The Australian Operational Service Medal – Greater Middle East Operations. The AOSM has been introduced to replace the Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) and Australian Service Medal for future ADF operations. The AOSM will be awarded to ADF members for service on operations recommended and approved as warranting recognition. Each declared operation will be recognised by the standard medal with a unique ribbon for each operation in the same way as the United Nations Medal is awarded. Where appropriate, an accumulated service device will recognise those who render additional prescribed periods of service on a particular operation. The first service declared for the AOSM is the range of border protection operations conducted since 1997.
The medal is finished in antique silver. The obverse bears an old-world stylised world globe signifying global operations, interlinked with a Federation Star. The globe is surrounded by the words ‘AUSTRALIAN OPERATIONAL SERVICE MEDAL.’
The reverse bears a central horizontal stylised scroll with the words ‘Defending Australia and its national interests’, overlaying a wreath of mimosa, above which sits an hour glass motif signifying the ongoing vigilance and timely response of Defence.
The colours of the ribbon on this issue have been chosen to represent specific aspects of the Greater Middle East Operation. Bone to represent sand, green to represent Australia and hope, black to represent anti-piracy and blue to represent the maritime and air aspects.
An ADF member on a second or subsequent deployment to Operations may be awarded an accumulated service device on completion of the prescribed qualifying period.
Generally current eligibility includes OP MANITIOU, ACCORDION, OKRA and HIGHROAD..
There are currently five variants of the medal;
- Border Protection
- Counter Terrorism/Special Recovery (CT/SR)
- Greater Middle East Operations
- Special Operations
- Civilian
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