31-421: Timeline Major operations Airstrikes Major insurgent attacks 2002 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Massacres Other Operation Harekate Yolo ( Persian for front straightening ) was a two-part military operation involving NATO ISAF and Afghanistan government forces against
62-502: A Taliban insurgent from a distance of approximately 2,010 meters, although not a first round hit. Several targets were engaged with the Barrett , some of them almost 3000 meters away. In the aftermath, a Norwegian soldier was killed in an IED attack in Maimana on November 8. ANA's 209th Corps took over control of the district on the same day. Subsequent to the battle, a number of soldiers from
93-488: A further 14 hostile fighters killed in action. The fighting erupted on November 3 and intensified through November 6. NATO aircraft provided Close Air Support during the operation, which ended on November 6/7. During the mission, a Norwegian sniper with the 2nd Battalion hit one of the Taliban insurgents from a distance of 1,380 meters on the first shot, using a Barret M82 A1 . Another Norwegian sniper team shot and killed
124-521: A joint duty capacity. This award is intended for senior service on a joint military staff and is senior in precedence to service-specific Commendation Medals. As such, it is worn above the service Commendation Medals on a military uniform. The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States other than General Officers who, while serving in any capacity with
155-470: A lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star Medal , a Commendation Medal with "V" Device or Combat "V" (Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard) is awarded; the "V" device may be authorized for wear on the service and suspension ribbon of the medal to denote valor. On January 7, 2016 The "C" Device or Combat "C" was created and may be authorized for wear on the service and suspension ribbon of
186-528: A partial timeline of the War in Afghanistan . For events prior to October 7, 2001, see 2001 in Afghanistan . The army of the United States continues to conduct missions throughout Afghanistan, began closing forward operating bases (FOB). Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of
217-716: A suicide attack which seriously injured three Germans in October. It was composed of about 900 members of the Afghan National Army, 260 Norwegian Army troops from 2nd Battalion/Brig. N and Kystjegerkommandoen , 300 German troops, several dozen Italian troops, and some Hungarian and Spanish troops. Intelligence gathered by reconnaissance planes indicated the presence of about 300 Taliban forces in Ghowrmach. Between November 1, and November 6, Norwegian and German ISAF forces along with Afghan security forces battled Taliban insurgents in
248-639: Is authorized for wear on the Coast Guard Commendation Medal upon approval of the awarding authority. Order of Precedence is following the Air Medal but before the Prisoner of War Medal and all campaign medals. Each of the military services also awards separate Achievement Medals which are below the Commendation Medals in precedence. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy but of
279-480: The Taliban as part of the War in Afghanistan . In late October 2007, Regional Command North along with Afghan National Army and Afghan National Security Forces launched its first major operation against hostile forces in the northern provinces. It was composed of about 2000 coalition troops from Afghanistan, Norway, Germany, Italy, Spain and Hungary and its purpose was to oust Taliban militants from several locations in
310-406: The U.S. Army after December 6, 1941, distinguished themselves by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. The medal may be awarded to a member of another branch of the U.S. Armed Forces or of a friendly foreign nation who, after June 1, 1962, distinguishes themselves by an act of heroism, extraordinary achievement, or significant meritorious service which has been of mutual benefit to
341-680: The United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fifth version existing for acts of joint military service performed under the Department of Defense . The Commendation Medal was originally only a service ribbon and was first awarded by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard in 1943. An Army Commendation Ribbon followed in 1945 and in 1949 the Navy, Coast Guard, and Army Commendation ribbons were renamed
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#1733092605089372-617: The "Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant". By 1960 the Commendation Ribbons had been authorized as full medals and were subsequently referred to as Commendation Medals. Additional awards of the Army and Air and Space Commendation Medals are denoted by bronze and silver oak leaf clusters . The Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Coast Guard Commendation Medal are authorized gold and silver 5/16 inch stars to denote additional awards. The Operational Distinguishing Device ("O" device)
403-471: The Commendation Medal to distinguish an award for meritorious service or achievement under the most arduous combat conditions (while the Soldier/Sailor/Marine was personally exposed to hostile action or in an area where other Servicemembers were actively engaged). A Commendation Medal with Combat Device is unofficially named the "Combat Commendation" and is often considered to be a higher level form of
434-548: The Commendation Medal, regardless of the Awarding Branch. Retroactive award of the "C" device is not approved for medals awarded before January 7, 2016. The Joint Service Commendation Medal ( JSCM ) was authorized on June 25, 1963, and is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after January 1, 1963, distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement or service in
465-458: The Ghowrmach district, Faryab Province , and Faizabad , Badakhshan Province, wherefrom they had operated and caused a number of ANA and coalition casualties since early summer of 2007. The offensive followed threats of senior Taliban officers to expand the insurgency to the relatively peaceful north. Operation Harekate Yolo I was launched in late October and was composed of about 160 German paratroopers and 400 Afghan National Army soldiers. Its aim
496-512: The Ghowrmach district, Northwest Afghanistan, in what was described as "active warfare" by the Norwegian Department of Defense . The insurgents suffered a number of casualties while no casualties were reported for ISAF /Afghan National Army force. The exact death toll had not yet been disclosed as of November 9, but according to Norwegian news reports "between 45 and 65 insurgents" were killed in action. The German Ministry of Defense verified
527-1136: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: 3,000–3,500 [REDACTED] Taliban : 58,000-100,000 (As of February 2021) [REDACTED] HIG : 1,500–2,000+ (2014) [REDACTED] al-Qaeda : ~300 in 2016 (~ 3,000 in 2001) [REDACTED] Fidai Mahaz : 8,000 (2013) Afghan security forces: 66,000–69,095 killed Northern Alliance: 200 killed Coalition : Dead: 3,579 Wounded: 23,536 Contractors Dead: 3,917 Wounded: 15,000+ Taliban insurgents : 52,893 killed (2,000+ al-Qaeda fighters) Civilians killed: 70,000 Total killed: 176,206 (per Brown University ) 212,191+ (per UCDP ) The continued list includes nations who have contributed fewer than 200 troops as of November 2014. Timeline Major operations Airstrikes Major insurgent attacks 2002 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Massacres Other The following items form
558-1291: The Norwegian Military Observer Team Navy (unit made up of soldiers from the Kystjegerkommandoen ) were awarded the US Army's Commendation Medal , for their efforts in expelling the Taliban from the Ghowrmach district. Operation Harekate Yolo was the combat debut of the CV90 armoured vehicle, used by the Norwegian Army. Timeline of the War in Afghanistan (2001%E2%80%932021) Invasion (2001): [REDACTED] Northern Alliance [REDACTED] United States [REDACTED] United Kingdom [REDACTED] Canada RS phase (2015–2021): [REDACTED] ISAF : 130,000+ (Peak Strength) [REDACTED] Afghan National Defense and Security Forces : 307,947 (Peak Strength, January 2021) [REDACTED] Resolute Support Mission : 17,178 (Peak Strength, October 2019) Defence Contractors: 117,227 (Peak Strength, Q2 2012) [REDACTED] High Council of
589-490: The United States Air Force or United States Space Force. Qualifying service for the award of the medal can be for distinctive meritorious achievement and service, acts of courage involving no voluntary risk of life, or sustained meritorious performance of duty. Approval of the award must be made by an officer in the grade of Colonel or higher. The Air and Space Commendation Medal is a bronze hexagonal medallion. On
620-476: The award must be made by an officer in the grade of Colonel (O-6) or higher. The medallion of the Army Commendation Medal is a bronze hexagon, 1 3 ⁄ 8 inches wide. On the medallion is an American bald eagle with wings spread horizontally, grasping in its talons three crossed arrows. On its breast is a shield paly of thirteen pieces and a chief . The reverse bears a panel for naming between
651-456: The criteria for which the medal may be awarded. Authority to award this decoration was later expanded to captains and colonels in the grade of O-6 currently holding operational command as a commodore , carrier air wing commander or commanding officer. Recipient members of the U.S. Marine Corps have always been issued the Navy's commendation medal and there is not a separate commendation medal intended only for Marines. This lack of difference
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#1733092605089682-547: The friendly nation and the United States. The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to American and foreign military personnel in the grade of O-6 ( Colonel in the U.S. Army) and below who have performed noteworthy service in any capacity with the United States Army. Qualifying service for the award of the medal can be for distinctive meritorious achievement and service, acts of courage involving no voluntary risk of life, or sustained meritorious performance of duty. Approval of
713-629: The medallion is a shield surmounted by an eagle superimposed over clouds. On the shield bears a pair of flyer's wings and a vertical baton with an eagle's claw at either end; behind the shield are eight lightning bolts. The design on the shield is derived from the Seal of the Department of the Air Force . The ribbon of the Air and Space Commendation Medal is golden yellow with blue edges. In the center are three bands of blue,
744-557: The words FOR MILITARY above and MERIT below, all placed above a laurel sprig. The ribbon is 1 3 ⁄ 8 inches wide primarily of myrtle green . It is edged in white and in the center are five thin white stripes spaced equally apart. After World War I , the Department of the Navy authorized the Navy Commendation Star , a ribbon device to be placed on the World War I Victory Medal . The 3 ⁄ 16 inch silver star
775-732: Was authorized and the Commendation Ribbon was renamed the Navy Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant. This award was re-designated as the Navy Commendation Medal in September 1960, and renamed the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal in 1994. This decoration was previously awarded only by flag rank operational commanders, requiring the signature of an admiral or general officer in the grade of O-7 , allowing interpretation of
806-488: Was authorized on the Air Force Commendation Medal; prior to 1996, there was not a valor distinction in effect for the Air Force Commendation Medal. On January 7, 2016, the "C" device and "R" device was authorized on the Air Force Commendation Medal as well. For USAF enlisted personnel, the Air Force Commendation Medal is worth three points under the Air Force enlisted promotion system. On November 16, 2020, it
837-670: Was identical to the Army Citation Star , but not comparable, as the latter recognized "gallantry in action", while the Navy Commendation Star denoted those who had been cited and commended for performance of duty by the Secretary of the Navy . An independent Navy Commendation Ribbon was established in November 1943. On March 22, 1950, a metal pendant (of the same design as the pendant of the Army Commendation Medal)
868-557: Was recognized on August 19, 1994, when Secretary of the Navy John Howard Dalton changed the name of the Navy Commendation Medal to the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal . The U.S. Coast Guard awards a separate Coast Guard Commendation Medal , with a ribbon similar in design to that of its Navy and Marine Corps counterpart. Initially established as the Coast Guard Commendation Ribbon in 1947, it
899-406: Was redesignated as the Coast Guard Commendation Medal in 1959. Criteria for its award has paralleled that of the Navy and Marine Corps. The Department of the Air Force began issuing its own Air Force Commendation Medal in 1958 with additional awards denoted by oak leaf clusters. Prior to this time, USAF recipients received the Army Commendation Medal. It was not until 1996 that the "V" device
930-645: Was renamed the Air and Space Commendation Medal ( ASCOM ) by the Secretary of the Air Force. The Air and Space Commendation Medal is awarded to both American and foreign military personnel of any service branch in the U.S. military grade of O-6 and below, the NATO grade of OF-5 and below, or of any other Allied or Coalition nation in the grade of Colonel or equivalent or below, or the naval grade of Captain or equivalent or below, who have performed noteworthy service in any capacity with
961-486: Was to identify Taliban hideouts in the Badakhshan province and to drive the militants out of the district. The second stage of the offensive, Operation Harekate Yolo II, was launched on November 1. As announced by ISAF RC North commanding general Brig. Gen. D. Warnecke, ISAF forces detained several suspected insurgents on the first day of the operation, accused of having organized several attacks on ISAF troops, including