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By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, / Published September 01, 2015

WASHINGTON (AFNS) — The secretary of the Air Force has authorized the use of war service streamers and the new Global War on Terrorism Service (GWOT-S) streamer. In addition, the Air Force credited 1,442 units with campaign participation, making them eligible for a campaign streamer.

The war service streamers allow the Air Force to recognize units that deploy aircraft, Airmen and equipment to an air expeditionary force, i.e., rainbow unit, for the Iraq, Afghanistan and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary (GWOT-E) campaigns.

The GWOT-S streamer recognizes home station units that provide direct support to GWOT operations, such as units providing homeland defense supporting Operation Noble Eagle, airport security, remotely piloted aircraft missions, etc.

The air expeditionary force construct of providing forces forward to combatant commanders from home station garrison units resulted in the need to change the way the Air Force recognizes units. Previously, during deactivation of expeditionary units, the guidon and any campaign streamers received were rolled up and stored away, leaving the home unit with no recognition of their war contributions.

“We felt we were missing an opportunity to fully recognize the efforts and teamwork of active, Guard and Reserve garrison units,” said Brig. Gen. Lenny Richoux, the Air Force Services director. “These course corrections on awarding streamers will capture the efforts, sacrifices and history of our Air Force more accurately.”

Guidance on the war service streamers and the GWOT-S streamer was released by the Air Force Personnel Center and can be found on the myPers website.

As part of this effort, the Air Force also officially announced that 1,442 units were credited with campaign participation in support of military operations in the Afghanistan, Iraq and Global War on Terrorism areas of operation, going back to 2001. Guidance on campaign participation credit and campaign streamers can be found in Chapter 4 of Air Force Instruction 36-2803, “The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program.”

“The streamers recognize the unit’s efforts to train and endure the heavy operations tempo during the last 14 years, and to recognize the sacrifices of those service members deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other GWOT areas of operation,” Richoux said. “These streamers are part of our Air Force heritage, which continues to be written by our great Airmen worldwide.”