General Service Medal (GSM)

CONTEXT

This general service award has been created as a means to recognize in a more timely manner those who provide direct support to 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
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ELIGIBILITY & CRITERIA

The General Service Medal (GSM) is awarded to members of the CF and members of allied forces serving with the CF who deploy outside of Canada - but not necessarily into a theatre of operations - to provide direct support, on a full-time basis, to operations in the presence of an armed enemy.

The GSM may also be awarded, depending on the operation, to Canadian citizens other than members of the Canadian Forces, who are deployed outside Canada, either inside or outside a theatre of operations and working with the CF to provide direct support, on a full-time basis, to operations in the presence of an armed enemy.

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

DESCRIPTION

The GSM is a silver-coloured circular medal, 36 mm across bearing on the obverse a contemporary crowned effigy of Her Majesty the Queen of Canada surrounded by the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA” and “CANADA” separated by small crosses pattée. The crosses pattée represent military valour and merit. On the reverse are two crossed swords, an anchor and a flying eagle superimposed on each other, the whole surrounded by two branches of maple leaves which form a wreath and surmounted by the Royal Crown. 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 as well as the effigy on the obverse represent the Queen of Canada and her role as the Fount of all honours.

A claw at the top of the medal is attached to a straight slotted bar. A central maple leaf overlapping two others ornaments this suspension.

The ribbon is 32 mm wide with a central stripe of red (18 mm), on either side of which are stripes of white (2 mm) and green (5 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 medal are silver coloured with a raised edge and bear the name of the operation and / or the geographical area for which it is awarded.

BAR(S)

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

• ALLIED FORCE: Awarded to personnel who served at least 30 days cumulative in direct support of Operation ALLIED FORCE in Aviano and/or Vicenza, Italy from 24 March to 10 June 1999. Some recipients may have to exchange their previously presented NATO Medal to receive this award.
• ISAF+FIAS: Awarded to:
• Canadian citizens other than Canadian Forces members who worked with the Canadian Forces and 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.
• Members of the Canadian Forces, other Canadian citizens and members of allied forces working with the Canadian Forces who served in the following locations for at least 90 days cumulative in direct support, on a full-time basis, of the Canadian contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF):
• Logistic support in Taranto, Italy from 1 May 2003;
• Interim Staging Base (ISB) in Istanbul, Turkey from 2 June 2003; and
• National Support Element (NSE) in Camp Mirage from 17 August 2003.

WEARING

The GSM 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 General Campaign Star and the Special 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 Medal; and
• Where the undress ribbon is worn, a silver, gold or red maple leaf is worn to denote respectively a second bar, third bar or fourth or subsequent bar.

POSTNOMINALS

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

HISTORICAL NOTES

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

The Medal is engraved on the edge with the service number, abbreviated substantive rank, initials and surname of the recipient. Civilian recipients have only their name engraved on the Medal.

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 Medal to 17 representative recipients, 6 with ALLIED FORCE bar and 11 with ISAF+FIAS bar. The first presentations of the General Campaign Star were also made during that event.