A. MILPER Message 99-101, DTG 121618Z Mar 99, Subj: Expansion of the Area of Eligibility for Award of the AFEM for Operations in Southwest Asia.

B. MILPER Message 98-161, DTG 291530Z Jul 98, Subj: Award of the AFEM for Operations inSouthwest Asia.

C. MILPER Message 96-027, DTG 131205Z Nov 95, Subj: Termination Date for the SWASM and the NDSM and Award of the AFEM for Operation Southern Watch.

E. AR 600-8-22, Military Awards, 25 Feb 95.

F. AR 600-8-104, Military Personnel Information Management/Records, 27 Apr 92.

G. AR 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, 1 Sep 92.

H. AR 680-29, Military Personnel, Organization, and Type of Transaction Code, 1 Mar 89.

1. This message will expire 28 February 2002 or upon release of revision to Ref Echo.

2. The Secretary of Defense approved award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for Operation Desert Spring (ODS) (31 Dec 98 to a date to be determined) in the expanded area of eligibility (AOE) of Iraq operations in Southwest Asia.

3. The AOE for ODS is the total land area and the air space of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, and Jordan, and the waters and air space above the Arabian Gulf (Persian Gulf) and the Gulf of Oman that lie West of 62 degrees East longitude.

4. Rules. The general requirements for award of the AFEM are as follows:

A. Service member must be a bonafide member of a unit engaged in the operation, or meet one or more of the following criteria:

(1) Be engaged in or provide direct support for 30 consecutive days in the area of operation/eligibility (or for the full period when an operation is less than 30 days in duration), or for 60 consecutive days provided the support involves entering the area of operation.

(2) Be engaged in actual combat, or duty which is equally as hazardous as combat, during the operation with armed opposition, regardless of time in the area.

(3) Participate as a regularly assigned crew member of an aircraft flying into, out of, within, or over the area in support of the military operation.

5. Direct support is defined as services being supplied to the combat forces in the AOE by ground, sea, and air units provided it actually involves entering the AOE.

6. Service members are entitled to only one AFEM for assignment to these Iraq operations: OSW, MIO, VS, ONW, ODT, ODF, and ODS. A subsequent award of the AFEM is only authorized for individuals for nonconsecutive and nonconcurrent assignments in separate areas of eligibility for which the AFEM has been approved. For example, first award for Operation Uphold Democracy, Haiti and second award for these seven operations in Southwest Asia, provided the participants meet the criteria for each. Multiple awards of the AFEM for a return assignment/rotation to an approved operation are not authorized (e.g., Somalia's two operations and SWA's seven operations). See Ref G for proper wear of the AFEM and bronze service stars.

7. Effective immediately, commanders are authorized to award the AFEM to qualified personnel. Permanent orders are not required. Military Personnel Divisions/Personnel Service Battalions will update Personnel Qualification Records using this message as the authority. The authorized abbreviation used to annotate Section VIII of the ORB and Item 9 of the DA Form 2-1, and the SIDPERS submission code to update the OMF are as follows:

Item 9, 2-1/ORB: ARMED-FCS-EXP-MDL
SIDPERS Code: AE 01-99
(Please note to use applicable code for SIDPERS 2.75 and 3.0)

7. Veterans and retirees may request award of the AFEM by writing to the National Personnel Records Center, ATTN: Army Reference Branch, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132-5100.

9. For additional guidance please call HQ, PERSCOM (TAPC-PDO-PA) at DSN 221-8700, Comm (703) 325-8700.