The Southwest Asia Service Medal

Time Period: Gulf War, Post-WW2
Institution: 12 March 1991
Country: United States

The Southwest Asia Service Medal (also known as SASM or SWASM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces created by order of President George H.W. Bush to recognize those military service members who performed duty during the years of the Persian Gulf War between August 2, 1990, and November 30, 1995.

Individuals awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal must have participated in or supported military operations in Southwest Asia, including participation in Operations Desert Shield or Desert Storm. To receive the award, a service member had to be attached to or regularly serving for one or more days with an organization participating in ground/shore military operations; aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; participating as a crew member in one or more aerial flights or serving on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days.

The award is not authorized for those who performed support of the Persian Gulf War from European or Pacific bases, or for service members who performed “home service” during the Persian Gulf War.

The Southwest Asia Service Medal Design

The medal was designed by Nadine Russell of the Army’s Institute of Heraldry. The colors of the ribbon are tan, representing sand, with the black, white, red, blue, and green colors symbolizing the colors of coalition countries’ national flags. The maximum number of bronze service stars that are authorized to be worn for the Southwest Asia Service Medal’s ribbon or streamer is three.

Ribbon devices:

Bronze service star: for participation in each designated campaign. Each recipient of the medal should wear at least one campaign star.
Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia: for naval personnel on duty with and attached to a Marine Corps unit that participated in combat.

Designated campaigns:

Defense of Saudi Arabia. From August 2, 1990 to January 16, 1991.
Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. January 17, 1991 to April 11, 1991.
Southwest Asia Cease-Fire. April 12, 1991 to November 30, 1995.

In April 2016, the appearance of the suspension and service ribbon of the SASM was slightly modified. The DLA made the two vertical green bars and one vertical black bar in the middle wider than in the original 1991 version.