ALCOAST 118/22 - MAR 2023 AWARD OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL (AFSM) FOR OPERATION ALLIES REFUGE (OAR) AND OPERATION ALLIES WELCOME (OAW)

united states coast guard

R 241530Z MAR 23 MID200080838347U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 118/23
SSIC 1650
SUBJ: AWARD OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL (AFSM) FOR
OPERATION ALLIES REFUGE (OAR) AND OPERATION ALLIES WELCOME (OAW)
A. Department of Defense P&R memo 27 Jan 2023
B. Commander, United States Central Command memo 11 Feb 2022
C. Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual, COMDTINST
M1650.25E
D. DoD Manual 1348.33, Volume 2, Section 4.4.c
1. REF (A) authorizes the award of the AFSM for OAR and OAW and
conveys authority for issuance to eligible Coast Guard personnel.
2. Eligibility Criteria:
a. Period Of Award (POA): 31 Aug 2021, to 1 Apr 2022.
b. Area of Eligibility (AOE): Qatar- Al Udeid Air Base, Camp
Sayliyah, and Camp Doha; Kuwait- Ali La Salem air Base and Camp
Buehring; Shaikh Isa Air Base, Bahrain; United Arab Emirates- Abu
Dhabi and Al Dahfra; Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia; Camp
Bondsteel, Kosovo; Germany- Stuttgart, Wiesbaden, Kaiserlautern,
Ramstein Airforce Base, Rhine Ordinance Barracks, and Landstuhl
Regional Medical Center; Rota, Spain; Sigonella, Italy; Virginia-
Dulles International Airport, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Fort
Pickett, and Fort Lee; Texas- Fort Sam Houston and Fort Bliss; Fort
McCoy, Wisconsin; Joint Base McGuire, Dix, Lakehurst, New Jersey;
Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico; Peterson Space Force Base,
Colorado; Philadelphia International Airport, Pennsylvania; Camp
Atterbury, Indiana and Tampa, Florida.
c. REF (A) Service members at locations not included in the AOE
for the Humanitarian Service Medal approved for OAR may use 29 Aug
2021 as the start date to determine eligibility for award of the
AFSM for OAR and OAW.
d. As an exception, the requirement that a Service member deploy
to qualify for award of the AFSM is waived for members at locations
providing direct support, such as those physically receiving,
housing, sustaining, or providing medical support, to evacuees,
provided the member was reassigned from their primary duties to
provided full-time support to the evacuees for at least 30 days,
consecutively or non-consecutively, during the designated period
of award.
e. As an exception, due to the expansive nature of OAR and OAW,
award is authorized to Service members at non-listed AOE locations,
provided the member: 1) was at a location providing medical support
to evacuees; and 2) meets the additional AFSM award criteria, to
include criteria outlined in REF (A).
3. Since the AFSM is a DOD-regulated award, the Coast Guard does
not have the authority to approve waiver requests for defined
eligibility requirements from REF (D), which supersedes the guidance
in REF (C).
4. Given the unique nature of this designated operation, the
Personnel Service Center Medals and Awards staff will directly
coordinate approval of individual awards of the AFSM. Individual or
units meeting all eligibility factors in paragraph 2 must submit
requests through their unit personnel and administration (P&A)
office to PSC-PSD-mua-ma for approval (consolidated requests are
desired). Requests must include the following information:
a. AFSM Support for OAR and/or OAW
b. EMPLID
c. Last Name
d. First Name
e. Rank
f. Permanent Unit
g. Deployment period (Inclusive Dates). Multiple periods should
be specified in cases where members qualify based upon
non-consecutive service.
h. Copy of authenticated deployment orders must specifically
direct participation in the qualifying operation. (See exceptions
above in paragraph 2.d. and e., members who meet an exception must
include verification of support through local TDY orders or by
Commanding Officer verification.)
5. Procedures for review, approval, and recordkeeping:
a. Unit P&A staff shall submit requests (consolidated requests
with required information attached are authorized/desired) via
e-mail to PSC-PSD-mua-ma at ARL.Medals@uscg.mil.
b. Upon verification of documentation and eligibility,
PSC-PSD-mua-ma will provide e-mail authorization to the unit admin,
who will then make appropriate Direct Access entries. Units must not
make entries without this authorization.
c. A consolidated roster will be available at PSD Medals
and Awards- Operation Allies Refuge (OAR) and Operation Allies
Welcome (OAW)- All Documents (sharepoint-mil.us), to be updated
monthly, listing personnel who have been authorized this award for
OAR or OAW.
6. The AFSM does not have an accompanying certificate, citation, or
other documentation other than electronic database entries. Upon
receipt of PSC-PSD-mua-ma authorization, units should ensure that
recipients are presented the award at an appropriate occasion.
7. Only one award of the AFSM is authorized for multiple qualifying
deployments under this operation. Members previously awarded the
AFSM denote this award with a bronze star 3/16-inch in diameter worn
two points down on the suspension ribbon of the medal and on the
ribbon bar. A 3/16-inch silver star is worn in lieu of five bronze
stars.
8. Questions regarding the AFSM should be directed to CG
PSC-PSD-mua-ma at: ARL.Medals@uscg.mil.
9. Dr. D. M. Navarro, Acting Assistant Commandant for Human
Resources (CG-1), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.