| Southwest Asia Service Medal | |
| Presenter: | the U.S. Department of Defense |
| Type: | Campaign medal |
| Eligibility: | U.S. military personnel who served in Southwest Asia from August 2, 1990 (or January 17, 1991, for Turkey and Egypt) to November 30, 1995. |
| Established: | EO 12754, March 12, 1991, as amended |
| Status: | Not currently awarded |
| Firstawarded: | 1991 (retroactive to either August 2, 1990, or January 17, 1991, depending on location) |
| Higher: | Vietnam Service Medal |
| Lower: | Kosovo Campaign Medal |
| Related: | National Defense Service Medal Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) |
The Southwest Asia Service Medal (SASM or SWASM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was created by order of President George H.W. Bush on March 12, 1991. The award is intended to recognize those military service members who performed duty as part of the Persian Gulf War and for a time thereafter. The medal was designed by Nadine Russell of the Army's Institute of Heraldry.[1] [2] The colors of the ribbon are tan, representing sand, with the black, white, red, blue, and green colors symbolizing the colors of coalition countries' national flags.
Individuals awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal must have participated in or supported military operations in Southwest Asia between August 2, 1990, and November 30, 1995. That period of inclusion includes participation in Operations Desert Shield or Desert Storm:[3]
Individuals serving in Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Syria and Jordan (including the airspace and territorial waters) directly supporting combat operations between January 17, 1991, and April 11, 1991, are also eligible for this award.[4]
To receive the award, a service member must be: attached to or regularly serving for one or more days with an organization participating in ground/shore military operations; attached to or regularly serving for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; actually participating as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations in the areas designated; or serving on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, except, if a waiver is authorized for personnel participating in actual combat.[4]
For those service members who performed "home service" during the Persian Gulf War, such as support personnel in the United States, the Southwest Asia Service Medal is not authorized. The award is also not authorized for those who performed support of the Persian Gulf War from European or Pacific bases.[4]
In April 2016, the appearance of the suspension and service ribbon of the SWASM was slightly modified by the United States Department of Defense through the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). The DLA made the two vertical green bars and one vertical black bar in the middle wider than in the original 1991 version.[5] [6] [7]
The following are the approved campaign phases and respective inclusive dates for the Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM):[8] [4]
| Campaign | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defense of Saudi Arabia (DESERT SHIELD) | 2 August 1990 | 16 January 1991 | |
| Liberation and Defense of Kuwait (DESERT STORM) | 17 January 1991 | 11 April 1991 | |
| Southwest Asia Cease-Fire Campaign | 12 April 1991 | 30 November 1995 | |
| Operation PROVIDE COMFORT | 1 June 1992 | 30 November 1995 |
The following ribbon devices are authorized for wear on the Southwest Asia Service Medal:
Examples of campaign stars worn on the Southwest Asia Campaign service ribbon:
| One of the three campaigns | ||
| Two of the three campaigns | ||
| Three of the three campaigns |
While several operations occurred in the geographical areas described above between April 12, 1991, and November 30, 1995, including Operation Provide Comfort (June 1, 1992 – November 30, 1995), Operation Southern Watch (August 27, 1992 – April 29, 2003) and Operation Vigilant Warrior (October 14, 1994 – December 21, 1994), these operations were covered under the third campaign, Southwest Asia Cease-Fire. Service in Operations that extended beyond the final campaign date of November 30, 1995, were recognized by awards of either the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Armed Forces Service Medal.[9]