USS Arleigh Burke Sailors Awarded Armed Forces Service Medal for ‘12-Day War’ Operations

Why It Matters

The award underscores the Navy’s pivotal role in high‑intensity, non‑kinetic missile defense, reinforcing U.S. strategic presence in volatile Middle‑East confrontations.

Key Takeaways

• USS Arleigh Burke crew earned Armed Forces Service Medal.
• Eligibility spans 2024 BMD ops and 2025 12‑Day War.
• Medal covers significant operations without direct enemy combat.
• Conflict featured Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
• Iran launched ~900 ballistic missiles in retaliation.

Pulse Analysis

The Armed Forces Service Medal, traditionally reserved for operations that fall short of combat yet demand substantial coordination, was conferred on the crew of the USS Arleigh Burke. This recognition not only honors individual sailors but also signals the growing importance of ballistic missile defense (BMD) missions within the U.S. Navy’s portfolio. By highlighting a period that spanned routine BMD patrols in 2024 and the intense 12‑Day War in 2025, the award illustrates how modern naval assets are increasingly tasked with rapid, high‑stakes threat mitigation.

The June 2025 “12‑Day War” reshaped regional security calculations. Israel’s Operation Rising Lion and the subsequent U.S.‑led Operation Midnight Hammer targeted key Iranian nuclear sites, prompting Iran to unleash roughly 900 ballistic missiles at Israel. Throughout this escalation, the Arleigh Burke’s Aegis system provided critical tracking and interception capabilities, showcasing the destroyer’s role as a mobile shield in a volatile theater. The episode underscores how naval BMD platforms can influence diplomatic outcomes by deterring further escalation and protecting allied forces without direct ground engagement.

Looking ahead, the medal’s issuance may influence naval doctrine and procurement. As great‑power competition intensifies and missile threats proliferate, the Navy is likely to prioritize ships equipped with advanced radar, integrated fire control, and next‑generation interceptors. The Arleigh Burke’s performance during the 12‑Day War offers a case study for future destroyer classes and reinforces the strategic value of maintaining a forward‑deployed, missile‑defense‑ready fleet. Stakeholders in defense policy and defense‑industry circles will watch how such recognitions shape training, readiness standards, and budget allocations for BMD capabilities.

USS Arleigh Burke sailors awarded Armed Forces Service Medal for ‘12-Day War’ operations

By Riley Ceder · Saturday, Feb 7, 2026

The guided‑missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke has awarded its sailors the Armed Forces Service Medal for their support and execution of ballistic‑missile‑defense operations in 2024 and during last June’s “12‑Day War” between Iran and Israel, the ship said in a Facebook post Wednesday.

Sailors who served aboard the vessel from Aug. 15, 2024, to Dec. 16, 2024, or during the 12‑day armed conflict from Jun. 12, 2025, to Jun. 24, 2025, are eligible, according to the post. Sailors who qualified under both stretches would receive the medal and a subsequent award.

The medal is authorized for service members who participate in a U.S. military operation of “significant activity” that did not involve foreign armed opposition or imminent threat.

On June 13, 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities—including the Natanz Nuclear Facility—that killed top Iranian military leaders. Israel said the strike was intended to prevent Iran from continuing to build its nuclear arsenal.

Iran retaliated by firing nearly 900 ballistic missiles at Israel (as reported by the Foreign Policy Research Institute).

About a week later, on June 21, President Donald Trump launched Operation Midnight Hammer, ordering airstrikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities. The operation involved 125 U.S. aircraft, 75 precision weapons, and more than a dozen 30,000‑pound bunker‑buster bombs that struck the Iranian nuclear sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.

The conflict ended shortly after, on June 24.

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About the author

Riley Ceder is a reporter at Military Times, covering breaking news, criminal justice, investigations, and cyber. He previously worked as an investigative practicum student at The Washington Post, where he contributed to the Abused by the Badge investigation.

Image caption (originally accompanying the article): The guided‑missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke returns to its homeport at Naval Station Rota, Spain, on Sept. 13, 2025. (MC2 Jett Morgan/U.S. Navy)