Afghanistan Medal (Australia)

Afghanistan Medal
Obverse (left), reverse (right) and ribbon of medal
Type	Campaign Medal.
Eligibility	Australian Defence Force personnel in the Afghanistan region from 11 October 2001
Status	Currently awarded.
Established	30 September 2004
Related	Australian Active Service Medal

The Afghanistan Medal was established by the Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Anzac Day 2004. The Afghanistan Medal is awarded to Australian defence force personnel who served in or around Afghanistan after 11 October 2001. Defence force personnel are also recognised by the 'ICAT' clasp to the Australian Active Service Medal.

Eligibility

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

• Operation SLIPPER - the ADF contribution to the International Coalition Against Terrorism that:
  • commenced on 11 October2001 in the specified areas comprising the total land areas and superjacent airspace boundaries of Afghanistan;
  • commenced on 11 October2001 and ended on 5 December2002 in the specified areas comprising the total land areas and superjacent airspace boundaries of Kyrgyztan;
  • commenced on 11 October2001 and ended on 5 December2002 in 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
• Operation PALATE - the Australian Defence Force contribution to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan that commenced on 6 December2002 in the area comprising the specified total land areas and superjacent airspace boundaries of Afghanistan.

Description

• The Afghanistan Medal is a cupro-nickel circular medal. The obverse features the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.
• The reverse of medal 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 medal 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 symbolise the Afghanistan terrain, the snow-peaked mountains and the sky above, respectively.

See Also

• Australian Honours Order of Precedence
• Australian campaign medals

References

• It's an Honour
• ADF Honours and Awards