UNCLASSIFIED
191501Z MAR 96
CDRPERSCOM ALEXANDRIA VA//TAPC-PDA//
MILPER MESSAGE NR 96-104
AWARD OF THE ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL FOR EL SALVADOR
A. AR 600-8-22, MILITARY AWARDS, 25 FEB 96.
B. AR 600-8-104, MILITARY PERSONNEL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT/RECORDS, 27 APR 92.
C. AR 680-29, MILITARY PERSONNEL, ORGANIZATION, AND TYPE OF TRANSACTION CODE, 1 MAR 89.
1. THIS MILPER MESSAGE WILL EXPIRE 31 MAR 98.
2. PUBLIC LAW 104-106, APPROVED 10 FEB 96, DESIGNATES THE COUNTRY OF EL SALVADOR, BEGINNING 1 JAN 81 AND ENDING 1 FEB 92, AS AN AREA AND A PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH MEMBERS OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS IN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS AND OTHERWISE MET THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AWARD OF THE ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL (AFEM) . THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA INCLUDES THE TOTAL LAND AREA OF EL SALVADOR.
3. THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AWARD OF THE AFEM ARE AS FOLLOWS:
A. SOLDIER MUST BE BONA FIDE MEMBERS OF A UNIT ENGAGED IN THE OPERATION, "OR" MEET ONE OR MORE THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
(1) BE ENGAGED IN DIRECT SUPPORT FOR 30 CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN THE AREA OF OPERATIONS (OR FOR THE FULL PERIOD WHEN AN OPERATION IS LESS THAN 30 DAYS DURATION), OR 60 NONCONSECUTIVE DAYS PROVIDED THE SUPPORT INVOLVES ENTERING THE AREA OF OPERATIONS.
(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.
4. 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
5. VETERANS MAY REQUEST AWARD OF THE AFEM FOR SERVICE IN EL SALVADOR BY WRITING TO THE COMMANDER, ARPERCEN, ATTN: ARPC-VSE-A, 9700 PAGE BOULEVARD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63132-5200.
6. ONLY MACOMS AND PRINCIPAL HQDA AGENCIES MAY CONTACT HQ, PERSCOM FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE. INSTALLATIONS/FIELD AGENCIES AND SOLDIERS MUST CONTACT THEIR RESPECTIVE MACOMS OR PERSONNEL SERVICE BATTALIONS FOR ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS.