Updated: 20 April, 2006

Canada

Kuwaiti medals meant for Canadian veterans go missing Fifteen years after the first Gulf War to liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein, a set of commemorative thank-you medals from the Kuwaiti government to Canadian troops involved in Operation Desert Storm appears to have vanished in the fog of war. Kuwait minted more than 4,000 commemorative medals -- meant for distribution to thank Canadian military personnel who participated in the international coalition -- and sent them to the Canadian Embassy in Kuwait in 1993, but they have all but disappeared. In November, the oil-rich Kuwaiti government delivered a replacement set of 4,097 more to Foreign Affairs headquarters in Ottawa, but as of Monday they were still gathering dust there. Canada contributed three warships, 26 CF-18 fighter jets, a field hospital based in Saudi Arabia and 2,400 military personnel to the more than two dozen countries in the international coalition that liberated Kuwait. In all, some 4,000 military personnel were involved in the military buildup in the region in the months following the August 1990 invasion of Kuwait by Saddam and the January 1991 war to oust his occupation force. It is believed at least three senior officers have received the medal. The government has already formally recognized its military personnel with its "Canada Gulf and Kuwait Medal" that was given to personnel who served during the buildup and the actual hostilities. "In general, Canada does not accept the duplication of an honour, and for that reason the honours' policy committee cannot recognize the medal offered by Kuwait," said Marie-Christine Lilkoff. As for the original shipment of medals sent to the embassy in Kuwait more than a decade ago, she said: "I don't have any information with regards to that." Note: I'm assuming that the medal in question is the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Wisam al-Tahir), 5th Class pictured left. Image courtesy Wikipedia. canada.com 28 Feb 06

Widow wins medals for Gulf veterans Thousands of Persian Gulf War veterans in Canada will finally get medals thanks to a woman from Yarmouth. "Persian Gulf veterans do not get thanked very often. These people deserve it," said Sue Riordon. Riordon's husband Terry served in the 1991 war for two months as part of an international coalition. He died in 1999 of Gulf War syndrome, which he linked to exposure to depleted uranium. Terry was on 50 prescriptions before he died, Riordon said, so it became important to both of them that he be recognized for his service in Kuwait. Riordon fought for her husband to receive the Liberation of Kuwait medal, a thank-you from the Kuwaiti government to Canada for helping to free that country from Saddam Hussein. Kuwait minted more than 4,000 medals for members of Canada's Armed Forces, but the Canadian government refused to accept them until earlier this month. cbc.ca 27 Mar 06

Canadian soldiers receive Kuwait Medal 15 years after liberation Canadian soldiers and veterans have been awarded the Liberation of Kuwait medal by the Kuwaiti government, 15 years after they helped liberate the country from Iraqi occupation in the first Gulf War. About 30 Gulf War veterans, their families and two veterans' widows attended the ceremony at the Kuwaiti embassy. The bronze medal bears the country's coat of arms with a picture of the traditional dhow and a falcon. The ribbon bears the colours of the Kuwaiti flag - black, symbolizing battlefields, white for deeds, green for meadows and red for the blood of Kuwait's enemies.The Canadian government, which delayed the award for years after it was first offered July 16, 1994, has decreed that Canadian military personnel may accept it as a keepsake but has refused them permission to wear it in uniform. canada.com 29 Mar 06

Kuwaiti medal honours first Gulf War veterans After a decade of delay, a second batch of newly minted medals will be delivered to Canadian Gulf War veterans in appreciation from the Government of Kuwait for their help liberating the small oil-rich country during the first Gulf War. Getting the medals to the troops hasn’t been easy. Following the Gulf War, Canada, along with other countries, were given medals from the Government of Kuwait to hand out to their military members. “All coalition forces were issued these medals. Other countries issued them right away, but Canada was reluctant,” says Fraser. The reluctance stemmed from the Canadian government’s policy position of not distributing medals from foreign governments for which they have already issued medals, he says. Since veterans were awarded a Canada Gulf and Kuwait Medal from the Canadian government after they returned from the Gulf, the Kuwaiti medals were stored by the Canadian embassy in Kuwait, but were never issued. That would have been the end of it, except the Kuwaiti government decided to ship another batch of commemorative medals to Ottawa late last year to honour the 15 year anniversary of Operation Friction and to thank Canadians again for their participation in liberating the country. The new medals were set to meet the same fate as their predecessors until Gulf War veterans led a campaign to compel the Canadian government to release the medals. lookoutnewspaper.com 3 Apr 06

Persian Gulf War Medals Ed Emering Mar 02

Canadian Somalia Medal

Canadian Somalia Medal
DND/CF : Backgrounder : Somalia Medal
Governor General Presents Somalia Medal to Members of the Canadian Forces
Canada's mission in Somalia Key documents and report of the Canadian Somalia Mission (UNOSOM) (1992)
Note: Mention-in-Dispatches have been awarded for this medal.

Southwest Asia Service Medal

A Question of Honours - Military brass are looking at suggestions on how to single out Edmonton-based combat troops in Afghanistan for special honours. Members of the 3 PPCLI Battle Group are reported to be miffed that everyone, including support staff in the Persian Gulf, will be getting the same medal regardless of whether they served in an active combat zone. The Queen has not yet given final approval for the proposed Southwest Asia Service Medal. But the plan is to award the medal to everyone who has been involved in Operation Apollo for more than 90 days. Those who have served in Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf will qualify for the medal after 30 days in theatre, and will have the word "Afghanistan" stamped on a metal bar across the medal ribbon. One suggestion is that the government establish something like the U.S. army's combat infantry badge, to mark service at the "sharp end" of a war. canoe.ca 14 Jun 02
Military honour nixed - By NAHLAH AYED-- Canadian Press - KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CP) -- The U.S. military has put a stop to a proposal to give Canadian soldiers who served in Afghanistan an American combat patch recognizing their efforts here. The unwelcome news came as Canadian soldiers -- who were eager to get the patch -- were preparing to leave Kandahar after nearly six months of duty here, military sources said. The unprecedented award of the patch would have given Canadian soldiers the special recognition they feel they deserve for serving in the harsh, dangerous southern Afghan desert -- recognition they believe Ottawa isn't giving them. All Canadian soldiers who served in the region -- inside Afghanistan and out -- will receive a Canadian medal recognizing their service in Operation Apollo, Canada's contribution to the fight against terrorism in the region. Soldiers who served in Kandahar will receive an extra bar on the medal that denotes their service in Afghanistan. But many here believe they should be receiving a separate and unique medal that differs from that given to navy and air force personnel who served in the comparatively more comfortable and safer Arabian Gulf region. U.S. leadership in Kandahar over the last six months -- members of the 101st Airborne Division, or the Rakkasans, as they are known -- proposed the combat patch after working closely with the Canadian battle group based here since February. Canadian soldiers were disappointed when they heard it wasn't going to happen. "The closeness that we've developed with the 101st ... makes that combat patch extremely significant to all the soldiers here," one senior member of the Canadian battle group said recently. "So it would be an even greater compensation than a separate medal because of that kinship we've developed with the 101st, the experiences that we shared, the losses that we shared." Sources said the patch was nixed as it made its way up the U.S. military chain of command. No reason was given for turning down the proposal. Skeptics say that even if the American military had approved the patch, Ottawa would have opposed it because it is loathe to have Canadian soldiers wear foreign honours. It's the second American honour proposed for Canadian soldiers that has somehow or other been derailed. Canadian snipers who wowed the Americans with their work in Operation Anaconda earlier this year were nominated for one of the highest awards given in the U.S. military -- the Bronze Star. The snipers had the highest confirmed number of kills during the operation, and helped rescue dozens of paratroopers pinned down by enemy fire. But when the Kandahar ceremony came in May at which other Anaconda veterans received their honours, the award hadn't been OKed by Canadian protocol officials. A decision is still pending. Defence Minister John McCallum said while visiting Kandahar on the weekend that Ottawa hasn't yet dismissed the idea altogether. "I don't think anyone in Canada, in the military, ever said 'No,'" McCallum said. "I am not aware that an offer officially from the United States' side has been made. If it is made, then we'd have to look at it, but we certainly haven't said that we would try and block it." (Ref: canoe.ca)

South-West Asia Service Medal

South-West Asia Service Medal - Her Excellency The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General and Commander in Chief of Canada, today announced that Her Majesty the Queen has approved the creation of the South-West Asia Service Medal and Bar. The South-West Asia Service Medal was created to recognize the service of individuals who participated in operations conducted against terrorism in South-West Asia after September 11, 2001.
SWASM (Governor General website)
South-West Asia Service Medal and Bar (Further details from Canadian Military)

1.      Her Excellency the Governor General has announced approval of the South-West Asia Service Medal (SWASM) and Bar.

2.      The medal is awarded for a minimum of 90 days service in direct support of operations against terrorism in South-West Asia commencing 11 Sep 01. Direct support refers to when a member is deployed to a unit or organization outside Canada but not into a specific theatre of operations, and where his or her primary duty is to provide direct assistance on a full-time basis to the operations against terrorism in South-West Asia.

3.      For the purpose of the SWASM, direct support by Canadian Forces personnel is provided by the following organizations:

a.      Headquarters, Canadian Joint Task Force South-West Asia, Tampa Bay, Florida

b.      Strategic Airlift Detachment, Ramstein, Germany

c.      Strategic Lines of Communications Detachments in the United States or Europe

4.      Canadian Forces exchange personnel posted to foreign units or organizations which are in direct support of operations as described above are also eligible for this medal.

5.      The medal with bar is awarded for 30 days service after 11 September, 2001 in the theatre of operations. The theatre of operations means a subset of the US Central Command area of operations responsibility (USCENTCOM AOR) that includes Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal and those parts of the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea that are west of 68 degrees east longitude and north of 5 degrees south latitude, as well as the airspace above that subset.

6.      The medal is circular, silver in colour and 36mm in diameter. The obverse of the medal bears the effigy of Her Majesty the Queen, with the inscriptions quote ELIZABETH II, DEI GRATIA REGINA AND CANADA, a multi-headed creature of Greek mythology, transfixed by a Canadian sword. The latin phrase quote ADVERSUS MALUM PUGNAMUS (We are fighting evil) unquote also appears on the reverse. The bar is also silver in colour and bears the name quote AFGHANISTAN unquote.

7.      The ribbon is 32mm wide, with a white stripe in the middle (12mm), on either side of which are stripes of black (4mm), red (2mm) and sand (4mm). The black represents the shock of the terrorist attacks of 11 Sep 01 and mourning for victims; sand represents the challenges of the theatre of operations; white is for peace; and red is for the blood that has been spilled in the service of peace.

8.      The medal follows the Somalia Medal in the Order of Precedence.
(Ref: CANFORGEN 085/02 ADMHRMIL 049 072044Z AUG 02)

The South-West Asia Service Medal was created to recognize the service of individuals who participated in operations conducted against terrorism in South-West Asia after September 11, 2001.

Eligibility for this award is extended to individuals who were enrolled in, attached to or worked with the Canadian Forces and who were posted, attached to, or working with a Canadian or allied unit or formation deployed outside Canada that was participating in, or provided direct support on a full time basis to operations conducted in South-West Asia for a period of at least 90 days after September 11, 2001.

The Bar of the Medal is also silver in colour and bears the name of the theatre of operations in South-West Asia. Eligibility for the Bar is extended to individuals who have served for a period of at least 30 days while deployed in the theatre of operations after September 11, 2001. (Sep 02)

Canada - Twenty-nine Canadian Forces personnel to be honoured by the Governor General for fight against terrorism - List of recipients (13 Sep 02)

Soldiers, family accept war on terror medals Also includes Video Clips of ceremonies, etc.) ctv.ca 21 Sep 02
Grief, pride fill widow at medal ceremony for soldiers killed in Afghanistan All four dead Canadians killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan were represented at Friday's ceremony, where 34 soldiers, sailors and airmen received the silver medal with a white, sand, black and red ribbon. Those in combat operations for 30 days got a silver bar. In all, about 5,000 military personnel are currently eligible for the medal. canada.com Sep 02
Fallen troops 'inspiration to me': Stogran Jody Carter and Lt. Col. Pat Stogran, commander of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, reflect during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday honouring those who served in southwest Asia. herald.ns.ca 21 Sep 02
Governor General presents 400 medals Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson brought Christmas presents for members of the Canadian Forces serving in the Persian Gulf, awarding medals during a ceremony aboard a frigate. Unit commanders usually present service medals, but the Governor-General, who is commander-in-chief, made the presentations yesterday to more than 400 personnel aboard HMCS Winnipeg. TheGlobeandMail.com 26 Dec 02

800 receive SWASMs in Halifax Commodore Drew Robertson, commander of Canada's Atlantic fleet, pins a South West Asia Service Medal on the chest of Sea King helicopter Capt. Gilles Demers at a ceremony in Halifax on Friday. Nearly 800 personnel from four Canadian warships received medals this week for service to Operation Apollo, Canada's contribution to the war on terrorism. herald.ns.ca 23 Nov 02

Medals slow in coming for veterans of Afghanistan Canadian soldiers have been recommended for more than 20 medals of bravery for outstanding service during their six-month tour in Afghanistan, but it could take as long as a year until they receive them. Sources in the Department of National Defence say some of the military's highest decorations will be handed out to members of the Canadian battle group, which included the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, the Lord Strathcona's Horse, Royal Canadian Engineers and support personnel. Defence sources say troops have been recommended for decorations such as the Medal for Bravery, Mention in Dispatches and the Meritorious Service Cross for actions above and beyond the regular call of duty. Sources say some of those medals will be given to the Canadian snipers whose performance during Operation Anaconda so impressed their U.S allies they were nominated for Bronze Stars. Other awards will be handed out for the actions of soldiers during the aftermath of the friendly fire incident that left four Canadian soldiers dead and eight wounded, and for troops on the Canadian offensive operations Harpoon and Khost. nationalpost.com Nov 02

U.S. honours dead Canadian soldiers The U.S. government will give posthumous Bronze Star medals to four Canadian soldiers killed by an errant U.S. bomb last year. Twenty-six others from the same outfit will also receive the medals. CBC News 25 Nov 03
Friendly fire victims awarded US medal The U.S. Army has approved awarding the Bronze Star medal to the four Canadians killed by a U.S. bomb last year in Afghanistan. Killed in the incident were Sgt. Marc Leger of Lancaster, Ont., and Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer of Montreal, Pte. Nathan Smith of Ostrea Lake, N.S., and Pte. Ricky Green of Mill Cove, N.S. The Bronze Star is normally awarded for heroism or meritorious service. The Globe and Mail, Canada - 24 Feb 2003

U.S. awards medals to Canadian soldiers CBC News 9 Dec 03
U.S. awards 30 Canadian soldiers Relatives of four Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan by an American bomb accepted Bronze Star medals from the United States government Monday during a ceremony before more than 700 troops. Twenty-six other soldiers from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group were also presented with Bronze Stars. Cnews 8 Dec 03

Honours for Canada's Afghanistan veterans The South-West Asia Service Medal was presented to about 250 other members of Edmonton's 3rd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry who served in Afghanistan on Operation Apollo, from February to July this year. Another 550 Edmonton soldiers on the same tour will receive their medals in the next few weeks. About 3,000 other medals have been issued to soldiers across the country who served in land, air and sea operations against terrorism in southwest Asia following the terrorist attacks on the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001. canada.com

The United States wants to give two teams of Canadian snipers the Bronze Star - The US wants to give two teams of Canadian snipers the Bronze Star, a decoration for bravery, for their work in rooting out Taliban and al-Qaeda holdouts in eastern Afghanistan, but Canadian defence officials put the medals on hold, the National Post has learned. The five snipers spent 19 days fighting alongside the scout platoon of the United States Army's 187th "Rakkasan" brigade last month, clearing out diehard fighters from the mountains near Gardez in eastern Afghanistan. The Americans were so impressed by the Canadian snipers that they recommended them for medals after the battle. Sources told the Post that U.S. General Warren Edwards had already signed the recommendation for five Bronze Stars for the sniper teams, drawn from 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, last month. Gen. Edwards, deputy commanding general of coalition land forces in Afghanistan, had recommended three Canadians for a Bronze Star and two for a Bronze Star with distinction. The night before the troops were to be awarded the medals, about three weeks ago, Canadian military officials in Ottawa put the decorations on hold, according to a U.S. Army source in Afghanistan. The Canadian military told their U.S. counterparts to wait before awarding the medals for reasons of "Canadian protocol." Spokesmen for the Department of National Defence would not comment on the award last night, but a source within the department said the medals are on hold while the military decides whether or not to award the men a similar Canadian decoration. However, Dr. David Bercuson, director of the Centre of Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary, said the real reason for the >delay was likely official squeamishness. "Canadians don't kill -- they don't even use the word kill; that's the problem," he said. "I think the military is not sure that the government is prepared to accept the fact, let alone celebrate the fact ... that Canadian soldiers do sometimes end up killing people." Many of the U.S. scouts who worked directly with the Canadian snipers were incensed that the Canadians did not get the Bronze Star, the medal for bravery the U.S. military usually gives foreign soldiers serving alongside its troops. The snipers themselves, all of whom spoke on condition their names not be printed, have said they would prefer to receive a medal from their peers in the field rather than from National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. Dr. Bercuson said there should be no objection to Canadians receiving a U.S. decoration: As recently as the Gulf War, two Canadian CF-18 pilots were given the Bronze Star. He said the medals would be a badly needed boost to the morale of the almost 900 Canadian soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan, especially after four of their comrades were killed and eight others wounded in last week's friendly fire incident. "Absolutely they should get it," Dr. Bercuson said. "It would be good for the morale of the guys and good for the morale of the whole unit, and they need a morale boost right now." Canadian snipers were reportedly outstanding in the fighting around the mountainous al-Qaeda bastion east of Gardez, code-named Operation Anaconda. The battle pitted the two Canadian sniper teams against an enemy that howered the assaulting coalition troops with mortars and machine-gun fire as soon as they jumped from their helicopters. One member of the team, a corporal from Newfoundland, said on his first night in combat he and his partner got an al-Qaeda machine gun in their sights as it was hailing bullets down on U.S. troops below. Crawling up into a good position, they set up their .50-calibre rifle -- the MacMillan Tac-50, a weapon the corporal compares to having superhuman power in your hands. "Firing it feels like someone slashing you on the back of your hockey helmet with a hockey stick." When he hit his first target, an enemy gunman at a distance of 1,700 metres, >he said all that ran through his mind was locating his next target. "All I thought of was Sept. 11th and all those people who didn't have a chance and the American reporter who was taken hostage, murdered and his wife getting the videotape of the execution; that is my justification." A master corporal from Ontario, the lead sniper of his three-man team, said when they first landed in the combat zone "our spider senses were tingling.... It was night and we didn't know what to expect." By daylight, after coming under enemy machine-gun fire, he managed to ease his rifle barrel between two rocks and quickly located an enemy sniper hiding behind a small piece of corrugated steel between two trees. He guessed the distance at 1,700 metres and fired one shot through the metal, killing the man instantly. He said afterward he remembered thinking: "That's one less bullet that's gonna be coming at us, one less person we have to think about." During the next four days of fighting, the Newfoundland corporal set what is believed to be a record for a long-distance shot under combat conditions, hitting an enemy gunman at a distance of 2,430 metres. The days of crawling, shooting and long hours waiting in cover left the Canadian snipers exhausted. "You don't realize what you've done to your body and how tired you are till it's all done. I think we slept 14 or 15 hours when we got back," the master corporal said. Three of them, along with U.S. special forces soldiers, also rescued a company of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division that was pinned down by enemy fire on the first day of Operation Anaconda. They also participated in Operation Harpoon, with Canadian troops on "the whale," a mountain overlooking the Shah-e-Kot valley where al-Qaeda fighters were putting up stiff resistance. Operation Harpoon, carried out in conjunction with Operation Anaconda, consisted of 500 Canadian and 100 U.S. troops under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pat Stogran, who leads Canadian Forces in Afghanistan in the biggest ground offensive since the Korean War. Lieutenant Justin Overbaugh, of the American scout platoon to which the Canadian snipers were attached, said it was a pleasure to work with the Canadian troops. "Their professionalism was amazing," Lieut. Overbaugh said. "The Canadians were a very large asset to the mission. I would have loved to have 12 Canadian sniper teams out there. I'd have no problems fighting alongside of them again." He said the Canadian snipers had equipment far superior to theirs. Their rifles had longer range than the U.S. weapons and better high-tech sights. Lieut. Overbaugh said if another mission comes up, he will request the Canadian sniper teams be sent with his unit. Senior military officials in Ottawa made a point of praising their work at the time. "The sniper teams suppressed enemy mortars and heavy machine-gun ositions with deadly accuracy," Vice-Admiral Greg Maddison said after Operation Harpoon ended. "Their skills are credited with likely having saved many allied lives." (Ref: Article in the National Post by Michael Smith and Chris Wattie) (Apr 02)

Sniper Faces Misconduct Charges - A Canadian sniper, one of five who was recommended for the Bronze Star by a U.S. general, has been sent home from Afghanistan to be tried by court martial. Charges were laid against Master Corporal Arron Perry over allegations of inappropriate conduct, according to the Department of National Defence. nationalpost.com 23 Apr 02

Get moving on snipers' medals, U.S. officer says - The U.S. Army Sergeant-Major who recommended three Canadian snipers be awarded the Bronze Star is angry Ottawa has delayed approving the medals. "We were one team and it was one fight. They fought with us. They deserve to get what we got," said Sgt.-Maj. Mark Neilsen of the 101st Airborne Division. The Pentagon has accepted his recommendation to award the Bronze Star to Master Corporal Graham Ragsdale, Master Corporal Arron Perry and Corporal Dennis Eason of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. (The decoration is given for meritorious conduct in a combat zone.) Art Eggleton, the Minister of National Defence, said last week he had no objection to the Canadians receiving the U.S. medals but was only awaiting an official request from the Americans. Sub-Lieutenant Pierrette Ledrew, a spokesman for Department of National Defence, said yesterday no request has yet been received. nationalpost.com 03 May 02

South-West Asia Service Medal (SWASM) - Qualifying Service -
Reference: CANFORGEN 085/02 ADMHRMIL 049 072044Z AUG 02
Reference announced approval of SWASM for service in or in direct support of Operations against terrorism in South-West Asia (SWA). As the situation is SWA has evolved, OP APOLLO assets are being reduced or transferred to ISAF (OP ATHENA). The following outlines amendments to qualifying service for SWASM:
Continues to qualify for SWASM:
- HMCS Calgary and its potential replacements
- HMCS Calgary's Forward Logistic Site (FLS) at Camp Mirage
- Liaison Officer (LO) in Bahrain
Qualifying service ends on 16 Aug 03 for:
- Camp Mirage (Except for FLS)
- Liaison Officers in Theatre (Except in Bahrain)
- Strategic Airlift Detachment Ramstein Germany
- Strategic Lines of Communications Detachments in United States and Europe\
Qualifying service ends on 29 August, 2003 for Headquarter Canadian Joint Task Force SWA Tampa Florida.

OP ATHENA does not qualify for SWASM, however NATO, as the lead organization is considering recognition for this Operation. Further information will be provided as soon as it is available. CANFORGEN 111/03 ADMHR-MIL 051 111632Z SEP 03
SWASM - Qualifying Service for Non-ISAF/NATO Members -
References: A. CANFORGEN 085/02 ADMHRMIL 049 072044Z AUG 02
B. CANFORGEN 111/03 ADMHRMIL 051 111632Z SEP 03
The following outlines amendments to qualifying service for SWASM:
No longer qualify for SWASM:
(1) HMCS Calgary, qualifying service ends 1 Nov 03
(2) Liaison Officer (LO) in Bahrain,. qualifying service ends 1 Nov 03
(3) Forward Logistic Site (FLS) in various locations, qualifying service ends 29 Nov 03
Further to reference B, the following additional personnel in theatre qualify for SWASM until further notice:
(1) Coalition Joint Task Force-180 (CJTF-180), Afghanistan
(2) Coalition Forces Land Command Centre (CFLCC), various locations
(3) Coalition Joint Forces Movement Coordination Command Centre (CJFMCC), various locations
(4) Coalition Joint Task Force Seven (CJTF 7) Baghdad
Service under ISAF does not qualify for SWASM. recognition for ISAF is yet to be confirmed (Ref: CANFORGEN 153/03 ADMHRMIL 073 221755Z DEC 03)

SWASM - Qualifying Service - Amendments -
References: A. CANFORGEN 085/02 ADMHRMIL 049 072044Z AUG 02
B. CANFORGEN 111/03 ADMHRMIL 051 111632Z SEP 03
C. CANFORGEN 153/03 ADMHRMIL 073 221755Z DEC 03
Further to Reference C, the following additional personnel in theatre qualify for SWASM with Bar (30 Days) until further notice.
(1) HMCS Toronto, Qualifying service starts 16 Feb 04
(2) Liaison Officer (LO) in Bahrain, Qualifying service starts 14 Feb 04
(3) Forward logistics site (FLS) in Bahrain, qualifying service starts 17 Feb 04
service under OP ATHENA does not qualify for SWASM. Recognition for OP
ATHENA is yet to be confirmed. (Ref: CANFORGEN 074/04 ADMHRMIL 039 211317Z MAY 04)

SWASM - Qualifying Service Amendments - The following additional personnel in theatre qualify for SWASM with Bar (30 Days) until further notice: Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), Kandahar, Afghanistan, qualifying service starts 20 June 2005, and Strategic Advisory Team (SAT) to the Afghan Government, Kabul, Afghanistan, qualifying service starts 13 August 2005. Canadian Forces assets under ISAF Command in the region remain eligible for the ISAF Bar to the General Campaign Star or General Service Medal until further notice. (Ref - CANFORGEN 133/05 ADM(HR-MIL) 062 040823Z AUG 05)

Afghanistan - ISAF

Medal for ISAF Service in Afghanistan - I'm receiving many e-mails inquiring if there is any news on what medal is going to be awarded to Canadian troops presently serving in Afghanistan. The only information I have - AND THIS HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED - is that Canada has officially rejected the NATO Medal and is looking at some sort of Campaign Star. Jan 04

New medal to be struck for Afghan mission: Campaign star: More than 4,000 Canadian soldiers to receive award - Canadian soldiers who served in Afghanistan will be awarded a special medal for their tours of duty with the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, the National Post has learned, a "campaign star" like that awarded to veterans who served in the Second World War. Military sources say the Canadian Forces have designed a new medal for the Afghan mission, which will set a precedent for decorations for future "peace-making" missions. The new medal, which is in the final stages of approval by the Governor-General, will be a four-pointed star on a red-and-white ribbon. A small bar, to be clasped across the ribbon, will read either ISAF or Kabul. Once the design is approved, the medal will be presented this fall to the more than 4,000 soldiers who served in the first two rotations of Canadian troops to ISAF, the 31-nation force maintaining the peace in the Afghan capital. "This is giving the guys their due," said one officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It was the troops' idea and I think it was a good one.... They did an excellent job and they deserve the recognition." Defence sources credited Major-General Andrew Leslie (pictured left), the senior Canadian general in Afghanistan for the first six-month tour with the coalition force, with pushing the idea of a campaign star through the military's honours and awards bureaucracy. Canadian soldiers serving in the first tour in Afghanistan were initially told they would be receiving a NATO medal for their time in Kabul, but were widely dismissive of the decoration they called the "boy scout medal." Many troops in the first six-month rotation of the mission, which saw more than 2,000 soldiers sent to the Afghan capital, said that NATO's "Non-Article 5" medal did not reflect the dangers and difficulties they faced. The NATO medal is for service with alliance missions that are not considered combat or wartime operations. The new medals will be struck as soon as the federal Cabinet and the Governor-General approve the design and are expected to be finished shortly after the second rotation of troops, based in Valcartier, Que., return home. "We're ready to move as soon as the approvals come through," said one officer familiar with the new decoration. "It's very close." The star is designed to be used for future missions, particularly those involving more dangerous "peace-making" or "peace support" work as opposed to classic peacekeeping. For missions such as the ongoing deployment to Haiti, where more than 500 Canadian soldiers and airmen are helping to maintain order in the Caribbean nation, a new bar would be added to the medal, sources said. Jay Hill, the defence critic for the Conservative party, said the new medal is long overdue recognition for Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen serving overseas. "It's a fitting tribute ... especially in missions where we suffer casualties," he said. "It's appropriate that they be given a Canadian decoration for the dangers those guys are facing." Three Canadians have died during the first nine months of the ISAF mission. When the current rotation of troops, most of them from the Royal 22e Regiment, returns home they will be replaced by a smaller contingent of about 500 soldiers. Lucie Brosseau, a spokeswoman for the Adrienne Clarkson, the Governor-General, would not say when the new medal would be approved, or even whether one is under consideration. "At the moment ... we cannot confirm that a new honour has been created for service in Afghanistan." National Post 26 May 04

Embassy guards should get medals: general Soldiers guarding Canadian embassies in high-risk areas should receive benefits comparable to those given peacemakers and warriors, including medals and tax exemptions, says the chief of defence staff. Soldiers protecting diplomats and embassies in places like Afghanistan and parts of the Middle East are currently not eligible for many of the benefits afforded their front-line brethren, but they should be, said Gen. Ray Henault. canoe.ca 27 Jun 04

General Campaign Star and General Service Medal

Letters patent creating the General Campaign Star and the General Service Medal Canada Gazette Vol. 138, No. 31 — July 31, 2004
Governor General announces the General Campaign Star and the General Service Medal Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, is pleased to announce today that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has approved the creation of the General Campaign Star and the General Service Medal. The General Campaign Star recognizes military service in a theatre of operations in the presence of an armed enemy. The General Service Medal acknowledges civilian and military service in direct support of operations in the presence of an armed enemy. Both honours are issued with bars identifying specific operations. Governer General 7 Jul 04
General Campaign Star Details
General Service Medal Details
Orders In Council for GCS and GSM:
- ISAF Bar to GSM PC 2004-0756 Dated 2004-06-17
- ISAF Bar to GCS PC 2004-0755 Dated 2004-06-17
- Allied Force Bar to GSM PC 2004-0754 Dated 2004-06-17
- Allied Force Bar to GCS PC 2004-0753 Dated 2004-06-17
Governor General presides over inaugural presentation ceremony of General Campaign Star and General Service Medal at Rideau Hall - List of first 45 recipients is attached 26 Nov 04

Cdn troops to get new medals Canadian soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan and on all future overseas deployments involving an armed enemy will receive a newly minted general campaign star, the Governor General has announced. But some soldiers patrolling Afghanistan's capital for as long as seven months aren't happy the gold-coloured medal will be awarded to some personnel deployed for as little as 30 cumulative days. Others complain the single, four-pointed star with the Canadian Forces crest on one side and the soldier's name, rank and serial number on the other will displace any future medals, earning them only a bar for each new deployment instead of a whole new set of hardware, as was previously done. The bar would be attached to the ribbon under the gold medal. Soldiers serving in support capacities out of the Persian Gulf and civilians based in Kabul will receive a special silver service medal. The star will also be awarded retroactively to military aircrew who flew in Kosovo in 1999. Under existing criteria, it will not be given to soldiers who fought the war on terrorism out of Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2002, nor to military embassy guards who are seconded to serve one-year rotations in Kabul. Forces personnel serving in Kandahar, the Gulf and in support roles elsewhere for at least 90 days during 2002 received the South West Asia Service Medal. Soldiers who were actually on the ground in Afghanistan also got a special bar. But so far, soldiers serving with military guard support units in what the chief of defence staff describes as highly exposed positions protecting the ambassador, his staff and the embassy receive no medal and no tax break. Gen. Ray Henault, Canada's top soldier, has promised he will push to rectify that. But while few rank-and-file soldiers are willing to speak on the record, the sentiment among many is that 30 days in Kabul manning a desk or taking field trips should not get the same recognition as pointmen, such as reconnaissance troops who have been hiking Taliban-infested mountains, or infantrymen who have patrolled streets and conducted raids for months. And they say this second rotation of soldiers serving with NATO's International Security Assistance Force has seen headquarters, with its relative comforts, brimming with Canadian military higher-ups serving the commander of the 36-country force, Canadian Lt.-Gen. Rick Hillier, or his counterpart at the Kabul Multi-National Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Jocelyn Lacroix. Troops were required to spend at least 90 days in-theatre before receiving a medal for the difficult UN mission in Bosnia prior to 1996. Inexplicably, when the mission settled down after 1996, the medal was changed and the criteria reduced to 30 days. Once awarded the new gold star, soldiers who serve on further missions will receive a bar for each subsequent campaign. canoe.ca 8 Jul 04

European Security and Defence Policy Service Medal

European Security and Defence Policy Service Medal (ESDP)

Canada has accepted The European Security and Defence Policy Service Medal for wear by Canadian recipients. The medal was established on 1 January 2003 to provide recognition to those who serve in EU-led crisis management operations. The medal is always awarded with a bar to denote the mission for which it has been awarded as follows:.

EUPM for service with the EU Police Mission in Bosnia from 1 January 2003. Six Canadian police officers have been awarded the medal with this bar, five from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and one from the Service de Police de la Communauté Urbaine de Montréal.
ARTEMIS for service with the European military operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 12 June and 1 September 2003. The CF sent 2 CC-130 Hercules with support staff in the summer of 2003 to assist this mission by providing airlift from Entebbe, Uganda to Bunia in the DRC under the Canadian operation name CARAVAN. 53 CF members have been awarded this bar.
CONCORDIA for service with the EU military operation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia between 31 March and 15 December 2003. The CF had one staff officer, LCol J.M.R. Moreau, on this mission which had the Canadian operation name FUSION and he received this bar to the Medal.
PROXIMA for service with the European Union Police Mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia from 15 December 2003 (no Canadian recipient to date).
ALTHEA for service with the European Union Force (EUFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 2 December 2004. Op BOREAS is the CF contribution to this operation, 69 CF members have been awarded this bar to date.

A total of 129 Canadians have received this medal with various bars. The medal is accompanied by a certificate.

Special Service Medal

Special Service Medal (Official Regulations - CFAO 18-21 Dated 3 Jul 94)
Special Service Medal Clasp Order “Pakistan 1989-90” SI/92-218 (17 Dec 92 (CanLII)
Special Service Medal Bar Order “NATO – OTAN” SI/95-126 (13 Dec 95) (CanLII)
Special Service Medal Bar Order “Alert” SI/95-124 (13 Dec 95) (CanLII)
Special Service Medal Bar Order “Humanitas” SI/97-24 (5 Feb 97) (CanLII)
- The Special Service Medal (HUMANITAS Bar) - I recently read in the Cold Lake Base newspaper an article about the Canadian contingent (34 personnel) sent to Sarno, Italy to assist with the cleanup after the mudslide disaster. They served there for 30 days and upon return to Trenton on 21 June 98 they were awarded the SSM with Humanitarian Bar. (Ref: Scott Laird). Both Scott and I believe this to be the first award of the Bar. The HUMANITAS Bar was Authorized by PC 1993-449, 09 March 1993, and is awarded for serving an aggregate of 30 days of honourable service outside Canada in support of Humanitarian operations, including rescue, relief and reconstruction operations, conducted in response to disasters and human conflict, since 11 June 1984, provided the said service has not been recognized by any other award in, or accepted in, the Canadian Honours System. (Canada Gazette Part II, page 1403, 24 March 1993). (Ref: Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals by F.J. Blatherwick). According to an article in the Courier, the Community Newspaper of 4 Wing Cold Lake 7 Jul 98, the Italian government will also be issuing a special medal to the 34 Canadian personnel who came to their aid.

The Special Service Medal (HUMANITAS Bar) - The following information was found by Scott Laid in the CF Publication - Honours and Flags of the CF (A-AD-200-000/AG-000 Interim dated 24 Mar 97 Appendix 4, Annex N, to Chapter 2). The SSM Humanitarian Service Bar recognizes an aggregate of 30 days of qualifying service or more. There are no augmentations. Service with the operations in the paragraphs which follow may be counted toward the Humanitarian Service Bar if not otherwise recognized. Future missions will only be added with CDS approval in consultation with Armed Forces Council and on the recommendation of the CF Honours Committee (see Annex N, para 4). The nature of each activity is also noted.

ETHIOPIA (Feb 85). Medical teams and relief supplies for famine relief.
MEXICO (20-24 Sep 85). Earthquake assistance.
COLUMBIA (Nov 85). Relief supplies following severe mudslide.
ETHIOPIA (3 Jun - 7 Sep 88). Famine relief.
ARMENIA (11 - 22 Dec 88). Relief supplies in very poor flying conditions.
JAMAICA (12 Sep - Oct 88). Relief supplies and emergency construction.
MONTSERRAT AND NEVIS (22 Sep - 31 Oct 89). Relief supplies, medical assistance and construction.
TURKEY AND IRAQ (Mar - May 91). Post-Gulf War medical and supply assistance to Kurds. See also Appendix 3, para 37 & 38.
ETHIOPIA (Aug - 15 Dec 91). Famine relief.
COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDANT STATES (EX-USSR) (Jan - May 92). Humanitarian assistance.
FLORIDA (Sep 92). Humanitarian relief in southern Florida following an hurricane.
BAHAMAS (Oct 92). Humanitarian relief following an hurricane.
RWANDA (Jul - Oct 94). Humanitarian relief to refugees by members of 2 Field Ambulance Group (Operation PASSAGE). See also Appendix 3, para 49 and 50.

Operation ASSURANCE will be added to the list of criteria for this bar. (Ref: CANFORGEN 116/98 ADM(HR MIL) 073/98 021440Z DEC 98).

The Joint Task Force Central America will be added to the list of criteria for this Bar. 30 Days service in theatre are required for this Bar. (Ref: CANFORGEN 122/98 ADM(HR-MIL)076/98 091430Z DEC 98)

ADDITION OF MISSION – SPECIAL SERVICE MEDAL (SSM) HUMANITAS BAR – Armed Forces Council has approved the following addition to the qualifying criteria for the SSM with HUMANITAS bar: Service with disaster assistance response team (DART) – Operation TORRENT, Turkey (18 Aug 99 - ). 30 days in theatre of operations is needed to qualify for the medal and/or bar. (Ref: CANFORGEN 086/99 ADMHRMIL 057 06 October, 1999 with minor editing)

Addition of Mission – Special Service Medal HUMANITAS Bar – Armed Forces Council has approved the following addition to the qualifying criteria for the SSM HUMANITAS Bar: Service in Somalia with OP RELIEF (19 Aug 92 – 5 Jan 93). Humanitarian relief flights into Somalia by members of ALCE Nairobi in support of UNWFP and ICRC. 30 days service in theatre of operations is required to qualify for the medal and/or bar. Service with ALCE/CATDS from 6 Jan 93 to 30 Jun 93 counts towards qualifying service.

Addition of mission – Special Service Medal (SSM) HUMANITAS Bar – OP Connection (deployed support to CARE Canada) - Overseas service with CARE Canada has been added to qualifying criteria for SSM Humanitas Bar. ) (Ref: Armed Forces Council Decision 10 Apr 01 / Edited version of CANFORGEN 071/01 ADMHR(Mil) 041 211330Z Jun 01)

ADDITION OF MISSION - SSM HUMANITAS BAR - OP STRUCTURE - Chief of the Defence Staff has approved the addition of OP STRUCTURE (Ampara, Sri Lanka) to the qualifying criteria for the SSM HUMANITAS Bar. OP STRUCTURE was the Canadian Forces contribution to the Canadian relief effort in South Asia following the Earthquake and Tsunami. The operation was conducted between 31 December 2004 and 26 February 2005 and included the deployment of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). A minimum 30 cumulative days service in theatre of operations is required to qualify for the HUMANITAS Bar to the SSM Service credited toward this award cannot be credited towards any other service medal. (Ref: CANFORGEN 126/05 ADM(HR-MIL) 059 211244Z JUL 05)

Special Service Medal Bar Order “Ranger” SI/99-116 (13 Oct 99) (CanLII)
- Special Service Medal Bar Order “Ranger” – Whereas, pursuant to section 5 of the Special Service Medal Regulations, a person is eligible to be awarded the Special Service Medal if the person is a member of the Canadian Forces and has engaged in an activity that the Governor In Council determines is special service that merits recognition; And whereas, pursuant to subsection 4(3) of those Regulations, the Special Service Medal shall be awarded with a Bar that represents the special service, as the Governor in Council specifies; Therefore, His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, pursuant to subsection 5(3) and paragraph 5(b) of the Special Service Medal Regulations, hereby

(a) determines that an aggregate of four years of honourable service as a Canadian Ranger, performing the duties of providing a military presence in support of Canadian Sovereignty including reporting unusual activities, collecting local data of significance to support military operations, providing local expertise, assistance and advice, as guide and advisor, in search and rescue activities, and completion of a minimum of three Ranger Patrol Exercises, within Canada or its territorial and contiguous waters since 1947, is special service that merits recognition; and

(b) specifies that the Bar awarded with the Special Service Medal, representing the special service referred to in paragraph (a), shall bear the word “RANGER”. (Ref: Canada Gazette Part II, Vol. 133, No. 21 – P.C. 1999-1742 1 October, 1999)

Special Service Medal (SSM) - Addition of RANGER Bar – The government of Canada has approved the addition of a RANGER bar to the SSM. The bar will be awarded to Canadian Rangers who perform special service in the northern regions of Canada. Canadian Forces members who provide support services to ranger activities, but who are not Canadian rangers, do not qualify for this medal. Qualifying Criteria is 4 years of honourable service as a Canadian ranger, including completion of 3 Canadian ranger patrol exercises, within Canada or its territorial and contiguous waters since 1947. (Ref: CANFORGEN 090/99 ADMHRMIL 061 15 October, 1999 with minor editing)

Special Service Medal Bar Order “PEACE – PAIX” SI/95-125 (13 Dec 95) (CanLII)
- Special Serivce Medal - Bar PEACE. . .
  - Operation DETERMINATION will be added to list of criteria for PEACE bar to SSM. This Operation will be assigned a multiplying factor of three, which means that 60 days of service in theatre are needed to qualify for the medal and/or bar.
  - Additionally, one of the missions listed in the regulations reads quote HMCS Restigouche on maritime interdiction force operations in the Red Sea (MIF). (JAN 92-SEP 92). Service days are doubled. See also paragraphs 37 and 38. Unquote. This criteria will be amended to read quote Maritime Interdiction Force operations in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf (MIF). (Jan 92). Service days are doubled. See paragraphs 37 and 38. Unquote. This removed the necessity of amending the regulations to add each individual ship that participates in this operation.
  - Service with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Armenia and Azerbaijan. This Operation will be assigned a multiplying factor of two, which means that 90 days of service in theatre are needed to qualify for the medal and/or Bar.
  - Service with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Armenia and Azerbaijan. This Operation will be assigned a multiplying factor of two, which means that 90 days of service in theatre are needed to qualify for the medal and/or Bar. (Ref: CANFORGEN 122/98 ADM(HR-MIL)076/98 091430Z DEC 98)
  - Armed Forces Council (AFC) has approved the following addition to the qualifying criteria for the Special Service Medal (SSM) with PEACEKEEPING Bar: Service with the United Nations Verification Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) (15 APR 98 - ). This operation will be assigned a multiplying factor of three, which means that 60 days service in theatre is needed to qualify for the medal and/or Bar. In accordance with regulations for the Special Service Medal, should a United Nations or other service medal be offered which counts time already calculated for a PEACEKEEPING Bar, a condition of its acceptance and wear shall be the disqualification of SSM time, including the forfeiture of the medal and/or medal and bar if necessary. (CANFORGEN 026/99 ADM(HR-MIL)028 071300Z APR 99) NOTE: The CANFORGEN states PEACEKEEPING Bar in both the title and in the text. I believe this is in error, as there is no PEACEKEEPING Bar for the SSM. There is, however a PEACE-PAIX Bar for this medal. I will try to obtain clarifying information.
  - Addition of Mission – Special Service Medal (SSM) PEACE Bar – Armed Forces Council has approved the following addition to the qualifying criteria for the SSM: SSM with PEACE bar: Service with Mission de Police Nation Unites Haitie (MIPONUH) (28 Mar 98 - ). This operation wil be assigned a multiplying factor of two, which means that 90 days in theatre is required to qualify for the medal and/or bar. In accordance with regulations for the SSM, should a UN or other service medal be offered which counts time already counted for either a HUMANITAS or PEACE bar, a condition of its acceptance shall be the disqualification of SSM time, including the forfeiture of the medal and/or medal and bar if necessary. (Ref: CANFORGEN 086/99 ADMHRMIL 057 06 October, 1999 with minor editing)
  - Addition of Mission – Special Service Medal (SSM) -Peacekeeping Bar - Armed Forces Council has approved the following addition to the qualifying criteria for the SSM with PEACEKEEPING Bar: Service with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Kosovo and with the Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission (KDOM) (2 Aug 98). This operation will be assigned a multiplying factor of three, which means that 60 days service in theatre is needed to qualify for the medal and /or bar. In accordance with regulations for the SSM, should a UN or other service medal be offered which counts time already counted for either a HUMANITAS or PEACE bar, a condition of its acceptance shall be the disqualification of SSM time, including the forfeiture of the medal and/or medal and bar if necessary. (Ref: CANFORGEN 039/99 ADM(HR-MIL) 037 04 May, 1999, with minor editing)
  - Addition of Mission – Special Service Medal (SSM) - PEACEKEEPING Bar - Armed Forces Council has approved the following addition to the qualifying criteria for the SSM with PEACEKEEPING Bar: Service with United Nations Verification Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) (15 Apr 98 - ). ). This operation will be assigned a multiplying factor of three, which means that 60 days service in theatre is needed to qualify for the medal and /or bar. In accordance with regulations for the SSM, should a UN or other service medal be offered which counts time already counted for either a HUMANITAS or PEACE bar, a condition of its acceptance shall be the disqualification of SSM time, including the forfeiture of the medal and/or medal and bar if necessary. (Ref: CANFORGEN 026/99 ADM(HR-MIL)028 07 April, 1999 with minor editing)
  - Addition of Mission - SSM Peace Bar - OP TOUCAN (East Timor) – Armed Forces Council has approved the following addition to the qualifying criteria for the Special Service Medal (SSM) with PEACE bar: Service with Operation TOUCAN – Operation in support of interfet to restore peace and security in East Timor. Theatre of operations is defined as the territory of East Timor plus the ocean and air space bounded by Latitude 4S and 17S and Longitude 120E and 133E, including Darwin, Australia. This operation is assigned a multiplying factor of two, which means that 90 days in theatre are required to qualify for the medal and/or bar. In accordance with regulations for the SSM, should a UN or other service medal be offered which counts time already counted for the PEACE bar, a condition of its acceptance shall be the disqualification of SSM time, including the forfeiture of the medal and/or medal and ba if necessary. (Ref: CANFORGEN 024/00 ADMHRMIL 014 16 February, 2000 with minor editing)
  - Addition of Mission – SSM Peace Bar – Armed Forces Council has approved the following addition to the qualifying criteria for the Specail Service Medal (SSM) with Peace Bar: Service with OP REPTILE – Canadian Forces support to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) (22 Oct 99 - ). Theatre of Operations is defined as Sierra Leone, Guinea and Gambia. This Operation is assigned a multiplying factor of three, which means that 60 days in theatre are required to qualify for the medal and/or bar. In accordance with regulations for the SSM, should a UN or other service medal be offered which counts time already counted for the Peace Bar, a condition of its acceptance shall be the disqualification of SSM time, including the forfeiture of the medal and/or medal and bar if necessary. (Ref CANFORGEN 105/00 ADMHRMIL 063 081831Z Sep 00)
- Cancellation of the Special Service Medal (SSM) with Peace Bar - Effective forthwith, no new qualifying missions or deployments will be added to Special Service Medal (SSM) Peace Bar. The Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM) supersedes the SSM Peace Bar and new missions/deployments will be added to list of qualifying criteria for CPSM only. Personnel who have completed 180 qualifying days prior to this CANFORGEN remain eligible for SSM Peace Bar. Personnel in a theatre of operations the date of release of this CANFORGEN shall be allowed to accumulate days for the remainder of that deployment only. Personnel en route to a theatre of operations on the date of release of this canforgen will not accumulate any additional days to their qualifying service. Personnel who have been awarded SSM Peace Bar will be allowed to retain it, as there was no dual recognition at the time it was awarded. Personnel who have been awarded the SSM Peace Bar will remain eligible for CPSM. (Ref: Armed Forces Council Decision 10 Apr 01 / Edited version of CANFORGEN 071/01 ADMHR(Mil) 041 211330Z Jun 01)

· Eligibility for Orders Decorations and Medals – Special Service Medal (SSM) and Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM): - There is evidence that the regulations regarding the award of orders, decorations and medals are not clearly understood resulting in an increase in staff work at all levels and false submissions. The purpose of this instruction is to provide guidance to senior Commanders, commanding officers and other personnel responsible for implementing the Canadian Forces honours system to consistently apply eligibility criteria for subject medals. The criteria for award of the Special Service Medal (SSM) are outlined in regulations. The criteria for award of the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM) are as follows:

o A member must deploy outside Canada for a minimum of 30 days (not necessarily consecutive) either on the strength of a Canadian Forces unit sent on a United Nations or International Peacekeeping or Observer Mission or those who directly support such missions

o Be a Canadian citizen at the time the peacekeeping duty was performed

o Not bring discredit on the force or be convicted of a serious offence under the National Defence Act (NDA) while deployed

o A civilian who serves at the initiative, by the nomination or the agreement of the government of Canada and directly supports the operation might be eligible

o A member who has been awarded the SSM with Peace Bar automatically qualifies for the CPSM

o Participated on an approved/recognized operation or mission included on the CPSM mission eligibility list

o A member who dies or is repatriated for service related medical reasons while taking part in the mission might be eligible

o Arrival and departure days in a special duty area for the CPSM count as full days

o As a general principle, medals are awarded by the government of Canada, including the SSM and the CPSM, to members of the Canadian Forces for service on International operations. Service on international operations is credited only when that service was in direct support of the operation. A visitor to an operational area to conduct national business does not constitute direct support to the operation.

As a guide to determining eligibility for credit towards the award of the SSM or CPSM, the following additional statements will help determine if the member’s duty was in direct support of an operation:

o Direct support was provided by virtue of the member being attach posted or attached posted (temporary). The minimum period for such administrative action is 14 days

o Direct support was provided, for periods less than 14 days on Temporary Duty (TD), when an operational task was issued (not a visit clearance) for the provision of support to a mission

o Direct support to the operation is not deemed to have been provided for the conduct of national business such as staff inspection visits (SIV) financial audits, command inspections, courts martial, human resource related briefings/studies, academic, chaplain and social worker liaison visits and for personnel who implement CF-wide equipment modification programs

o Deployed aircrew will accumulate one day s service towards the SSM and the CPSM for each day of duty in the mission area providing that the purpose of the flight was in direct support of the operation and not administrative in nature. For example a CC-130 Hercules aircraft assigned to deploy CF personnel and equipment into a mission area would be eligible while an aircraft transporting personnel for visits or ineligible activities would not be eligible. Transit time to and from Canada is not eligible service

o Deployed ships will accumulate one day s service towards the SSM and CPSM for the period the ship operated under NATO or international command or in direct support of a peace support operation in the area of operation. Transit time to and from Canada shall not be counted as qualifying time. Port visits outside the area of operation designated in the OPO do not qualify

In certain exceptional circumstances personnel deployed to a special duty area by the national authority for a brief duration might qualify for recognition for a Canadian award if in the opinion of the in-theatre commander they were in direct support of the operation. Direct support includes those functions which provide a substantive contribution to the conduct of the mission. To be eligible for recognition the claimant’s personal records must clearly demonstrate that a superior commander recognized the member’ s service to the operation. (Ref: Edited version of CANFORGEN 050/01 ADMHR(Mil) 025 17153Z May 01)

Special Service Medal with NATO/OTAN Bar - Eligibility for this bar has been suspended on 19 October 2004 until further notice. Persons who have reached the required 180 eligible days before 19 October 04 remain eligible. Persons in eligible positions or operations on 19 October 04 can continue to count their time until the end of that posting or deployment only. NATO service starting after 19 October 04 is considered ineligible until further notice. Once the review of the criteria is completed, the information on the remaining eligible NATO service will be made available. forces.gc.ca

How to I get a Special Service Medal (SSM)?

Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal

Peacekeeping Service Medal (DND Website)
Official Announcement (Governor-General)
Canadian Peacekeepers awarded new Peacekeeping Medal (CBC)
Chapter 31 – An Act respecting the establishment and award of a Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (Bill C-300) (25 Apr 97)
Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal Act, 1997, c.31 (CanLII)
Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal Award Regulations SOR/99-410 ( 21 Oct 99) (CanLII)
CPSM FAQs ( DND Website)

Award of Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal to Civilians – The CPSM shall be awarded to Canadian civilian personnel working under contract to the Department of National Defence (DND) when deployed to Special Designated Areas (SDAs) in future, contractors or government civilian employees hired and deployed by DND who meet eligibility criteria will be awarded the medal. The Canadian Contingent Commander is directed to employ same application procedures when applying for CPSM for both military and civilian personnel under his authority. (Note: The intent is that only Canadian citizens are eligible) (Ref: Armed Forces Council Decision 10 Apr 01 / Edited version of CANFORGEN 071/01 ADMHR(Mil) 041 211330Z Jun 01)

Greenville woman awarded peacekeeping medal Libby Osburn served as a secretary for the International Control Commission, a team of Canadian, Polish and Indian peacekeepers in the Southeast Asian nation torn by civil war. (Nov 02)
Peacekeeping medal -Long-time Wallaceburg resident Edward Beresford speaks highly of serving for the Canadian peacekeeping service. And, as an appreciation of thanks for his efforts was awarded with a Peacekeeping Medal. (Mar 03)
CCRA customs personnel awarded medals for peacekeeping Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) employees were honoured with the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal recognizing their vital contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. In the early 1990s, customs personnel played a critical role in three UN peacekeeping missions. They helped the Macedonian Customs Service administer the sanctions imposed against Serbia and Montenegro during the war in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. (Mar 03)
- Local man receives peacekeeping medal Greg Mercure, chief of Canada Customs operations in Fort Frances was presented with the Peacekeeping Service Medal. Mercure spent two months in 1993 as a UN Customs officer in the peacekeeping effort in Macedonia during the unrest in the former Yugoslavia. Fort Frances Times, Canada - 26 Mar 2003
Better late than never for Peacekeeping Medal - By Kim Kierans - It was a double surprise for Seldon Sutherland of River John. Last month his family surprised him with a party to celebrate his 70th birthday. They also surprised him with a medal for his peacekeeping efforts in the Congo. Mr. Sutherland is modest about his time as a peacekeeper. He is reluctant to talk about a clash his group had with the Congolese army in 1960. He was a member of a UN communications team waiting at the Leopoldville airport to fly to the interior of the Congo when the attack happened. A newspaper story from 1960 said that angry Congolese troops robbed and mauled Signalman Sutherland, 27, at the airport in the Congo. "Along with others of his unit, he was forced to lie face down on the airport runway while the troops removed his wallet, then kicked and prodded him with rifle butts and bayonets," reported the newspaper article. "It wasn't serious," he told Carol Dunn of The Pictou Advocate. "Everything happened so quickly." He said the conflict lasted only a few hours. But it wasn't the only incident. While he was serving in the central African country, Mr. Sutherland also ended up in front of a firing squad before UN troops rescued him. "It wasn't something dad discussed a lot when growing up," said his daughter Cheryl Sutherland. So when MLA Peter MacKay brought out the peacekeeping medal at the birthday party it was a big surprise. "It means a lot to me," said Mr. Sutherland. "When I saw him getting the medal he was very emotional," said Ms Sutherland. "It was overwhelming for him - the party - he wasn't expecting the medal (now). He thought I would just give it to him (without any ceremony)." (Ref Halifax Herald 1 Sep 02)
Army doctor honoured The patient was an 18-year-old Bedouin woman who was seriously ill from complications linked to her pregnancy. She had crossed the desert on a donkey and was in grave condition when she arrived at the United Nations Emergency Force Hospital in Rafah, on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. She was immediately placed under the care of a young Kingston doctor, Glen Van Cott, who was serving a year of mandatory service in the Middle East. Van Cott. For more than six hours that night, a team of army medics led by Van Cott battled to save the woman and her unborn child. When the electricity suddenly failed in the rough medical shelter, they tended to their patient by the light of flashlights. At 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1958, the woman gave birth to her first child, a baby girl two months’ premature. It took three minutes of artificial respiration, administered by Van Cott, before the baby responded. When she was stable, Van Cott placed her in a makeshift incubator fashioned from a simple cardboard box and lined with gauze. Because there was no power, he placed the box near an oil-burning space heater for warmth. By mid-morning, mother and daughter were well enough to be transferred to a nearby clinic. Almost 44 years after Van Cott’s night of quiet heroism, his surviving family members accepted a Canadian peacekeeping medal on his behalf. (Dec 02)
Eligibility for Orders Decorations and Medals – Special Service Medal (SSM) and Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM): - There is evidence that the regulations regarding the award of orders, decorations and medals are not clearly understood resulting in an increase in staff work at all levels and false submissions. The purpose of this instruction is to provide guidance to senior Commanders, commanding officers and other personnel responsible for implementing the Canadian Forces honours system to consistently apply eligibility criteria for subject medals. The criteria for award of the Special Service Medal (SSM) are outlined in regulations. The criteria for award of the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM) are as follows: