Australian Service Medal
Encyclopedia
The Australian Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorized 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in peacekeeping and non-warlike operations. It is awarded with a clasp to denote the prescribed operation and subsequent awards of the medal are made in the form of additional clasps. The Australian Service Medal 1945–1975 recognises non-warlike service prior to February 1975.
Some of these medals have been granted a blanket authority for all recipients to wear. Others are approved on an individual basis.
Description
- The Australian Service Medal is a nickel-silver medal ensigned with the Crown of St EdwardSt. Edward's CrownSt Edward's Crown was one of the English Crown Jewels and remains one of the senior British Crown Jewels, being the official coronation crown used in the coronation of first English, then British, and finally Commonwealth realms monarchs...
. The obverse features a modified shield of the Commonwealth Coat of ArmsCoat of arms of AustraliaThe coat of arms of Australia is the official symbol of Australia. The initial coat of arms was granted by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908, and the current version was granted by King George V on 19 September 1912, although the 1908 version continued to be used in some contexts, notably appearing on...
surmounted by the Australian Defence Force Joint Service emblemAustralian Defence Force EnsignThe Australian Defence Force Ensign is a flag of Australia which represents the tri-service Australian Defence Force. The flag was declared a "Flag of Australia" under Section 5 of the Flags Act 1953 on 14 April 2000....
superimposed on meridiansMeridian (geography)A meridian is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface from the North Pole to the South Pole that connects all locations along it with a given longitude. The position of a point along the meridian is given by its latitude. Each meridian is perpendicular to all circles of latitude...
of longitude. - The reverse of the medal shows clusters of mimosaMimosaMimosa is a genus of about 400 species of herbs and shrubs, in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the legume family Fabaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word μιμος , meaning "mimic."...
blossoms surrounding a Federation StarCommonwealth StarThe Commonwealth Star is a seven-pointed star symbolising the Federation of Australia which came into force on 1 January 1901....
with the inscription ‘FOR SERVICE’. - The medal ribbon is 32mm wide and has a central brown stripe symbolizing the earth. It is flanked by two stripes of dark green which in turn are flanked by stripes of light green, gold and silver-green.
- A nickel-silver clasp with the name of the theatre or action for which the award is made is presented with the medal.
Related Medals
Personnel who receive this medal may also be entitled to receive a service or campaign medal from an international organisation or the host country, if they meet the eligibility criteria for those medals. These are treated as foreign medals in the Australian system, and if approved for wear on service uniforms, are worn after Australian medals in the order they are received. Recipients of the ASM may be authorised to wear up to two further medals from an international organisation and a host nation for the same period of service.Some of these medals have been granted a blanket authority for all recipients to wear. Others are approved on an individual basis.
Balkans
- 30 days service with the United Nations or North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Operation OSIER) in the Balkans region with effect from 25 January 1997 – Present
Bougainville
- 30 days service with the Truce Monitoring Group in BougainvilleBougainville ProvinceThe Autonomous Region of Bougainville, previously known as North Solomons, is an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea. The largest island is Bougainville Island , and the province also includes the island of Buka and assorted outlying islands including the Carterets...
(Operations BEL ISI I and II) with effect from 20 November 1997 – 26 August 2003
Cambodia
- 30 days service in Cambodia with the United Nations Military Liaison Team/Cambodian Mine Action Centre from 8 October 1993 – 4 October 1999
East Timor
- 30 days service for:
- Humanitarian (Operation FABER) 30 August 1975 – 30 October 1975
- United Nations Assistance Mission in East TimorUnited Nations Mission in East TimorThe United Nations Mission in East Timor was established by Security Council Resolution 1246 on 11 June 1999 for a period up to 31 August 1999...
(UNAMET) 19 June 1999 – 15 September 1999 - Operation SPITFIRE air bridge evacuation 6 September 1999 – 19 September 1999
- Defence Cooperation Program 1 January 2001 – 11 May 2006
- Operation CITADEL UN missions UNMISET and UNOTIL 18 August 2003 – 11 May 2006
- Operation SPIRE 20 May 2004 – 11 May 2006
- Operation CHIRON service with UN Special Political Mission to Timor-Leste. (UNOTIL/UNMIT) 20 May 2005 – 11 May 2006
- For service after 11 May 2006 see Timor-Leste clasp
Ethiopia/Eritrea
- 30 days service with Operation POMELO, United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and EritreaUnited Nations Mission in Ethiopia and EritreaThe United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea was established by the United Nations Security Council in July 2000 to monitor a ceasefire in the border war that began in 1998 between Ethiopia and Eritrea....
(UNMEE) from 15 January 2001 – Present
Guatemala
- 30 days service with the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala with effect from 15 February 1997 – 14 May 1997
Gulf
- 30 days service with the Royal Australian Navy activity in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman between 17 November 1986 and 31 October 1988; and the continuing mine countermeasures operations within the Persian Gulf between 1 November 1988 and 28 February 1989
Haiti
- 30 sorties or 30 days service on authorised third country deployments with the United Nations Mission in HaitiUnited Nations Mission in HaitiFor the current UN mission to Haiti, see the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.The United Nations Mission in Haiti — a peacekeeping operation carried out by the United Nations between September 1993 and June 1996. The Mission was reestablished in April 2004, after a rebellion took...
from 1 July 1994 – 30 June 1996
Iran/Iraq
- 90 days service with the United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer GroupUnited Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer GroupThe United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group was a United Nations commission created during the Iran–Iraq War by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 619 of August 9, 1988.-Mission statement:...
(UNIIMOG) from 12 August 1988 – 28 February 1991
Iraq
- for:
- 30 days service in southern Turkey and northern Iraq with the International Kurdish Relief Operation (Op HABITAT) from 1 May 1991 – 30 June 1991
- 7 days service within Iraq with the United Nations Special CommissionUnited Nations Special CommissionUnited Nations Special Commission was an inspection regime created by the United Nations to ensure Iraq's compliance with policies concerning Iraqi production and use of weapons of mass destruction after the Gulf War...
in Iraq (Op BLAZER) that from 1 May 1991 – 30 June 1998 - 7 days service with the multinational military deployment in the Middle East (Op POLLARD) for the period 15 February 1998 – 30 June 1998, and for 30 days service 1 July 1998 – 1 October 2001
- 30 days service with authorised 3rd country deployments with UK and US Iraq/Persian Gulf Ops – imposing sanctions on Iraq from 16 July 1991 – 1 October 2001
- 30 days service with Operation BOLTON, the UK component imposing the No Fly Zones over Iraq, and based in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Incirlik airbase, Turkey, from 13 May 1999 to 12 January 2003
- 30 days service with Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, the US component imposing the No Fly Zones over Iraq, and based in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Incirlik airbase, Turkey, from 23 September 1999 to 12 January 2003
- note: for Ops BOLTON and SOUTHERN WATCH, service over Iraq receives the AASM
Irian Jaya
- 30 days service on Operation CENDARAWASIH, between 1976 and 1981 (Survey Operations)
Kashmir
- 90 days service with the United Nations Military Observers Group India/Pakistan (UNMOGIP) from 14 February 1975 – Present
Korea
- 30 days service with the United Nations CommandUnited Nations Command (Korea)The United Nations Command is the unified command structure for the multinational military forces supporting the Republic of Korea during and after the Korean War...
(Military Armistice Commission) within the Korean Peninsular while involved in the preservation of the Armistice between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea from 14 February 1975 – Present.
Kuwait
- Service with the Multinational Military Force in the Persian Gulf, from 2 August 1990 – Present (except 17 January to 28 February 1991 – for which the Australian Active Service MedalAustralian Active Service MedalThe Australian Active Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorised 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in warlike operations...
is awarded).
Lebanon
- for:
- 14 days service with Operation RAMP from 20 Jul 2006 to 25 Aug 2006 (members of the ADF who rendered service in the area comprising Lebanon only)
- 30 days service with Operation RAMP II from 13 Nov 2007 to 5 Dec 2008 (members of the ADF who rendered service in the area comprising Lebanon only)
Middle East
- 30 days service with:
- the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) from 14 February 1975 – Present
- the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) from 14 February 1975 – Present
- the second United Nations Emergency ForceUnited Nations Emergency ForceThe first United Nations Emergency Force was established by United Nations General Assembly to secure an end to the 1956 Suez Crisis with resolution 1001 on November 7, 1956. The force was developed in large measure as a result of efforts by UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and a proposal...
(UNEF II) from 14 February 1975 – 31 July 1979 - the United Nations Interim Force in LebanonUnited Nations Interim Force in LebanonThe United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, was created by the United Nations, with the adoption of Security Council Resolution 425 and 426 on 19 March 1978, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon which Israel had invaded five days prior, restore international peace and security,...
(UNIFIL) from 1 March 1978 – Present - RAN ships in North West Indian Ocean deployments from 1 September 1980 – 31 July 1986
Mozambique
- 30 days service in Mozambique (Op CORACLE) with effect from 12 July 1994 – 31 March 2002
Peshawar
- 90 days service with the United Nations Mine Clearance Training Team (UNMCTT) from 16 July 1989 – Present
Sierra Leone
- 30 days service on Operation HUSKY, the International Military Advisory and Training Team (IMATT) from 15 January 2001 – 28 February 2003
Sinai
- 30 days service:
- with the Multinational Force and ObserversMultinational Force and ObserversThe Multinational Force and Observers is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.-Background:...
in the Sinai (MFO) between 9 February 1982 and 28 April 1986 - on Operation MAZURKA with the Multinational Force and ObserversMultinational Force and ObserversThe Multinational Force and Observers is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.-Background:...
, with effect from 6 January 1993 – Present
- May also be entitled to the Multinational Force and Observers MedalMultinational Force and Observers MedalThe Multinational Force and Observers Medal is an international military decoration which was first created on March 24, 1982. The medal was established under the authority of the Director-General of the Multinational Force and Observers which were established to monitor a neutral ceasefire zone,...
- with the Multinational Force and Observers
Solomon Islands
- 30 days service on Operation TREK, the International Peace Monitoring Team in the Solomon Islands from 4 November 2000 – 15 March 2002
Solomon Islands II
- 30 days service on Operation ANODE, the ADF contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) from 24 July 2003 to Present
Somalia
- 30 days service with the First and Second United Nations Operations in Somalia (including activities associated with those operations in the areas extending 20 kilometres into Ethiopia and Kenya, 10 kilometres into Djibouti and 12 nautical miles (22 km) into the territorial waters of Somalia) between 17 October 1992 and 30 April 1993
SE Asia
- for 30 days service:
- on land in Malaysia from 14 February 1975 – 31 December 1989
- on land in Singapore from 14 February 1975 – 30 April 1975
- on RAN ships with ANZUKANZUKANZUK was a tripartite force formed by Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to defend the Asian Pacific region after the United Kingdom withdrew forces from the east of Suez in the early seventies. The ANZUK force was formed in 1971 and disbanded in 1974....
force from 14 February 1975 – 30 April 1975 - on land in Laos, Cambodia from 14 February 1975 – 13 March 1975
- with ADF activities on Operation GADING 5 on Sumatra from 6 May 1975 – 22 August 1975
S Pacific 2006
- 30 days service with Operation QuickstepOperation QuickstepOperation Quickstep was the name given to the deployment of military resources by the Australian Defence Force during the leadup to the 2006 Fijian coup d'état on 4-5 December 2006, during which the Fijian military took control of the Fijian government which, at the time, was led by Prime Minister...
to ensure the safety of Australian Nationals in FijiFijiFiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
during the period 31 October 2006 and 22 December 2006.
-
- Note: was originally issued as the FIJI 2006 clasp, named changed on 3 March 2010.
Special ops
- For service after 14 February 1975 in certain special non-warlike Australian Defence Force operations as determined by the Chief of the Defence Force
Sudan
- 30 days service:
- with Operation AZURE, the ADF contingent with the United Nations Mission in SudanUnited Nations Mission in SudanThe United Nations Mission in the Sudan was established by the UN Security Council under Resolution 1590 of 24 March 2005, in response to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government of the Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement on January 9, 2005 in Nairobi,...
(UNMIS) from 10 April 2005 – Present - with Operation HEDGEROW, the ADF contingent with the United Nations and African Union Mission in the Darfur (UNAMID) from 28 July 2008 – Present
- with Operation AZURE, the ADF contingent with the United Nations Mission in Sudan
Timor-Leste
- For:
- 7 days/sorties (12 May – 16 June 2006) or 30 days/sorties (10 June 2006 onwards) on Operation ASTUTE from 12 May 2006 – Present
- 30 days service as part of contributions as per 'EAST TIMOR' listed above from 12 May 2006 – Present
- May also be entitled to the Timor Leste Solidarity Medal
Uganda
- 90 days service with the Commonwealth Military Training Team Uganda (CMTTU) between 18 March 1982 and 24 March 1984
West Sahara
- 30 days service with United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western SaharaUnited Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western SaharaMINURSO is the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara. The name is a French acronym for "Mission des Nations Unies pour l'Organisation d'un Référendum au Sahara Occidental" — United Nations Mission for the organization of a Referendum in Western Sahara.-Purpose of the mission:MINURSO...
with effect from 5 September 1991 – Present
Namibia
- 90 days service with the United Nations Transition Assistance GroupUnited Nations Transition Assistance GroupThe United Nations Transition Assistance Group was a United Nations peacekeeping force deployed from April 1989 to March 1990 in Namibia to monitor the peace process and elections there. Namibia had been occupied by South Africa since 1915, first under a League of Nations mandate and later...
(UNTAG) from 11 March 1989. - Originally issued with the ASM, but the period has since been deemed to be warlike service, and the Australian Active Service MedalAustralian Active Service MedalThe Australian Active Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorised 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in warlike operations...
with appropriate clasp issued instead. Recipients of the original clasp could replace it, and the ASM medal if they had no other clasps, with the AASM.
Rwanda
- 30 days service with the United Nations Operation in Rwanda with effect from 29 July 1994.
- Originally issued with the ASM, but the period has since been deemed to be warlike service, and the Australian Active Service Medal with appropriate clasp issued instead. Recipients of the original clasp could replace it, and the ASM medal if they had no other clasps, with the AASM.
Vietnam 1975
- ADF support to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
- Originally issued with the ASM, but the period has since been deemed to be warlike service, and the Australian Active Service Medal with appropriate clasp issued instead. Recipients of the original clasp could replace it, and the ASM medal if they had no other clasps, with the AASM.
External links
- It's an Honour Australian Government website
- ADF Honours and Awards site