Institute of Heraldry to Update Several U.S. Campaign and Service Medals

Focus on Defense:

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today that The Institute of Heraldry (TIOH) will remove the word "medal" from four campaign and service medals in order to align their designs with heraldic protocols.

The word "medal" will be removed from the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal and Armed Forces Service Medal.

In addition, TIOH will resize eight campaign and service medals that were initially designed one-eighth of an inch larger in diameter than required by specification. The larger medals will be gradually replaced over the next several years as current stock levels are depleted. These medals will not be made obsolete and will remain authorized decorations. In addition, the applicable miniature medals will also be re-sized from eleven-sixteenths of an inch diameter to five-eighths of an inch.

The medals being resized are the: Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

Historically, campaign and service medal pendants are 1 1/4 inches in diameter; the only exceptions are the two victory medals commemorating the end of World War I and World War II; these medals were designed at 1 13/32 inches in diameter in order to enhance their heraldic stature given the magnitude of the two world wars.

(From a U.S. Defense Department press release.)

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