I want a military award or medal I never got but should have.

Request a Military Award Not Previously Awarded to You. (Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, Soldier's Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, or the Medal of Honor)

Public Law, Title 10, United States Code, Section 1130, permits you to: request award of a decoration you believe you deserve but for which you were not recommended; request award of a decoration you were submitted for, but did not receive; or request a decoration you received be upgraded to a higher award. Complete details can be viewed on the U. S. Army Awards and Decorations Board website:

https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Army%20Retiree%20and%20Veteran%20Inquiries

A request for an award or upgrade of one of the above decorations must be submitted on a DA Form 638, Award Recommendation, with supporting documents and witness statements, through your Congressman for consideration by the Army Awards and Decorations Board. The witness to the act completes a DA Form 638, or, the applicant can complete this form. A DA Form 638 can be obtained from a military Human Resource Office or online at:

http://www.apd.army.mil/pub/eforms/pdf/a638.pdf

The address for the Army Awards and Decorations Board is:

U. S. Army Human Resources Command (USAHRC)
ATTN: AHRC-PDP-A
1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Dept 480
Fort Knox, KY 40122-5408

Their website is: https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Awards%20and%20Decorations%20Branch

You may apply to the ABCMR for an award or upgrade of a decoration ONLY AFTER the Army Awards and Decorations Board has made a decision on your DA Form 638. You must provide a copy of the Army Awards and Decorations Board's decision with your application to the ABCMR.

Requests for Award of the Purple Heart, Service Medals, and Badges.

You may request the record be corrected to show that you were awarded the Purple Heart, service medals, badges, and other awards not listed in the above paragraph by submitting a DD Form 149 or online application on this website to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR). You must include supporting documentation and evidence to justify the award.

Purple Heart.

Award of the Purple Heart is made to soldiers wounded, injured, or killed from an outside force or agent as a result of an action against an enemy or an act of any such enemy, or by an international terrorist after 28 March 1973, or as a result of friendly fire. The wound or injury for which the award is made must have required treatment by medical personnel and records of medical treatment for the wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record. A wound is defined as Injury caused by: enemy bullet, shrapnel, or other projectile created by enemy action; enemy placed mine or trap; enemy released chemical, biological, or nuclear agent; vehicle or aircraft accident resulting from enemy fire; and concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated explosions. Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides details on the criteria for the award of the Purple Heart. You can view Army Regulations online at http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf

Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM).

To obtain the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM):

Veterans who have left service prior to 2002 should complete Standard Form 180 and submit it to:

National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
Military Personnel Records
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138-1002

A Standard Form 180 can be obtained at https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records or an online application can be made at this website on eVetRecs.

Veterans who left service after 2002 should complete Standard Form 180 and submit it to:

USAHRC
ATTN: AHRC-PDP-A
1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Dept 480
Fort Knox, KY 40122-5408

Members of the armed forces authorized the KDSM must have served in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea. The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the Republic of Korea, and the contiguous water out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land and water areas.

The KDSM period of eligibility is July 28, 1954, to a future date to be determined by the secretary of defense.

To qualify for the medal, the veteran must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility and have been physically deployed in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days or meet one of the following criteria:

1. Be engaged in actual combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the area of eligibility.



2. Is wounded or injured in the line of duty and requires medical evacuation from the area of eligibility.



3. While participating as a regularly assigned air crewmember flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in support of military operations. Each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria shall count as one day toward the 30 or 60-day requirement.



4. Personnel who serve in operations and exercises conducted in the area of eligibility are considered eligible for the award as long as the basic time criteria is met. Due to the extensive time period for KDSM eligibility, the nonconsecutive service period for eligibility remains cumulative throughout the entire period.

The KDSM may be awarded posthumously, and only one award of the KDSM is authorized for any individual.

Korean War Service Medal (KWSM).

The following Army Awards and Decorations Branch website provides information for obtaining a KWSM – https://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/republic%20of%20korea%20korean%20war%20service%20medal

USAHRC
ATTN: AHRC-PDP-A, Dept 480
1600 Spearhead Division Avenue
Fort Knox, KY 40122-5408

To qualify for the medal, the veteran must have:

1. Served between the outbreak of hostilities, June 25, 1950, and the date the armistice was signed, July 27, 1953.



2. Been on permanent assignment or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days.



3. Performed his / her duty within the territorial limits of Korea, in the waters immediately adjacent thereto or in aerial flight over Korea participating in actual combat operations or in support of combat operations.

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medal.

Human Resources Command message, dated 17 March 2004, provides instructions for award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Battalion commanders and commanders of separate units are authorized to grant these awards to soldiers on active duty.

If you are currently serving on active duty, it is your chain of command's responsibility to submit the requests for award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. If you can provide evidence that shows that you were erroneously denied these awards, you may resubmit your application to this Board.

If you are discharged or retired, you must apply to the National Personnel Records Center for award of these medals by submitting a Standard Form 180 (SF180), Request Pertaining to Military Records, to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).

National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
Military Personnel Records, Medals Section (NRPMA-M),
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138-1002

You can obtain a SF180 online at https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/replacement-medals.html under the topic of ‘Military Personnel Records.’ Attach a copy of your DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and any supporting documentation to the SF180.

If you are an Army Reserve or National Guard member not serving on active duty, you must contact your current records manager to validate the wear of these awards and to confirm that, if you are entitled to these awards, your records have been correctly annotated. If you can provide evidence that shows that you were erroneously denied these awards, you may resubmit your application to this Board.

Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM).

To be authorized the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM), a Soldier must have served in direct support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF). The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the country of Afghanistan and all air spaces above the land. The ACM period of eligibility is on or after 24 October 2001 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of OEF. Soldiers must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or for 60 non-consecutive days or meet one of the following criteria:

(1) Be engaged in combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the area of eligibility.

(2) While participating in an operation or on official duties, is wounded or injured and requires medical evacuation from the area of eligibility.

(3) While participating as a regularly assigned air crewmember flying sorties into, out of, within or over the area of eligibility in direct support of the military operations; each day of operations counts as one day of eligibility.

The following rules apply to award the ACM:

(1) The Afghanistan Campaign Medal may be awarded posthumously.

(2) Only one award of this medal may be authorized for any individual.

(3) Under no condition will personnel or units receive the ACM, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for the same action, time period or service.

Precedence for the Afghanistan Campaign Medal will be positioned below the Kosovo Campaign Medal and above the Iraq Campaign Medal.

Soldiers qualified for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) by reasons of service between 24 October 2001 and 28 February 2005, in an area for which the ACM was subsequently authorized, remain qualified for the GWOTEM. Upon application, any such Soldier may be awarded the ACM in lieu of the GWOTEM for such service. No Soldier will be entitled to both medals for the same act, achievement or period of service.

A Soldier can request that his/her GWOTEM be converted to the ACM. A request for an award of a campaign medal should be submitted via a DA Form 4187 through the chain of command to the approval authority for decision. If the Soldier is discharged, the request for conversion of the GWOTEM to ACM can be submitted to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records on a DD Form 149 or through online application. Include with the application a copy of the DD Form 214.

Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM).

To be authorized the Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM), Soldiers must have served in direct support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF). The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the country of Iraq, and the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land area of Iraq and above the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles. The ICM period of eligibility is on or after 19 March 2003 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of OIF. Soldiers must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or for 60 non-consecutive days or meet one of the following criteria:

(1) Be engaged in combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the area of eligibility.

(2) While participating in an operation or on official duties, is wounded or injured and requires medical evacuation from the area of eligibility.

(3) While participating as a regularly assigned air crewmember flying sorties into, out of, within or over the area of eligibility in direct support of the military operations; each day of operations counts as one day of eligibility.

The following rules apply to award the ICM:

(1) The ICM may be awarded posthumously.

(2) Only one award of this medal may be authorized for any individual.

(3) Under no condition will personnel receive the ICM, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for the same action, time period or service.

Precedence for the Iraq Campaign Medal will be positioned below the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and above the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Soldiers qualified for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) by reasons of service between 24 October 2001 and 28 February 2005, in an area for which the ICM was subsequently authorized, remain qualified for the GWOTEM. Upon application, any such Soldier may be awarded the ICM in lieu of the GWOTEM for such service. No Soldier will be entitled to both medals for the same act, achievement or period of service.

A Soldier can request that his/her GWOTEM be converted to the ICM. A request for an award of a campaign medal should be submitted via a DA Form 4187 through the chain of command to the approval authority for decision. If the Soldier is discharged, the request for conversion of the GWOTEM to ICM can be submitted to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records on a DD Form 149 or through online application. Include with the application a copy of the DD Form 214.


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