138; 7/16 inch bluebird 67117; 1/8 inch ultramarine blue 67118; 1/8 inch white 67101; 1/8 inch scarlet; 7/16 inch bluebird; 3/16 inch black; 3/16 inch spicebrown; 3/16 inch golden yellow; and 3/16 inch green. 

3. Criteria: a. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who after 1 July 1958 participate 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 (JCS), in significant numbers and encounter during such participation foreign armed opposition, or are otherwise place in such a position that in the opinion of the JCS, hostile action by foreign armed forces was imminent even though it does not materialize. 

    b. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal may be authorized for three categories of operations: U.S. military operations; U.S. military operations in direct support of the United Nations; and U.S. operations of assistance to friendly foreign nations. 

    c. The medal shall be awarded only for operations for which no other U.S. campaign medal is approved. 

4. Components: The following are authorized components and related items: 

    a. Medal (regular size): MIL-DTL-3943/230. NSN 8455-00-082-5638 for set which includes regular size medal and ribbon bar. 

    b. Medal (miniature size): MIL-DTL-3946/230. Available commercially. 

    c. Ribbon: MIL-DTL-11589/12. NSN 8455-00-082-2344.

    d. Lapel Button: MIL-DTL-11484. Available commercially. 

    e. Streamers: MIL-S-14650. Manual requisition in accordance with AR 840-10. 

5. Background: a. During the late 1950’s, it became apparent that a medal was needed to recognize the services of the Armed Forces who participated in the increased involvement of the American military in peacekeeping activities. As a result, President Kennedy established the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, per Executive Order 10977, dated 4 December 1961, for operations on or after 1 July 1958.

    b. In a memorandum dated 20 December 1961, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense requested that The Institute of Heraldry submit proposed designs as soon as possible. Proposed designs were submitted on 25 January 1962 and a design, created by Mr. Jay Morris, was tentatively selected. The design was submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts for comments prior to approval by the Deputy Secretary of Defense on 24 April 1962. 

    c. The selected design uses the eagle to represent the strength of our Armed Forces, and the sword, loose in its scabbard, denotes the readiness to serve wherever needed, as further suggested by the compass rose. 

    d. At the present time, JCS has designated 22 operations for which the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal may be awarded. A bronze service star is worn to denote second and subsequent awards of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Each Service may authorize the use of campaign streamers for operations in the designated areas. The Army has authorized campaign credit and display of streamers for three areas: Grenada, Panama and the Dominican Republic. The Air Force has authorized display of streamers for all 22 operations. The Navy authorizes display of three silver stars and four bronze stars on the streamer representing 19 operations.  

    e. Order of precedence and wear policy for service medals awarded to Army personnel is contained in Army Regulation (AR) 670-1. Policy for awards, approving authority and supply of medals is contained in AR 600-8-22. The policy for display of campaign streamers on guidons/flags and supply of streamers is contained in Chapter 9, AR 840-10

    f. The following areas have been designated for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal:

• Lebanon 1 Jul 58 - 1 Nov 58
• Quemoy and Matsu Islands 23 Aug 58 - 1 Jun 63
• Taiwan Straits 23 Aug 58 - 1 Jan 59
• Vietnam 1 Jul 58 - 3 Jul 65
• Congo 14 Jul 60 - 1 Sep 62
• Laos 19 Apr 61 - 7 Oct 62
• Berlin 14 Aug 61 - 1 Jun 63
• Cuba 24 Oct 62 - 1 Jun 63
• Cambodia 29 Mar 73 - 15 Aug 73
• Thailand (Support of Cambodia) 29 Mar 73 - 15 Aug 73
• Congo 23 Nov 64 - 27 Nov 64
• Dominican Republic 28 Apr 65 - 21 Sep 66
• Korea 1 Oct 66 - 30 Jun 74
• Cambodia 11 Apr 75 - 13 Apr 75
• Vietnam 29 Apr 75 - 30 Apr 75
• Mayaguez 15 May 75
• Grenada 23 Oct 83 - 21 Nov 83
• Lebanon 1 Jun 83 - 1 Dec 87
• Libya 12 Apr 86 - 17 Apr 86
• Persian Gulf 24 Jul 87 - 1 Aug 90
• Panama 20 Dec 89 - 31 Jan 90
• Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq 1 Dec 95 - TBD
• Former Republic of Yugoslavia - pending

    g. The following designated U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations have been designated for this award:

• Congo 14 Jul 1960 - 1 Sep 1962
• Somalia (Operations Restore Hope & United Shield) 5 Dec 1992 - 31 Mar 1995
• Former Republic of Yugoslavia (Operations Joint Endeavor & Joint Guard) 1 Jun 1992 - 20 Jun 1998, only for participants deployed in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia
• Former Republic of Yugoslavia (Operation Joint Forge) 21 Jun 1998 to a date to be determined

    h. The following designated U.S. operations of assistance for a friendly foreign nation have been designated for this award:

• Vietnam 1 Jul 1958 - 3 Jul 1965
• Laos 19 Apr 1961 - 7 Oct 1962
• Cambodia 29 Mar 1973 - 15 Aug 1973
• Thailand (Only those in direct support of Cambodia operations) 29 Mar 1973 - 15 Aug 1973
• El Salvador 1 Jan 1981 - 1 Feb 1992
• Lebanon 1 Jun 1983 - 1 Dec 1987
• Persian Gulf (Operation Earnest Will) 24 Jul 1987 - 1 Aug 1990
• Southwest Asia (Operation Southern Watch) 1 Dec 1995 - 18 Mar 2003
• Southwest Asia (Maritime Intercept Operation) 1 Dec 1995 - 18 Mar 2003
• Southwest Asia (Vigilant Sentinel) 1 Dec 1995 - 15 Feb 1997
• Southwest Asia (Operation Northern Watch) 1 Jan 1997 - 18 Mar 2003
• Southwest Asia (Operation Desert Thunder) 11 Nov 1998 - 22 Dec 1998
• Southwest Asia (Operation Desert Fox) 16 - 22 Dec 1998
• Southwest Asia (Operation Desert Spring) 31 Dec 1998 - 18 Mar 2003