CDRPERSCOM ALEXANDRIA VA//TAPC-PDO-PA//
MILPER MESSAGE NR.99-229
AWARD OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL (AFSM) FOR 
OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT 

A.  MILPER MESSAGE NR. 96-098, DTG 081615Z MAR 96, SUBJ:  
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL AND AWARD FOR 
OPERATIONS RELATING TO THE FORMER REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA.

B.  AR 600-8-22, MILITARY AWARDS, 25 FEB 95.

C.  AR 600-8-104, MILITARY PERSONNEL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT/RECORDS, 
27 APR 92.

D.  AR 670-1, WEAR AND APPEARANCE OF THE ARMY UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA, 
1 SEP 92.

E.  AR 680-29, MILITARY PERSONNEL, ORGANIZATION, AND TYPE OF 
TRANSACTION CODE, 1 MAR 99.

1.  THIS MILPER MESSAGE WILL EXPIRE 30 SEPTEMBER 2001 OR UPON RELEASE 
OF REVISION TO AR 600-8-22.

2.  THIS MESSAGE ANNOUNCES AWARD OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL 
(AFSM) TO U.S. MILITARY PARTICIPANTS IN OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT 
(OPC) FOR THE PERIOD 1 DEC 95 THROUGH 31 DEC 96.

3.  THE AFSM FOR OPC IS AUTHORIZED FOR AWARD TO U.S. MILITARY FORCES 
DEPLOYED IN, OR IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF OPC AS DEFINED IN PARA 4 BELOW. 
THE AREA OF ELIGIBILITY (AOE) IS THE TOTAL LAND AREA AND AIR SPACE 
OF NORTHERN IRAQ, NORTH OF THE 36 PARALLEL, AND INCIRLIK AIR BASE AND 
PIRINCLIK AIR BASE, TURKEY.

4.  TO QUALIFY FOR AWARD OF THE AFSM FOR OPC, SERVICE MEMBERS MUST BE 
BONA FIDE MEMBERS OF A UNIT PARTICIPATING FOR ONE OR MORE DAYS WITHIN 
THE DESIGNATED AOE AS DEFINED IN PARA 3 ABOVE, OR MEET ONE OR MORE OF 
THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

A.  BE ENGAGED IN DIRECT SUPPORT FOR 30 CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN THE AOE;

B.  PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT IN THE AOE FOR 60 NONCONSECUTIVE DAYS; 

C.  PARTICIPATE AS A REGULARLY ASSIGNED CREW MEMBER OF AN AIRCRAFT 
FLYING INTO, OUT OF, WITHIN, OR OVER THE AOE IN SUPPORT OF THE 
OPERATION.

5.  SUBSEQUENT AWARDS.  NO MORE THAN ONE MEDAL SHALL BE AWARDED TO 
ANY ONE SERVICE MEMBER.  ONE BRONZE SERVICE STAR IS WORN TO DENOTE 
SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT AWARDS OF THE AFSM.  TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR 
ADDITIONAL AWARDS, SERVICE MUST BE RENDERED IN MORE THAN ONE 
DESIGNATED AREA AND PERIOD OF SERVICE.  NO TWO AWARDS WILL BE MADE 
FOR SERVICE IN THE SAME DESIGNATED AREA.  (SERVICE STARS ARE 
DESCRIBED IN 
CHAP 6 OF REF B).

6.  EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, COMMANDERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO AWARD THE 
AFSM TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.  PERMANENT ORDERS ARE NOT REQUIRED.  
MILITARY PERSONNEL DIVISIONS/PERSONNEL SERVICES BATTALIONS (MPD/PSB) 
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-SVC-MDL

	SIDPERS CODE: AH 01-99 (PLEASE NOTE TO USE APPLICABLE CODE 
FOR SIDPERS 2.75 AND 3.0)

7.  THE AFSM MAY BE ORDERED THROUGH NORMAL SUPPLY CHANNELS.  THE NSN 
TO ORDER THE AFSM IS 8455-01-426-5479.

8.  VETERANS AND RETIREES MAY REQUEST AWARD OF THE AFSM 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), 
DSN 221-8700, COMM (703) 325-8700.