General Campaign Star (GCS)

CONTEXT

This general service award has been created as a means to recognize - in a timelier manner - those who serve in operations in the presence of an armed enemy. Rather than creating a new honour for each new Canadian Forces operation as it arises, the General Campaign Star and General Service Medal - with the addition of individual operational bars - can be awarded in future to honour participation in any operation that meets the criteria.
Governor General's Announcement
FAQs

ELIGIBILITY & CRITERIA

The General Campaign Star (GCS) is awarded to members of the Canadian Forces and members of allied forces working with the Canadian Forces who deploy into a defined theatre of operations to take part in operations in the presence of an armed enemy.

The GCS is always issued with a bar specifying the operations being recognized, and each bar has its own criteria.

DESCRIPTION

The GCS is a gold-coloured four-pointed star, 44 mm across, representing the cardinal points of a compass bearing on the obverse, built-up in order from the back: a wreath of maple leaves terminating at the top with the Royal Crown, two crossed swords, the blades and hilts forming four additional points to the star, an anchor and a flying eagle. The wreath represents honour, the maple leaves represent Canada, the anchor, crossed swords and eagle represent the three services of the Canadian Forces and the Crown represents the Queen of Canada and her role as the fount of all honours. On the reverse appear within a raised circle, from top to bottom: the Royal Cypher ensigned by the Royal Crown, a plain space for engraving, and three maple leaves on one stem.

The ribbon passes through a ring attached to a small ball at the top point of the star.

The ribbon is 32 mm wide with a central stripe of green (12 mm), on either side of which are stripes of white (2 mm) and red (8 mm). Red and white are the official colours of Canada as appointed by King George V in 1921 and green represents service.

The bars to the Star are gold in colour with a raised edge and bear the name of the operation or the geographical area for which it is awarded.

BAR(S)

The Star is always to be issued with a bar representing a particular service. Bars approved to date are:

• ALLIED FORCE: Awarded to fighter pilots and AWACS crew members who flew at least 5 sorties during Operation ALLIED FORCE from 24 March to 10 June 1999 in the theatre of operations which consisted of the airspace over Kosovo and other territories of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Adriatic and Ionian seas. Some recipients may have to exchange their previously presented NATO Medal to receive this award.


• ISAF+FIAS: Awarded to Canadian Forces members and members of allied forces working with the Canadian Forces who served with the Canadian contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan for at least 30 days cumulative between 24 April 2003 and a termination date to be determined, in the theatre of operations which consisted of the political boundaries and airspace of Afghanistan. Aircrew flying into the theatre accumulate one day of service for the first sortie flown on any day, additional sorties flown on the same day receive no further credit.

WEARING

The GCS shall be worn in the sequence prescribed in the Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals Directive, and in the following manner:

• On the left breast, suspended from the ribbon described above, between the South-West Asia Service Medal and the General Service Medal;
• One bar is worn centred on the ribbon;
• If multiple bars have been awarded, they shall be evenly spaced on the ribbon in the order earned, with the first bar earned worn the closest to the Star; and
• Where the undress ribbon is worn, a silver, gold or red maple leaf is worn to denote respectively the award of a second bar, third bar or fourth or subsequent bar.

POSTNOMINALS

The use of a post-nominal is not authorized for this award.

HISTORICAL NOTES

The following is a list of Canadian Forces members who have died while serving in the ISAF theatre of operations in Afghanistan:

• Arndt R.F. MCpl
• Arnold G.H. Cpl
• Beerenfenger R.C. Cpl
• Braun D.R. Cpl
• Byers D.R.J. Pte
• Cushley W.J.J. Pte
• Dallaire K.Y.R. Pte
• Eykelenboom A.J. Cpl
• Gillam C.P. Sgt
• Graham M.A. Pte
• Ingram V. Sgt
• Keating S.P. Cpl
• Keller B.J. Cpl
• Klukie J.J. Pte
• Mellish F.R. WO
• Mitchell R.T.J. Cpl
• Morley K.I. Cpl
• Murphy J.B. Cpl
• Nolan R.F. WO
• Reid C.J. Cpl
• Short R.A. Sgt
• Stachnik S.H. Sgt
• Walsh J.S. MCpl

Captain Carl Gauthier of the Directorate of History and Heritage, DND, designed the award. The Canadian Heraldic Authority at the Chancellery of Honours, Rideau Hall, completed the final artwork.

The Star is engraved on the reverse with the service number, abbreviated substantive rank, initials and surname of the recipient.

The inaugural ceremony took place on 29 November 2004 in the ballroom of Rideau Hall in Ottawa. On this occasion, Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, presented the Star to 28 representative recipients (8 with ALLIED FORCE bar and 20 with ISAF+FIAS bar), including the families of the three casualties listed above. The first presentations of the General Service Medal were also made during that event.