The Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal (RCECM) is a United States Air Force and United States Space Force campaign medal established on 22 May 2019. The medal recognizes air force personnel, "in non-deployed status who directly participated in a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) combat operation from a remote location.[4]
| Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Service medal |
| Awarded for | Participating in a combat operation from a remote location in a non-deployed status on or after September 11, 2001 |
| Presented by | the U.S. Department of the Air Force[1] |
| Eligibility | U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force personnel |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Established | 22 May 2019 |
| First awarded | 2019 (retroactive to September 11, 2001) |
 Service ribbon of the medal | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal[2] |
| Next (lower) | Air and Space Campaign Medal[3] |
Eligibility
editThe RCECM will be awarded to airmen and guardians serving in remotely piloted aircraft, cyber, space and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance career fields, who create direct combat effects from remote locations and lead to strategic outcomes or the delivery of lethal force. In some circumstances, airmen and guardians from other career fields may be considered for the RCECM, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Service members may be awarded the RCECM for actions completed on or after 11 September 2001, while also serving under the following conditions:
- Was assigned or attached to a unit directly in support of a DoD combat operation as approved by the chief of staff of the Air Force (listed below)
- Was serving in a remotely piloted aircraft; cyber; space or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance career field
- Personally provided hands-on employment of a weapon system that had direct and immediate impact on combat operations
- Was not physically exposed to hostile actions or at risk of exposure to hostile action
Qualifying campaigns
editQualifying DoD combat operations:
| Operation | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Enduring Freedom (OEF)[5] | 11 September 2001 | 28 December 2014[6] |
| Iraqi Freedom (OIF)[5] | 19 March 2003 | 31 August 2010 |
| Nomad Shadow (ONS)[5] | 5 November 2007 | TBD |
| New Dawn (OND)[5] | 1 September 2010 | 31 December 2011 |
| Inherent Resolve (OIR)[5] | 15 June 2014 | 30 March 2016 |
| Freedom's Sentinel (OFS)[5] | 1 January 2015 | 31 August 2021 |
| Odyssey Lightning (OOL)[5] | 1 August 2016 | 19 December 2016 |
| Operation Pacific Eagle (OPE–P)[5] | 5 October 2017 | TBD |
Eligible personnel will be only awarded one medal upon meeting the initial criteria for the award. A separate bronze campaign star is worn on the medal suspension or ribbon to recognize each qualifying DoD combat operation in which the personnel participated for one or more days.
Description
editThe medal bears a bronze color 1 ¼ inch metal disc bearing a starburst. The starburst behind the grid-lined sphere conveys power and the ability to remotely effect the battlefield, anywhere in the world. The delta followed by the contrail portrays the remotely piloted aircraft and weapons systems. The Hap Arnold symbol denotes the U.S. Air Force. The reverse bears a circular inscription, “COMBAT EFFECTS CAMPAIGN” above, and “UNITED STATES AIR FORCE” below, and a “Hap Arnold” symbol above a stacked inscription that reads “REMOTE COMBAT SUPPORT”. A pair of beveled deltas flank the circular inscription.
The ribbon is predominantly blue, with a wide light blue center stripe flanked on either side by a narrow white stripe. The colors represent the U.S. Air Force.
References
edit- ^ "Production publication" (PDF). static.e-publishing.af.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
- ^ "Decorations and Ribbons". Archived from the original on 2020-11-06. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ "MEMORANDUM FOR AF/A1 SUBJECT: Establishment of a Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal" (PDF). United States Air Force. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ^ Air Force releases criteria for new Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, October 28, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Global War on Terrorism Expedtionary Medal – Approved Operations" (PDF). Department of Defense. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ "Operation Enduring Freedom comes to an end". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
