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Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) – AUTHORIZED OPERATIONS
The table below lists designated U.S. military operations that have been approved for award of the AFEM. The
Military Departments are responsible for determining individual eligibility for approved AFEM operations and
approved designated areas of eligibility. Please refer individual eligibility questions to your respective Military
Department.
Location Operation(s) Inclusive Dates
Lebanon ————————- 1 Jul 1958 – 1 Nov 1958
Vietnam (General Service) ————————- 1 Jul 1958 – 3 Jul 1965
Taiwan Straits ————————- 23 Aug 1958 – 1 Jan 1959
Quemoy and Matsu Islands ————————- 23 Aug 1958 – 1 Jun 1963
Congo ———————— 14 Jul 1960 – 1 Sep 1962
Laos ————————- 19 Apr 1961 – 7 Oct 1962
Berlin ———————— 14 Aug 1961 – 1 Jun 1963
Cuba ———————— 24 Oct 1962 – 1 Jun 1963
Congo ———————— 23 Nov 1964 – 27 Nov 1964
Dominican Republic ———————— 28 Apr 1965 – 21 Sep 1966
Korea1 ———————— 1 Oct 1966 – 30 Jun 1974
Thailand Cambodia Support Operations 29 Mar 1973 – 15 Aug 1973
Cambodia Vietnam Support Operations 29 Mar 1973 – 15 Aug 1973
Cambodia EAGLE PULL – Evacuation 11 Apr 1975 – 13 Apr 1975
Vietnam FREQUENT WIND – Evacuation2 29 Apr 1975 – 30 Apr 1975
Mayaguez ———————— 15-May-1975
El Salvador ———————— 1 Jan 1981 – 1 Feb 1992
Lebanon ———————— 1 Jun 1983 – 1 Dec 1987
Grenada Operation URGENT FURY 23 Oct 1983 – 21 Nov 1983
Libya EL DORADO CANYON 12 Apr 1986 – 17 Apr 1986
Persian Gulf EARNEST WILL 24 Jul 1987 – 1 Aug 1990
Panama JUST CAUSE 20 Dec 1989 – 31 Jan 1990
Somalia RESTORE HOPE, and UNITED SHIELD 5 Dec 1992 – 31 Mar 1995
Haiti UPHOLD DEMOCRACY 16 Sep 1994 – 31 Mar 1995
Bosnia-Herzegovina & Croatia3 JOINT ENDEAVOR 1 Jun 1992 – 19 Dec 1996
Southwest Asia VIGILANT SENTINEL 1 Dec 1995 – 15 Feb 1997
Southwest Asia Maritime Intercept Operation 1 Dec 1995 – 18 Mar 2003
Southwest Asia SOUTHERN WATCH 1 Dec 1995 – 18 Mar 2003
Bosnia – Herzegovina & Croatia3 JOINT GUARD 20 Dec 1996 – 20 Jun 1998
Southwest Asia NORTHERN WATCH 1 Jan 1997 – 18 Mar 2003
Bosnia-Herzegovina & Croatia JOINT FORGE 21 Jun 1998 – 2 Dec 2004
Southwest Asia DESERT FOX 11 Nov 1998 – 22 Dec 1998
Southwest Asia DESERT THUNDER 16 Dec 1998 – 22 Dec 1998
Southwest Asia DESERT SPRING 31 Dec 1998 – 18 Mar 2003
Haiti SECURE TOMORROW 29 Feb 2004 – 15 Jun 2004
Former Republic of Yugoslavia4 JOINT GUARDIAN, and NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo 1 Jan 2014 – TBD
1. Also eligible for the Korean Defense Service Medal as an exception to DoD policy.
2. May exchanged the AFEM for the Vietnam Service Medal pursuant to Section 542, Public Law 107-314.
3. Members awarded the Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM) for qualifying service in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia are authorized
both the AFSM and AFEM pursuant to Section 572, Public Law 105-85 in accordance with Secretary of Defense guidance approved on
February 24,1999.
4. The Kosovo Campaign Medal transitioned to the AFEM effective 1 Jan 2014; hence, start
date for award of the AFEM does not coincide with the start date of Operation JOINT GUARDIAN.