The IRCM shall be awarded to each Service member who, on or after 15 June 2014, was permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for 30 consecutive or non-consecutive days to a unit operating in the area of eligibility, or who meets one of the following criteria regardless of time spent in the AOE:
-Was engaged in combat during an armed engagement
-While participating in an operation or on official duties was killed or wounded/injured and medically evacuated from the AOE
The AOE encompasses the land area of the countries of Iraq and Syria, the contiguous waters of each extending out to 12 nautical miles, and the air space above the land area and contiguous waters. Aircrew members accrue one day of eligibility for each day they fly into, out of, within, or over the AOE. The IRCM is not authorized for foreign military personnel.
CAMPAIGNS AND INCLUSIVE DATES
Operation INHERENT Resolve June 15, 2014 – November 23, 2015
Abeyance June 15, 2014 – November 24, 2015
Intensification November 25, 2015 – April 14, 2017
Defeat April 15, 2017 – July 1, 2020
Normalize, July 2, 2020 – TBD