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VetGuide
Appendix A: Wars, Campaigns and Expeditions of the Armed Forces Since WW
II Which Qualify for VeteransPreference
War Service Creditable for VeteransPreference. In the absence
of statutory definition for "war" and "campaign or expedition," OPM considers
to be "wars" only those armed conflicts for which a declaration of war was issued
by Congress. The title 38, U.S.C., definition of "period of war," which
is used in determining benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs,
includes the Vietnam Era and other armed conflicts. That title 38 definition
is NOT applicable for civil service purposes.
Thus the last "war" for which active duty is qualifying for Veteranspreference
is World War II. The inclusive dates for World War II service are December
7, 1941, through April 28, 1952.
Non-combat operations that are not qualifying for Veteranspreference.
Many medals are awarded for non-combat operations. These medals are not
a basis for preference and include the following:
- The Medal of Merit for meritorious service in World War II.
- The Medal of Freedom for meritorious achievements or meritorious service
to the United States on or after December 7, 1941, in the war against an enemy
outside the continental limits of the United States.
- The Antarctica Service Medal for participating in a scientific, direct
support, or exploratory operation on the Antarctic Continent.
- The National Defense Service Medal for honorable service between June 27,
1950 and July 27, 1954 or January 1, 1961 and August 14, 1974; or for the
period between August 2, 1990, and November 30, 1995.
- The Armed Forces Service Medal for participation in a United States military
operation deemed to be a significant activity for which there was no threat
of encounter of foreign armed opposition or imminent threat of hostile action.
- The Armed Forces Reserve Medal for 10 years of honorable service in a Reserve
component; or active duty service in a Reserve component on or after August
1, 1990; or volunteer service for active duty on or after August 1, 1990.
Military Operations Since 1937 for Which a Campaign or Expeditionary Medal
Has Been Awarded, Except for Operations Occurring During a Declared War
Military personnel receive many awards and decorations. To help agencies
make decisions concerning entitlement to Veteranspreference and other benefits,
the following list identifies those awards that are campaign and expeditionary
medals. Any Armed Forces expeditionary Medal, whether listed here or
not, is qualifying for Veteranspreference. The Department of Defense,
not OPM, determines who is entitled to receive a medal, and under what circumstances.
The list below is derived from DoD 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations
and Awards.
DD 214, Certificate of Discharge or Separation from Active Duty, or other official
documents issued by the branch of service are required as verification of eligibility
for Veteranspreference.
Campaigns and Expeditions Which Qualify For VeteransPreference
| Campaign or Expedition |
Inclusive dates |
| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) A veteran's
DD Form 214 showing the award of any Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is
acceptable proof. The DD form 214 does not have to show the name of
the theater or country of service for which that medal was awarded. |
|
| Berlin |
August 14, 1961, to June 1, 1963 |
Bosnia
(Operations Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard, and Joint Forge) ) |
November 20, 1995 to December 20, 1996; December 20, 1996 to June 20,
1998; June 21, 1998 to present |
| Cambodia |
March 29, 1973, to August 15, 1973 |
Cambodia Evacuation
(Operation Eagle Pull) |
April 11 - 13, 1975 |
| Congo |
July 14, 1960, to September 1, 1962, and
November 23, to 27, 1964 |
| Cuba |
October 24, 1962, to June 1, 1963 |
| Dominican Republic |
April 28, 1965, to September 21, 1966 |
| El Salvador |
January 1, 1981, to February 1, 1992 |
Grenada
(Operation Urgent Fury) |
October 23, 1983, to November 21, 1983 |
Haiti
Operation Uphold Democracy) |
September 16, 1994, to March 31, 1995 |
Iraq
(Operations Northern Watch and Desert Spring) |
January 1, 1997 to present;
December 31, 1998 to December 31, 2002 (projected) |
| Korea |
October 1, 1966, to June 30, 1974 |
| Kosovo |
March 24, 1999 to present |
| Laos |
April 19, 1961, to October 7, 1962 |
| Lebanon |
July 1, 1958, to November 1, 1958,
and
June 1, 1983, to December 1, 1987 |
| Mayaguez Operation |
May 15, 1975 to May 15, 1975 |
Operations in the Libyan Area
(Operation Eldorado Canyon) |
April 12, 1986 to April 17, 1986 |
Panama
(Operation Just Cause) |
December 20, 1989, to January 31, 1990 |
Persian Gulf Operation
(Operation Earnest Will) |
July 24, 1987, to August 1, 1990 |
Persian Gulf Operation
(Operation Southern Watch) |
December 1, 1995, to present |
Persian Gulf Operation
(Operation Vigilant Sentinel) |
December 1, 1995 to February 1, 1997 |
Persian Gulf Operation
(Operation Desert Thunder) |
November 11, 1998 to December 22, 1998 |
Persian Gulf Operation
(Operation Desert Fox) |
December 16, 1998 to December 22, 1998 |
| Persian Gulf Intercept Operation |
December 1, 1995, to present |
| Quemoy and Matsu Islands |
August 23, 1958, to June 1, 1963 |
Somalia
(Operations Restore Hope and United Shield) |
December 5, 1992, to March 31, 1995 |
| Taiwan Straits |
August 23, 1958, to January 1, 1959 |
| Thailand |
May 16, 1962, to August 10, 1962 |
Vietnam Evacuation
(Operation Frequent Wind) |
April 29, 1975, to April 30, 1975 |
| Vietnam (including Thailand) |
July 1, 1958, to July 3, 1965 |
Note: Section
572 of Subtitle G of the Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 1998 (Public
Law 105-85), signed into law on November 18, 1997, allows the Secretary of the
military department concerned to determine whether individual members who participated
in Operation Joint Endeavor or Operation Joint Guard in the Republic of Bosnia
and Herzegovina and in such other areas in the region as the Secretary of Defense
considers appropriate, meet the individual service requirements for award of
the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). Generally, service members will
be considered eligible if they:
- deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina (or other area that the Secretary of
Defense considers appropriate) in direct support of one or both of the operations;
- served on board a ship in the Adriatic in direct support of one or both
of the operations; or
- operated in airspace above Bosnia, Herzegovina (or other area that the Secretary
of Defense considers appropriate) while the operations were in effect.
Navy expeditionary Medal and Marine Corps Medal for these Operations:
| Campaign or Expedition |
Inclusive dates |
| Cuba |
January 3, 1961 to October 23, 1962 |
| Indian Ocean/Iran |
November 21, 1979, to October 20, 1981 |
| Iranian/Yemen/Indian Ocean |
December 8, 1978 to June 6, 1979 |
| Lebanon |
August 20, 1982 to May 31, 1983 |
Liberia
(Operation Sharp Edge) |
August 5, 1990 to February 21, 1991 |
| Libyan Area |
January 20, 1986 to June 27, 1986 |
| Panama |
April 1, 1980 to December 19, 1986 and
February 1, 1990 to June 13, 1990 |
| Persian Gulf |
February 1, 1987 to July 23, 1987 |
Rwanda
(Operation Distant runner) |
April 7 - 18, 1994 |
| Thailand |
May 16 - August 10, 1962 |
Other Campaign and Service Medals Qualifying for Preference:
| Campaign or Expedition |
Inclusive dates |
| Army Occupation of Austria |
May 9, 1945 to July 27, 1955 |
| Army Occupation of Berlin |
May 9, 1945 to October 2, 1990 |
Army Occupation of Germany
(exclusive of Berlin) |
May 9, 1945 to May 5, 1955 |
| Army Occupation of Japan |
September 3, 1945 to April 27, 1952 |
| Chinese Service Medal (Extended) |
September 2, 1945 to April 1, 1957 |
| Korean Service |
June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954 |
Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)
Operation Allied Force |
March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999 |
Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)
Operation Joint Guardian |
June 11, 1999 to (date to be determined) |
Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)
Operation Allied Harbor |
April 4, 1999 to September 1, 1999 |
Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)
Operation Sustain Hope/Shining Hope |
April 4, 1999 to July 10, 1999 |
Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)
Operation Noble Anvil |
March 24, 1999 to July 20, 1999 |
Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)
Task Force Hawk |
April 5, 1999 to June 24, 1999 |
Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)
Task Force Saber |
March 31, 1999 to July 8, 1999 |
Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)
Task Force Falcon |
June 11, 1999 to (date to be determined) |
Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)
Task Force Hunter |
April 1, 1999 to November 1, 1999 |
| Navy Occupation of Austria |
May 8, 1945 to October 25, 1954 |
| Navy Occupation of Trieste |
May 8, 1945 to October 25, 1954 |
Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM)
(Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm) |
August 2, 1990 to November 30, 1995 |
| Units of the Sixth Fleet (Navy) |
May 9, 1945 to October 25, 1955 |
| Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) |
July 4, 1965 to March 28, 1973 |
Rwanda
(Operation Distant runner) |
April 7 - 18, 1994 |
| Thailand |
May 16 - August 10, 1962 |
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