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The Australian Operational Service Medal

The Australian Operational Service Medal is a campaign medal established on 22 May 2012 to recognize service by Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel on designated hazardous operations.

The Australian Operational Service Medal is a campaign medal established on 22 May 2012 to recognize service by Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel on designated hazardous operations. It replaces the Australian Active Service Medal and Australian Service Medal for future ADF operations.

The medal is issued to military personnel with a different ribbon for each designated operation. When issued to civilians, a standard ribbon is issued with clasps issued for each designated operation. It may also be awarded to civilians who serve alongside the ADF on designated operations under specific conditions.

The military version of the medal has a standard medal design, but ribbons vary depending on operation. An accumulated service device will be awarded for subsequent qualifying service by ADF members where they undertake further service on an operation for which they have already been awarded the Australian Operational Service Medal. The civilian version uses the same medal design as the military version but is awarded with a unique civilian ribbon and a clasp denoting the declared operation.

To date, three ribbons for ADF service have been announced: order Protection, Greater Middle East Operation, and Special Operations.

> Learn more at the Australian Government Site

The Australian Operational Service Medal Design

The medal is circular, struck in cupro-nickel, and finished in antique silver.

The obverse bears an old-world stylized world globe signifying global operations, interlinked with a Federation Star. The globe is surrounded by the words ‘AUSTRALIAN OPERATIONAL SERVICE MEDAL’.

The reverse bears a central horizontal stylized scroll with the words ‘Defending Australia and its national interests’, overlaying a wreath of mimosa, above which sits an hourglass motif signifying the ongoing vigilance and timely response of Defence.

The Border Protection ribbon has three equal stripes of dark blue, ochre, and dark green which denote the seas and sky, the deserts, and the forests and grasslands. The Greater Middle East Operation ribbon has three equal stripes of mid-green, black, and light blue, edged by two slim stripes of light sand. Sand represents the desert sands, green represents Australia and hope, black represents anti-piracy, and blue represents the maritime and air aspects. The Special Operations ribbon is 32 mm wide in black with a central stripe of red. Additional accumulated service is denoted by an 8 mm high Arabic numeral with an antique silver finish. The Civilian ribbon is green with central stripes of gold and purple. The purple represents Defence, and green and gold are Australia’s national colors.

The Australian General Service Medal for Korea

The Australian General Service Medal for Korea (or AGSMK) recognizes former defense force personnel who completed 30 days of service in operations in South Korea during the post-Armistice period, 28 July 1953 to 19 April 1956, including any location 161 km (100 mi) seaward from the coast of South Korea.

The medal was established by letters patent by Queen Elizabeth II on 24 November 2009 and further determination approved by the Governor General on 12 March 2010. The AGSMK was announced on 12 February 2010 by the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, following the recommendations of the 2005 Post-Armistice Korean Service Review.

The Australian General Service Medal for Korea Design

The medal is circular, struck in nickel-silver, and measures 38 mm in diameter. The design is ensigned with the Federation Star and has an antique silver finish with a raised polished outer edge.

The obverse has a central design of a relief map of South Korea superimposed over polar projection lines representing the United Nations and surrounded by the words “Australian General Service Medal Korea”. Centered on the reverse are the words “Post Armistice Service 1953–1956″ surrounded by Australian gum leaves and blossoms with two Federation Stars included in the bottom left and right-hand quadrants.

The ribbon measures 32 millimeters wide and has a central yellow stripe 8mm wide, flanked by 6mm stripes of blue, which in turn are flanked by 6mm stripes white. The ribbon colors are representative of the colors used for the Korea Medal and the United Nations Korea Medal. The ribbon bar consists of a strip of a full-sized ribbon with no emblem.

The Iraq Medal (Australia)

The Iraq Medal was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of the Australian Prime Minister John Howard in 2004. The Iraq Medal is awarded to Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel who served in or around Iraq (19 March 2003 – 25 November 2013).

ADF personnel is also recognized by the ‘IRAQ 2003’ clasp to the Australian Active Service Medal.

Members of the ADF who render service with the forces:

  • Operation Falconer – the ADF contribution to the United States-led military operations to remove the threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction that commenced on 18 March 2003 and ended on 30 April 2003, with 7 days service in the specified areas comprising the total land areas, territorial waters, inland waterways, and superjacent airspace boundaries of Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan Yemen, the Persian Gulf the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, those portions of the Arabian Sea bounded by 68 degrees East and 12 degrees North the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el Mandeb, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba; commenced on 1 May 2003 and ended on 22 July 2003, with 30 days service in the specified areas comprising the total land areas, territorial waters, inland waterways, and superjacent airspace boundaries of Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia north of 23 degrees North, the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Operation Catalyst the ADF contribution to the United States-led coalition operations in Iraq to support the Australian effort to assist with the rehabilitation of Iraq and remove the threat of weapons of mass destruction that commenced on 16 July 2003 and ended on 31 July 2009, for 30 days service in the specified areas comprising the total land areas, territorial waters, inland waterways, and superjacent airspace boundaries of Iraq Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia north of 23 degrees North, the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Operation Riverbank from 21 July 2008 personnel attached to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq as part of Operation Riverbank. The operation ended on 25 November 2013.
  • Operation Kruger from 1 January 2009 personnel deployed on Operation KRUGER as part of the Security Detachment Iraq which protects the Australian embassy in Baghdad. The operation ended in late July 2011.

The Iraq Medal Design

The medal is circular and struck in nickel-silver.

The obverse bears the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. The reverse has a processional lion, which is copied from a relief on the Gateway of the Temple of Ishtar in Babylon. In the Assyrian Empire, the lion was a dominant symbol of power. The lion stands on a narrow plinth, symbolizing balance, with the word ‘IRAQ’ inscribed underneath.

The ribbon is sand yellow representing the desert sands of Iraq, with central stripes of purple and red representing the ADF and the conflict in Iraq.

The Afghanistan Medal (Australia)

The Afghanistan Medal is a medal instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of the Australian Prime Minister John Howard in 2004. The medal is awarded to Australian defense force personnel who served in or around Afghanistan after 11 October 2001.

Members of the Australian Defence Force who render 30 days service (or 30 sorties) with the forces:

  • Operation Slipper — the ADF contribution to the International Coalition Against Terrorism that commenced on 11 October 2001 in the specified areas comprising the total land areas and superjacent airspace boundaries of Afghanistan; commenced on 11 October 2001 and ended on 5 December 2002 in the specified areas comprising the total land areas and superjacent airspace boundaries of Kyrgyzstan; the specified areas comprising the total land areas, territorial waters inland waterways and superjacent airspace boundaries of Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, those portions of the Arabian Sea bounded by 68 degrees east and 12 degrees north, and the Gulf of Aden; that; commenced on 11 October 2001 and ended on 5 December 2002, and commenced on 1 January 2009;
  • Operation Palate – the Australian Defence Force contribution to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan that commenced on 6 December 2002 in the area comprising the specified total land areas and superjacent airspace boundaries of Afghanistan.

Defense force personnel are also recognized by the ‘ICAT’ clasp to the Australian Active Service Medal and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s Non-Article 5 Medal with ‘ISAF’ clasp. A person is not eligible for the award of the Afghanistan Medal where an entitlement exists to the Iraq Medal for the same deployment.

The Afghanistan Medal Design

The medal is circular and struck in nickel-silver. The design is the same as the Vietnam Medal, but with a plain suspender.

The obverse bears the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. The reverse shows a snow-capped mountain range with a multi-rayed sun rising behind the mountains. The mountains represent the dominant terrain of the country and the rising sun signifies a ‘new dawn’ for the nation. The word ‘AFGHANISTAN‘ is inscribed in English and in the Arabic script of the two dominant languages of Afghanistan, Dari, and Pashto.

The ribbon has a central vertical stripe of red, signifying the conflict in Afghanistan. This is flanked by stripes of purple representing the three arms of the Australian Defence Force. Stripes of khaki, white, and light blue border the inner stripes. They symbolize the Afghanistan terrain, the snow-peaked mountains, and the sky above, respectively.

The International Force East Timor Medal

The International Force East Timor Medal (or INTERFET) recognizes members of the Australian Defence Force who served for 30 days (or 30 sorties) in East Timor during the INTERFET campaign – which lasted from 16 September 1999 to 10 April 2000. Australian Defence Force personnel are also recognized by the ‘East Timor’ clasp to the Australian Active Service Medal. Australia has also offered this medal to the other 16 nations that participated in the INTERFET operation.

The qualifying area comprises East Timor and the sea adjacent to East Timor out to a distance of 12 nautical miles (22 km) from the low watermark.

The International Force East Timor Medal Design

The medal is circular and struck in nickel silver. It’s surmounted by a connector piece, which features a raised Federation Star.

The obverse bears the outline of a dove holding an olive branch, as a symbol of peace. This outline is raised in polished white silver and is superimposed on a textured map of East Timor and Territories. ‘INTERNATIONAL FORCE EAST TIMOR‘ is inscribed on the inside of the medal rim.

The reverse features the wording ‘TOGETHER AS ONE FOR PEACE IN EAST TIMOR‘.

The ribbon measures 32 millimeters wide and has a central red stripe, flanked by stripes of green, white, and pale blue. The white, green, and blue stripes represent the Navy, Army, and Air Force, with the dual representation of white for peace, blue for the sea surrounding East Timor and green for the regrowth of a new nation. The central red stripe represents the turbulent past of East Timor.

The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal

The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal is a medal issued to recognize the service of Australian support personnel during the Vietnam War. Personnel who have already earned the Vietnam Medal are ineligible for the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal.

The qualifying criteria for the medal are as follows:

  • Service of one day or more as a member or crew of a ship or aircraft operating in the prescribed area of operations of Vietnam in support of Australian forces.
  • Service of one day or more within the prescribed area of operations of Vietnam while attached to a unit or organization in support of Australian forces.
  • Service of one day or more while attached to or serving with, a unit of the Australian armed forces or allied forces, as an observer.

Groups meeting the criteria for this award also include certain defense personnel in support roles, entertainers, journalists, civilian surgical and medical teams, Qantas aircrew, and embassy couriers.

The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal Design

The medal is circular and struck in nickel-silver. The design is the same as the Vietnam Medal, but with a plain suspender.

The obverse bears the crowned effigy of The Queen with the inscription ‘ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.’ The reverse of the medal has the word ‘VIETNAM‘ at the top center above a depiction of a man standing between two symbolic spheres.

The ribbon has three red stripes on a yellow center representing South Vietnam. The ribbon also has a blue stripe to represent the Navy, a red stripe for the Army, and a light blue stripe for the Air Force. The ribbon also has a brown stripe for the color of the earth and waterways of Vietnam.

The King Hussein Medal

The King Hussein Medal is a medal awarded to British and American personnel involved in relief operations codenamed Operation Shoveller during and after the Civil War of September 1970. All personnel was presented with the medal by King Hussein at the end of the deployment.

Permission to wear this medal was never issued for Great Britain.

The King Hussein Medal Design

The medal is circular and struck in silver with a red enamel emblem.

The obverse bears the emblem of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and the inscription “THE HASEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN” and its Arabic equivalent, with the date 1970 and Arabic equivalent on both sides. The reverse has a seven-line inscription across the center.

The ribbon is plain crimson.

The Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal

The Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal (or Malaysian Service Medal) is a medal given by the King and Government of Malaysia and established 3 March 2004. The award is in recognition of “distinguished chivalry, gallantry, sacrifice, or loyalty” in contributing to the freedom of independence of Malaysia.

The medal recognizes service by members of the Malaysian Armed Forces during the Malayan Emergency, Second Malayan Emergency, and the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. The medal was also offered for award to members of the Commonwealth forces from Australia, Fiji, India, Nepal, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom who served in Malaysia during the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.

The medal can be conferred and accepted posthumously by next of kin.

The Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal Design

The medal is circular, made of base metal (brass)-coated nickel silver, and measures 38 mm in diameter.

The obverse bears the Coat of arms of Malaysia with the inscription “JASA MALAYSIA” beneath it. The reverse shows a map of Malaysia and the initials P.J.M underneath.

The ribbon is a 35 mm corded ribbon and has five colored vertical stripes. The colors are those of the Malaysian flag. The individual colors and widths of the five vertical stripes are as follows: 4.5 mm yellow, 7 mm blue, 12 mm red, 7 mm blue, and 4.5 mm yellow. The medal is suspended by two crossed palas palm fronds which are attached to a straight suspension bar covered in a decorative pattern.

No clasps or bars were issued for this medal.

The Soviet 40th Anniversary Medal

The Soviet 40th Anniversary Medal was established on 12th April 1985 and awarded to British and Canadian forces who served mainly in RN or MN ships on Arctic Convoys. The medal was approved in 1994 by Her Majesty the Queen and first awarded by the Soviet Government to selected ex-Servicemen – in particular surviving veterans of the Arctic Convoys of World War II.

Similar medals were issues for the 50th and subsequent five year anniversaries as well. However, those for the 55th anniversary and above have not been authorized for wear.

The Soviet 40th Anniversary Medal Design

The medal is circular, struck in bronze, and measures 32 mm in diameter.

The obverse features a group of servicemen and women in front of a five-pointed star and flanked by oak leaves and the dates 1945-1985 above. The reverse has the inscription “40th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945” in Russian.

The ribbon is one-half red and the other orange with three black stripes, edged with pale blue. Later issues of the medal have no blue edges.

The medal is worn in the Russian style.

The Rhodesia Medal

The Rhodesia Medal was initiated by the British Government in consultation with Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Kenya, whose forces took part in Operation AGILA, (Operation MIDFORD for the New Zealand forces). The medal was awarded for service of at least 14 days between 1 December 1979 and 20 March 1980, to members of the military and police forces, as well as eligible civilians, who participated in monitoring the ceasefire and supervising the elections in the lead-up to Zimbabwean independence.

The role of the multi-national force was to keep the peace between 22,000 guerrilla fighters and the Rhodesian forces during the ceasefire and run-up to the 1980 elections. There was no minimum qualifying period for those killed, wounded or disabled due to service, or where a recipient was decorated for gallantry.

Each country treats the medal as part of its own honors system. Recipients of the Rhodesia Medal also received the Zimbabwean Independence Medal in either silver or bronze, although British personnel did not have permission to wear it in uniform, while New Zealand granted approval for restricted wear only.

The Rhodesia Medal Design

The medal is circular, made of rhodium-plated cupro-nickel, and measures 36 mm in diameter. It was issued by the Royal Mint.

The obverse features the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II with the inscription ‘ELIZABETH II DEL GRATIA REGINA FID.DEF‘. The reverse depicts a sable antelope surrounded by the inscription ‘THE RHODESIA MEDAL’ and ‘1980‘. The medal was issued named to British armed forces personnel, but unnamed to police officers.

The medal is suspended from a 32 mm sky-blue ribbon with three central stripes of red, white, and blue. No clasps were awarded.