Could someone explain to me how this is any different than the case with the Southwest Asia Service Medal?



According to regulations, the Southwest Asia Service Medal should also be automatically worn with a star—or at least such a conclusion is inevitable based on the regulations regarding (a) awarding of the medal, and (b) requirements for a service star. (The Wikipedia entry that says “Each recipient of the medal should wear at least one campaign star,” but of course it is Wikipedia….)



Per AR 600-8-22, the SWASM is “awarded to all Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in SWA and contiguous waters or airspace there over, on or after 2 August 1990 to 30 November 1995.” Further, one bronze service star will be worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the SWASM for participation in each designated campaign:



Defense of Saudi Arabia 2 August 1990 to 16 January 1991

Liberation and Defense of Kuwait 17 January 1991 to 11 April 1991

Southwest Asia Cease-Fire 12 April 1991 to 30 November 1995



Note that the contiguous range of dates of those campaigns matches the eligibility date period for the SWASM. In other words, anyone who earned the SWASM must have earned it during one of those campaigns and thus should wear at least one star.



The DoD instructions for the medal uses different phrasing—"Individuals authorized for the award must have served in support of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, or the Cease Fire Campaign”—but has the same dates and geographical areas of eligibility as AR 660-8-22, and all those operations were part of the designated campaigns listed above.



So...am I missing something, or should the same rule apply to the SWASM?