Navy Expeditionary Medal

Navy Expeditionary Medal
File:NavyExp.gif
Type	Medal
Status	Currently Awarded
Established	5 August 1936
Precedence
Next (higher)	Navy - Fleet Marine Force Ribbon Marine Corps Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal
Equivalent	Marine Corps - Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
Next (lower)	China Service Medal
Related	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

The Navy Expeditionary Medal is an award of the United States Navy which was first created in August 1936 by General Orders of the Department of the Navy. The Navy Expeditionary Medal is awarded to any Navy personnel who have operated in foreign territory to engage in operations, both combat and non-combat, for which no other campaign medal has been awarded.

The Navy Expeditionary Medal is retroactively authorized to February 12, 1874. The medal is one of the few Navy awards which is not bestowed to the United States Marine Corps, as Marine Corps personnel are eligible for the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal. In addition, since 1961, some Navy commands permit service members to chose between the Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for participation in certain operations. Both awards may not be bestowed simultaneously for the same action.

Additional awards of the Navy Expeditionary Medal are denoted by service stars. The Wake Island Device is authorized for those service members who were awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal through the defense of Wake Island.

See also: Awards and decorations of the United States military

References:

1. NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AWARDS MANUAL, SECNAVINST 1650.1 series

2. AIR FORCE ENLISTED HERITAGE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, HISTORY OF COMBAT SERVICE INSIGNIAS, 29 August 2006

3 . http://www.history.navy.mil/medals/nem.htm