An Expeditionary Medal is a military decoration which is awarded by the United States of America to its military personnel for deployment to a foreign region to participate in a campaign or conflict. Expeditionary medals are unique to the United States Armed Forces, but similar medals are commonly known as campaign medals or service medals in foreign militaries. The United States also awards campaign and service medals for service in specific countries or regions while expeditionary medals are frequently awarded for service in regions and nations for which there is no specific service medal, or the specific service medal for that country or region is not approved or currently awarded. They are considered superior to service medals and normally ranked below medals for valor.