Operational Service Medal (United Kingdom)

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OSM: Common obverse
OSM: Common reverse

The Operational Service Medal (OSM) is the overall name given to a group of

ribbon.[1]

As of July 2024, the Operational Service Medal has been awarded for four separate campaigns.

Medal and ribbon

The medal itself is circular, with an effigy of

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).

Awards

OSM for Sierra Leone

Main article: Operational Service Medal for Sierra Leone

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]

OSM for Afghanistan

Main article: Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan

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]

OSM for the Democratic Republic of Congo

Main article: Operational Service Medal for the Democratic Republic of Congo

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]

OSM for Iraq & Syria

Main article: Operational Service Medal Iraq and Syria

The OSM for Iraq and Syria was awarded for service as part of

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]

References

  1. ^ a b John Mussell (ed). Medal Yearbook 2015. p. 198. Published by Token Publishing Ltd. Honiton, Devon.
  2. ^ a b c d "Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility". Ministry of Defence Medal Office. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  3. ^ "New medal unveiled to honour Kabul evacuation heroes". UK Government. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
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