Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

The Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal (IRCM) is a United States Department of Defense service award and campaign medal established by Executive Order on December 31, 2014.

The IRCM recognizes individuals who have served in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), the military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Eligibility Criteria

• Service members who have served in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, or the United Arab Emirates in support of OIR.
• Service members who have participated in planning, supporting, or executing OIR from outside the above-listed countries.
• Service members who have been assigned to a unit that has deployed in support of OIR, even if the individual did not deploy with the unit.

Service Periods

The IRCM is awarded for service between June 15, 2014, and a date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense.

The IRCM is awarded retroactively to service members who served in support of OIR prior to the medal's establishment.

Campaign Phases

The IRCM has four phases:

• Phase I: June 15, 2014 - December 31, 2015
• Phase II: January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2017
• Phase III: January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2019
• Phase IV: January 1, 2020 - End of OIR

Service members who served in multiple phases of OIR are authorized to wear the IRCM with multiple campaign stars.

Appearance

The IRCM is a bronze medal with a diameter of 1.5 inches. The obverse of the medal features the Seal of the Department of Defense. The reverse of the medal features the inscription "INHERENT RESOLVE" and the dates "2014 - 2019."

The IRCM is suspended from a ribbon that is 1.375 inches wide. The ribbon is composed of seven equal stripes of black, red, white, blue, white, red, and black.

Conclusion

The IRCM is a prestigious award that recognizes the contributions of service members who have served in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The IRCM is a symbol of the valor, sacrifice, and dedication of the men and women who have fought against ISIL.