Combat Action Ribbon
Criteria: Awarded to any member of the U.S. military who has performed duty within the borders of Afghanistan (or its airspace) for a period of thirty consecutive days or sixty non-consecutive days. The medal is retroactive to October 24, 2001 and is active until a date to be determined. Personnel who have been engaged in combat with an enemy force, or personnel who have been wounded in combat within Afghanistan, may receive the Afghanistan Campaign Medal regardless of the number of days spent within the country. The medal is also awarded posthumously to any service member who dies in the line of duty within Afghanistan, including from non-combat injuries such as accidents and mishaps.

Note: This service ribbon is issued by the military along with an accompanying medal. Check below for purchase of its medal counterpart.

Special Attachments Note:
Effective immediately, bronze campaign stars are now required on the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. At least one bronze campaign star must be on this award. If a service member has served at least one single day in any designated campaign (see below), that service member has earned a bronze campaign star for that period. Multiple deployments during the same time period/campaign are only authorized one star. However, it is possible to earn more than one bronze campaign star during a single deployment if that deployment spans multiple designated campaigns. Designated campaigns: Liberation of Afghanistan - September 11, 2001 to November 30, 2001; Consolidation I December 1, 2001 to September 30, 2006; Consolidation II - October 1, 2006 to a date yet-to-be-determined.