- Time Period: Post-WW2
- Institution: 29 November 2004
- Country: United States
The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (or ACM) is a military award of the United States military created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004, and became available for general distribution in June 2005. The medal is retroactive to October 24, 2001, and is active until a date to be determined.
The medal is awarded to any member of the United States military who has performed duty within the borders of Afghanistan (or its airspace) for a period of thirty consecutive days or sixty non-consecutive days.
Personnel who have been engaged in combat with an enemy force, or personnel who have been wounded in combat within Afghanistan, may receive the ACM regardless of the number of days spent within the country. The medal is also awarded posthumously to any service member who dies in the line of duty within Afghanistan, including from non-combat injuries such as accidents and mishaps.
The Afghanistan Campaign Medal Design
The medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is bronze in appearance and measures 1 1⁄4 inches in diameter. It depicts above a range of mountains a map of Afghanistan. Around the top is the inscription “AFGHANISTAN CAMPAIGN.”
On the reverse, a radiating demi-sun superimposed by an eagle’s head couped. Inscribed across the bottom half of the reserve side are the three lines “FOR SERVICE IN AFGHANISTAN“, enclosed by a laurel wreath.
