Eligible personnel are those individuals who were in NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft deployed to the Area of Operation (USA and the airspace of North America as tasked by NORAD).  The qualifying period in the Area of Operation is thirty (30) days continuous or accumulated service between the dates of 12 October 2001 and 16 May 2002.  Aircrew members will accumulate one day’s service for the first sortie flown of any day in the Area of Operation; additional sorties flown on the same day receive no further credit.  This requirement exists for support as well as combat aircraft; support aircraft includes tanker, airlift and surveillance platforms.