How do we rate the EGA on certain Medals?

[johnlovesraleigh]

my buddy has 3 medals including an iraqi campaign which rates a miniture EGA now if he places these medals side by side does he place the EGA off to the side like overlapping medals do or does he center it on his medal?

[8404]

Originally Posted by johnlovesraleigh

my buddy has 3 medals including an iraqi campaign which rates a miniture EGA now if he places these medals side by side does he place the EGA off to the side like overlapping medals do or does he center it on his medal?

I haven't time to look up the regulations, but from past experience one would center any ribbon 'device'. Placing it off to the side, would really look ... well!

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

"Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Combat Operation Insignia is a miniature bronze Marine Corps emblem and is authorized for Navy personnel who are assigned or attached to FMF units in active combat with an armed enemy beginning with World War II. The Insignia will be worn centered on the suspension ribbon and ribbon bar....." - SECNAVINST 1650.1

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

The rules have changed boys & girls....

This MARADMIN was published in Aug 2009 but it is back dated to Aug 2006, so the new regulation goes into effect three (3) years ago....

Therefore, as of 22Aug2006, the individual Sailor must have been engaged in active combat action (including IED's, see CAR criteria) for earn the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Combat Operation Insignia (aka mini-EGA). Mini-EGA's awarded for unit combat prior to 22Aug2006 will not be revoked/rescinded.


http://www.marines.mil/news/messages...IN0514-09.aspx

R 180933Z AUG 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 0514/09

SUBJ/AWARDS UPDATE//

REF C IS SECNAVINST 1650.1H, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MANUAL.//

4. FMF COMBAT OPERATION INSIGNIA: THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO CLARIFY THE GUIDANCE IN CHAPTER 1, ARTICLE 123 OF REF C.

A. THE FMF COMBAT OPERATION INSIGNIA IS A MINIATURE BRONZE MARINE CORPS EMBLEM THAT MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR BY U.S. NAVY PERSONNEL ATTACHED TO AND OPERATING WITH UNITS OF THE MARINE CORPS OPERATING FORCES, OR BY NAVY PERSONNEL ATTACHED TO NAVY UNITS OPERATING WITH UNITS OF THE MARINE CORPS OPERATING FORCES AND UNDER MARINE CORPS OPERATIONAL CONTROL. IT IS A RESTRICTED DEVICE; ATTACHMENT TO OPERATIONS WITH A MARINE CORPS UNIT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY. BOTH MARINE CORPS UNIT AND THE INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN ACTIVE COMBAT ACTION WITH AN ARMED ENEMY DURING THE PERIOD OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S SERVICE WITH THE UNIT.

(NOTE: PRIOR TO PUBLICATION OF REF C, THE CRITERIA FOR THE FMF COMBAT OPERATION INSIGNIA WAS ONLY THAT THE MARINE CORPS UNIT TO WHICH THE NAVY PERSONNEL WERE ATTACHED MUST HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN ACTUAL COMBAT. THERE WAS NO REQUIREMENT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL NAVY PERSONNEL TO ALSO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN THE COMBAT ACTION. AUTHORIZATIONS TO WEAR THE FMF COMBAT OPERATION INSIGNIA MADE BY COMMANDERS PRIOR TO 22 AUGUST 2006 REMAIN VALID EVEN IF THE INDIVIDUAL NAVY PERSONNEL WERE NOT ENGAGED IN THE COMBAT ACTION.)

B. UNIT COMMANDERS OF NAVY PERSONNEL WHO MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA TO WEAR THIS INSIGNIA MUST ENSURE THAT THEIR NAMES ARE FORWARDED TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S PERSONNEL SUPPORT DETACHMENT (PSD) RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THEIR PERSONNEL RECORDS, UNDER A COVER LETTER PROVIDING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE INSIGNIA. QUESTIONS REGARDING ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA SHOULD BE ADDRESSED VIA MARINE CORPS CHAIN OF COMMAND TO THE HQMC MILITARY AWARDS BRANCH (MMMA), WHO IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY FOR ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.

[Doc77]

A rather silly rule change but whatever.

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

I am still waiting for the powers-that-be to figure out this question....

http://www.corpsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109

[] The FMF Combat Operation Insignia (Mini-EGA) is for individual Sailors engaged in active combat action with an armed enemy while assigned to a FMF unit. Tens of Thousands of Mini-EGA's have been authorized since 2001.

[] The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) is for individuals who participated in a bona fide ground or surface combat fire-fight or action during which he/she was under enemy fire and his performance while under fire was satisfactory. Likely Hundreds of Thousands of CAR's have been authorized since 2001.

[] The Army's Combat Medical Badge (CMB) may be awarded to (Navy Corpsmen) "medical personnel assigned or attached to or under operational control of any ground Combat Arms units...of brigade or smaller size, who satisfactorily performed medical duties while the unit is engaged in active ground combat, provided they are personally present and under fire." "Medical personnel" includes the Navy Medical Department (Captains and below), the Air Force Medical Service (Colonels and below). Probably Hundreds of Thousands of Army CMB's/CIB's/CAB's have been authorized since 2001. http://www.corpsman.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2434

[] The Purple Heart is "awarded to any member of an Armed Force who, while serving with the U.S. Armed Services has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded; ... (1) In any action against an enemy of the United States; or ... (4) As a result of an act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces" (along with seven other awarding criteria). Tens of Thousands of Purple Hearts have been awarded since 2001.

[] Eligibility for the Combat Distinguishing Device (Bronze "V") on a personal award/medal shall be based solely on acts or services by individuals who are exposed to personal hazard due to direct hostile actions. Thousands of "Bronze V's" have been authorized since 2001.


[] GWOTEM Battle Stars are for individuals who "were engaged in actual combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action". However, ZERO Battle Stars for the GWOTEM have been authorized for any person in any branch of the military at any time.

How is this possible? At the very least you would think that every warrior awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received during combat operations ("circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action") in OEF and OIF from 2001 to April 2005 would qualify for a Battle Star on their GWOTEM. But zero -- not one -- ZERO GWOTEM Battle Stars have been authorized for anyone.... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot....?

[IDCWife]

HMC-FMF-PJ I'll second that whiskey tango foxtrot...makes NO sense!