The United States Central Command is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the U.S. Department of Defense. It was established in 1983,taking over the previous responsibilities of the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF).
The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces established on 8 July 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The medal is awarded to recognize service during the Vietnam War by all members of the U.S. Armed Forces provided they meet the award requirements.
A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star 3⁄16 inch in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or service period. The service star may also be referred to as a campaign star or battle star depending on which award the star is authorized for and the manner in which the device is used for the award.
The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces,which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy. The medal is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who,after July 1,1958,participated in U.S. military operations,U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations,or U.S. operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations.
The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was 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 was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry.
The Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was created by Executive Order 13363 of U.S. President George W. Bush on 29 November 2004,and became available for general distribution in June 2005. The medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry and was awarded during the Iraq War,from 19 March 2003 to 31 December 2011.
The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-SM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was created through Executive Order 13289 on 12 March 2003,by President George W. Bush. The medal recognizes those military service members who have supported operations to counter terrorism in the War on Terror from 11 September 2001,to a date yet to be determined.
The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-EM) is a United States Armed Forces award created by George W. Bush on 12 March 2003,through Executive Order 13289. The medal recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. Prior to 30 April 2005,the medal was awarded for service within Iraq and Afghanistan,but has been replaced with the Iraq Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal and now serves primarily as recognition for personnel who have deployed in support of the War on Terror to locations beyond Iraq and Afghanistan. In a similar fashion the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal is now issued instead for service in the fight against ISIS,with eligibility retroactive to 15 June 2014.
The Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces established by Executive Order 13154 of President Bill Clinton on May 3,2000. The medal recognizes military service performed in Kosovo from March 24,1999 through December 31,2013.
The NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It is manufactured by Eekelers-Centini Intl,of Hemiksem,Belgium.
The 5th Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton,California. It is the most highly decorated regiment in the Marine Corps and falls under the command of the 1st Marine Division and the I Marine Expeditionary Force.
Al Udeid Air Base is one of two military bases southwest of Doha,Qatar,also known as Abu Nakhlah Airport.
The 1st Battalion,6th Marines (1/6) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based in Camp Lejeune,North Carolina. It consists of approximately 1,100 marines and sailors. They fall under the command of the 6th Marine Regiment,the 2nd Marine Division of the II Marine Expeditionary Force.
The Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan is a campaign medal previously awarded by the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom for service by British Armed Forces personnel in support of the post-2001 Afghan War.
The Combat Action Medal (CAM) is a decoration of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force to recognize airmen and guardians for active participation in ground or air combat.
Stephen M. Twitty is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army. Twitty assumed command of First United States Army on July 15,2016,relinquishing command to become deputy commander of United States European Command on 9 August 2018. Previously,he was commanding general of Fort Bliss and the 1st Armored Division. Twitty was awarded the Silver Star during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Noted for his relationship with journalist David Bloom,who was embedded with his battalion during the invasion of Iraq in 2003,Twitty has served in five combat deployments,including tours in the Gulf War,Afghanistan,Iraq,and Kuwait. He has commanded at the company,battalion,and brigade level during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Twitty is a graduate of South Carolina State University and a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He was inducted into the South Carolina State University ROTC Hall of Fame in 2009,and selected as one of the university's Distinguished Alumni in 2004.
John Rutherford Allen is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general,and former commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces –Afghanistan (USFOR-A). On September 13,2014,President Barack Obama appointed Allen as special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL. He was succeeded in that role by Brett McGurk on October 23,2015. He is the co-author of Turning Point:Policymaking in the Era of Artificial Intelligence with Darrell M. West and Future War and the Defence of Europe alongside Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ben Hodges and Professor Julian Lindley French. Allen was president of the Brookings Institution from October 2017 until his resignation on June 12,2022;he had been placed on administrative leave four days earlier after public reports he was under investigation by the FBI for lobbying on behalf of Qatar.
The General Service Medal (GSM) is a service medal of Canada established by Her Majesty The Queen in March 2004 and presented for the first time on 29 November 2004. It is presented to members of the Canadian Forces,or members of allied forces for deployment outside of Canada with Canadian Forces,though not necessarily in a theater of operations,to provide direct support,on a full-time basis,to operations in the presence of an armed enemy.
The Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal is a United States Department of Defense service award and campaign medal. The medal was established by Executive Order on 30 March 2016 by U.S. President Barack Obama. The medal may be awarded to members of the U.S. Army,Navy,Marine Corps,Air Force,and Coast Guard,for service in Iraq,Syria,or contiguous waters or airspace retroactively from 15 June 2014 to a date yet to be determined. Service members who were awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for service that is now covered by the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal may make application to be awarded the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal in lieu of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. No service member will be entitled to the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal for the same action,time period,or service.
Major General Peter John Talleri retired in September,2013,after serving 34 years in the United States Marine Corps. At retirement,Maj. Gen. Talleri was the U. S. Marine Corps senior logistics professional in the Pacific. In 2013,he was also a recipient of the National Safety Council's “CEOs Who Get It”award.
