Southwest Asia Service Medal

The Southwest Asia Service Medal is a military award of the United States armed forces which was created by order of President George H.W. Bush on March 12, 1991. The award is intended to recognize those military service members who performed duty during the years of the Persian Gulf War. The medal was designed by Nadine Russell of the Army's Institute of Heraldry.

Individuals authorized the Southwest Asia Service Medal must have served in support of Operation Desert Shield or Desert Storm, in one or more of the following areas, between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995:

• Persian Gulf
• Red Sea
• Gulf of Oman
• Gulf of Aden
• that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees North latitude and west of 68 degrees East longitude

as well as the total land areas of

• Iraq
• Kuwait
• Saudi Arabia
• Oman
• Bahrain
• Qatar
• United Arab Emirates

Individuals serving in Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Syria and Jordan (including the airspace and territorial waters) directly supporting combat operations between 17 January 1991 and 11 April 1991 are also eligible for this award.

To receive the award, a service member must be: attached to or regularly serving for one or more days with an organization participating in ground/shore military operations; attached to or regularly serving for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; actually participating as a crew member in one or more aerial...
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