1. Background: The Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (AFESR) was established on June 18, 2003 as recognition for deployed status. The AFESR is awarded to Air Force active duty, reserve, and guard personnel who complete a contingency deployment after October 1, 1999. Deployed status is defined as either deployment on contingency, exercise, deployment (CED) orders or members sourced in direct support (in-theater or out) of expeditionary operations with an overnight away from home station.
2. Criteria: To qualify for the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon, individuals must have deployed for 45 consecutive days or 90 nonconsecutive days on a deployed status. Any contingency deployment qualifies, (overseas or stateside) regardless of the duty, destination, or location of the TDY. There is no time limit to accumulate the 90 nonconsecutive days. (For example: members keep accumulating contingency TDY days until they reach 90 days). Every consecutive 45 days (regardless of TDY length) is awarded an Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon. (Example: 90 consecutive days of TDY qualifies for two AFESR; 180 consecutive days for TDY qualifies for four AFESR, etc.). Permanent party overseas personnel are not eligible for the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon unless they are forward deployed on a contingency deployment. Members on an overseas short tour may receive both the AFESR and the Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, provided they meet the requirements of both.
3. Type of Award: The Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon is classified as an Air Force achievement award. It consists of a ribbon only; there is no medal. Members may receive both DOD/AF Service/Campaign awards and decorations with the AFESR. The Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon has no promotion points value.
4. Devices: The Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon shall be worn between the Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Long Tour and the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon. Subsequent awards of the ribbon are denoted by oak leaf clusters. This ribbon has no limit on the number of times it can be awarded.
