[quote]The Army has laid out of the eligibility requirements for the award of the new Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal to soldiers who have served in Iraq and Syria since June 15, 2014.

Inherent Resolve is the U. S. and allied campaign that targets military operations against the Islamic State terrorist organization.

The area of eligibility, or AOE, for the campaign encompasses the land areas of Iraq and Syria, and the contiguous waters of each of those countries extending out to 12 nautical miles, and the airspace above those land areas and water.

The new medal was established by an executive order and secretary of defense memo on March 30, 2016, and in the Defense Department military decorations manual on May 15.

Army policies will be reflected in a future update to AR 600-8-22 (Military Awards).

Soldiers qualify for the medal if they were permanently assigned, attached or detailed to a unit operating in the AOE for 30 consecutive days, or 60 non-consecutive days, and who meet one of the following criteria, regardless of time spent in the AOE:

• Was engaged in combat during an armed engagement in the AOE.

• Was wounded, injured or killed, and medically evacuated from the AOE, while engaged in an operation or on official duties.

Soldiers serving as air crew members are credited for one day of eligibility for each day they fly into, out of, or within or over the AOE.

Soldiers who are assigned to a unit operating in Iraq, but who are supporting the unit from a location in Kuwait, are not eligible for the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal unless they are physically in Iraq for 30 consecutive days, or 60 non-consecutive days.[/quote]