Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan
Encyclopedia
The Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan is a campaign medal
currently awarded by the Ministry of Defence
of the United Kingdom
.
There are two types of 'Afghanistan' clasps to date, the first initial issue from 2002–2004 the clasp had a smooth background behind the writing and from Op Herrick onwards (2005 to present) the clasp has a 'dappled' effect behind the writing, just like the 'Northern Ireland' clasp on the 1962–2007 General Service Medal. A third type of background can be found on 1000 medals awarded during 2009. These were manufactured by Gladman & Norman Ltd under a one-off contract to help with increased medal demand. The medal is issued without the clasp for service outside Afghanistan in support of ongoing operations, i.e. Pakistan and Oman.
British campaign medals
British campaign medals are awarded to members of the British Armed Forces, Allied forces and civilians participating in specified military campaigns...
currently awarded by the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Qualifying criteria
The award of this medal is complex; depending on length and area of service:- To qualify for the clasp, personnel must have either 5, 21, or 30 days continuous service between various dates, depending on the operation, for example between 11/09/2001 and 1/08/2002, or for a period later specified, on Operation VeritasOperation VeritasOperation Veritas was the codename used for British military operations against the Taliban government of Afghanistan in 2001. British forces played a supporting role to the American Operation Enduring Freedom. In addition, the British contribution was an important part of the overall forces deployed...
, Operation Fingal and Operation Landman.
- To qualify for the medal without the clasp depends on service of varying lengths on operations, for example operation(s) Landman, Oracle, Ramson or Damien. Alternatively the medal is awarded for service in other middle eastern countries during specific dates. Pakistan, Oman and Qatar to name but a few.
Medal
The medal is silver and circular in shape and designed as follows:- Obverse shows the crowned effigy of Elizabeth IIElizabeth II of the United KingdomElizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
.
- Reverse bears the Union FlagUnion FlagThe Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
, surrounded by the inscription ‘For Operational Service’ and the four major points of the compass, with four Coronets: RoyalMonarchy of the United KingdomThe monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
(top left), Naval (top right), MuralMural crown-Usage in ancient times:In Hellenistic culture, a mural crown identified the goddess Tyche, the embodiment of the fortune of a city, familiar to Romans as Fortuna...
-ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
(bottom left), and Astral-Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(bottom right).
Clasp
The "Afghanistan" Clasp is awarded for service specifically in Afghanistan. Rosette on ribbon denotes clasp when no medal is worn.There are two types of 'Afghanistan' clasps to date, the first initial issue from 2002–2004 the clasp had a smooth background behind the writing and from Op Herrick onwards (2005 to present) the clasp has a 'dappled' effect behind the writing, just like the 'Northern Ireland' clasp on the 1962–2007 General Service Medal. A third type of background can be found on 1000 medals awarded during 2009. These were manufactured by Gladman & Norman Ltd under a one-off contract to help with increased medal demand. The medal is issued without the clasp for service outside Afghanistan in support of ongoing operations, i.e. Pakistan and Oman.
Ribbon
The ribbon consists of a broad central red stripe, flanked each side by a stripe of navy blue and one of light blue, to represent the three services, with an outer stripe of light brown, to represent the Afghan landscape.See also
- OSM Democratic Republic of CongoOperational Service Medal for the Democratic Republic of CongoThe Operational Service Medal for the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a 21st century British armed forces campaign medal, awarded mostly to military personnel serving with the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the associated European Union Force deployment since...
- OSM Sierra LeoneOperational Service Medal for Sierra LeoneThe Operational Service Medal for Sierra Leone is a campaign medal awarded since 2000 by the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom.-Medal:The is silver and circular in shape.Obverse shows the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth....
External links
- http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/Veterans/Medals/