General Service Medal (2008)
General Service Medal (2008) | |
---|---|
Type | Campaign medal |
Description | Silver disk, 36 mm diameter. |
Eligibility | British forces. |
Campaign(s) | Minor campaigns 2008–present |
Clasps |
|
Established | 2015 |
Related | General Service Medal (1918) General Service Medal (1962) |
The General Service Medal (GSM 08), was introduced in 2015 to recognize specified operations, not qualifying for another campaign medal. The medal was first awarded in 2016 for service in operations since January 2008. Like its predecessor medal the General Service Medal (1962), operations will be denoted by clasps which indicate the geographic area of operations and not a specific operation. The first awards of the medal were made by Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon at a ceremony on 12 June 2016.
Appearance
The GSM 08 is a circular silver medal. The obverse features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Elizabeth II. The reverse bears a design featuring a figure of Britannia holding a trident standing ahead of a lion, symbolising Britain. The whole is encircled by an oak leaf wreath similar to the designs of previous GSM medals.[1]
Clasps
The clasps for the medal are named based on the geographic region of operations and not for specific named operations.[2] The clasps for this medal and their qualifying periods of service are as follows:[3][4]
- Southern Asia
- Operation VERDITER (LEEWAY) (Pakistan), 1 January 2008–6 May 2015 EOD Short Term Training Team [5]
- Arabian Peninsula
- Operation QUANTAM 1 January 2009–21 May 2012
- Operation ICENI 1 June 2012–2 December 2013
- Northern Africa
- Operation DEFERENCE (Libya), 21 February–22 March 2011
- Operation VOCATE (Libya), 11 November 2011–present
- Western Africa
- Operation NEWCOMBE (Mali), 13 January–22 May 2013
- Eastern Africa
- Operation PRESIDIUM, 10 February 2010–present
- Operation MODEST (Somalia), 24 January 2013–present [6]
- Operation BACKWELL (African Union Mission to Somalia), 20 April 2012–present [7]
References
- ^ "Armed Forces personnel from Plymouth among first to receive new medals". Plymouth Herald. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ "Defence Secretary awards new medal to 46 troops". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ "UK Armed Forces Deaths: Operational deaths post World War II 3 September 1945 to 17 February 2016" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 31 March 2016. p. 16. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ "JSP 761: Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. October 2016. p. 8A-4. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ "MINUTES OF THE 122nd MEETING OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION, HELD IN 034 MEETING ROOM 16, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MAIN BUILDING, LONDON, ON WEDNESDAY 21st JANUARY 2015" (PDF). The Royal Engineers Association. 24 February 2016. p. 1. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- ^ "Naval officers honoured for role in Somalia". Royal Navy. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- ^ "THE BLYTHE SAPPERS MINUTES OF THE 18TH ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY 29th MAY 2013" (PDF). THE BLYTHE SAPPERS. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2016.