The Operational Service Medal (OSM) is the overall name given to a group of campaign medals awarded by the British armed forces. Introduced in 1999 to replace the General Service Medal, the OSM features a common design for the medal itself, with each one differentiated by a distinct ribbon. [1]
As of November2024, the Operational Service Medal has been awarded for four separate campaigns.
The medal itself is circular, with an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID. DEF on the obverse. The reverse has a design featuring the Union Flag, surrounded by a circlet bearing the inscription FOR OPERATIONAL SERVICE, on top of a four pointed star representing the four cardinal points of the compass; in between the points, in line with the saltire of the Union Flag, are four coronets, representing the Crown and the three armed services - Royal (top left), Naval (Royal Navy, top right), Mural (British Army, bottom left), and Astral (Royal Air Force, bottom right). [1]
The ribbon for each version of the medal follows the same format, with a wide red bar in the centre, flanked on each side by navy blue, and then light blue bars, representing the three services, with on the edge bars of a unique colour - green (Sierra Leone), buff (Afghanistan), ochre (Democratic Republic of Congo), grey (Iraq and Syria).
The first OSM to be awarded was for service during Operation Palliser, the United Kingdom's intervention in the Sierra Leone Civil War from May 2000 to July 2002. No clasp was awarded, although personnel who took part in Operation Maidenly or Operation Barras were entitled to add a silver rosette to their award. [2]
The OSM for Afghanistan was awarded for service as part of the Afghan War, encompassing Operation Veritas, Operation Herrick and Operation Toral, and other operations included under those overall missions. Recipients of the medal are eligible to be awarded the Afghanistan clasp if they have served in Afghanistan itself for a period of time (which varies depending on the operation), and the Operation Pitting clasp for personnel assigned to the 2021 evacuation of Kabul. [2] [3]
The OSM for the Democratic Republic of Congo was awarded to all British personnel that served between June and September 2003 on Operation Coral, the British involvement in the French-led multinational peacekeeping mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo, during the latter stages of the Second Congo War. The medal was awarded with the DROC clasp to all recipients. [2]
The OSM for Iraq and Syria was awarded for service as part of Operation Shader, the UK's involvement in the military intervention against ISIL in Iraq and Syria. This medal is the first campaign medal to be awarded to personnel not physically serving in the area of operations, as crews operating unmanned aerial vehicles on operations over Syria and Iraq were made eligible. Those personnel that do serve in the operational area itself are eligible to receive the Iraq & Syria clasp. [2]
The OSM for Bermuda is to be awarded to Royal Bermuda Regiment soldiers (and possibly those of other regiments, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines) who have performed operational service at any time since 1965 (when the Bermuda Militia Artillery and Bermuda Rifles amalgamated to form the unit), whether for internal security or other emergency operations (presumably for local service in the British Overseas Territory and former Imperial fortress of Bermuda or for overseas service, as the regiment has frequently deployed detachments to the West Indies to assist with post-hurricane relief). Criteria for the award have yet to be released (as of 10 November, 2024). [4]
The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-EM) is a United States Armed Forces award created by George W. Bush on 12 March 2003, through Executive Order 13289. The medal recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. Prior to 30 April 2005, the medal was awarded for service within Iraq and Afghanistan, but has been replaced with the Iraq Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal and serves primarily as recognition for personnel who have deployed in support of the War on Terror to locations beyond Iraq and Afghanistan. In a similar fashion the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal is issued for service in the fight against ISIS, with eligibility retroactive to 15 June 2014.
The Africa Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom on 8 July 1943 for award to British and Commonwealth forces who served in North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943 during the Second World War.
The NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It is manufactured by Eekelers-Centini Intl, of Hemiksem, Belgium.
British campaign medals are awarded to members of the British Armed Forces, Allied forces and civilians participating in specified military campaigns. Examples include the Defence Medal, for homeland defence in World War II, and the Atlantic Star for World War II sea service in the Atlantic.
The Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) is an Australian military decoration. It was authorised on 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in "warlike" operations, backdated to February 1975. 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. In 2012, it was announced that the medal would no longer be issued for future operations, with the AASM and the Australian Service Medal being replaced by the Australian Operational Service Medal.
The 1939–1945 Star is a military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 8 July 1943 for award to British and Commonwealth forces for service in the Second World War. Two clasps were instituted to be worn on the medal ribbon, Battle of Britain and Bomber Command.
The Iraq Medal was authorised on 23 February 2004. It was a campaign medal issued to members of the British Armed Forces and certain attached personnel, who served between 20 January 2003 and 22 May 2011 on, or in support of, Operation Telic - the designation for British operations during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and its aftermath.
The Operational Service Medal for Sierra Leone is a campaign medal established in 2000 by the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom for participation in the British military intervention during and after the Sierra Leone Civil War, from May 2000 to July 2002.
The Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan is a campaign medal previously awarded by the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom for service by British Armed Forces personnel in support of the post-2001 Afghan War.
The Operational Service Medal for the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a British armed forces campaign medal, awarded mostly to military personnel who served between 14 June and 10 September 2003 on Operation Coral.
The General Service Medal, is a campaign medal of the United Kingdom introduced in 1962 to replace both the General Service Medal (1918), as awarded to the Army and RAF, and the Naval General Service Medal (1915). The 1962 GSM was awarded until 2007, when it was replaced by the Operational Service Medal. In 2015 the General Service Medal (2008) was introduced.
The Australian Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorised 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. The Australian Service Medal was replaced in 2012 by the Australian Operational Service Medal, except for ongoing missions.
The Afghanistan Medal, sanctioned on 19 March 1881, was awarded to members of the British and Indian armies who served in Afghanistan between 1878 and 1880 during the Second Afghan War, the first war being from 1839 to 1842.
Warrant Officer Class 2 Gary John O'Donnell, was a British Army bomb disposal expert who was awarded the George Medal twice. The George Medal is the second highest decoration, after the George Cross, for "acts of great bravery" not "in the face of the enemy". His second George Medal was the first such award in 26 years and the first ever posthumous bar. O'Donnell was killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Afghanistan.
Operational Service Medal may refer to:
The Accumulated Campaign Service Medal and the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 2011 are medals awarded by King Charles III to members of his Armed Forces to recognise long campaign service. The original Accumulated Campaign Service Medal, instituted in January 1994, was awarded to holders of the General Service Medal (1962) who had completed 36 months of accumulated campaign service. The replacement Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 2011 is now currently awarded to holders of various campaign service medals who have completed 24 months of campaign service.
The Australian Operational Service Medal is a campaign medal established on 22 May 2012 to recognise service by Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel on designated hazardous operations. It may also be awarded to civilians who serve alongside the ADF on designated operations under specific conditions.
Operation Shader is the operational code name given to the contribution of the United Kingdom in the ongoing military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The operation involves the British Army providing ground support and training to allied forces fighting against ISIL, the Royal Air Force providing humanitarian aid airdrops, reconnaissance and airstrikes, and the Royal Navy providing reconnaissance and airstrikes from the UK Carrier Strike group and escort to allied carrier battle groups.
The Operational Service Medal Iraq and Syria or Operation Shader Medal is a British armed forces campaign medal, awarded mostly to military personnel who served in the operational area of, or in support of Operation Shader. The medal was first announced by then Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon on 19 September 2017. It was first awarded, to service personnel, on 18 July 2018 in London by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson. This Operational Service Medal is the first medal of the contemporary era to be awarded to individuals who served outside of the operational area, reflecting the changing nature of warfare.