Type Campaign medal Awarded for Campaign service. | Eligibility British forces. | |
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Campaign(s) Minor campaigns 2008–present Description Silver disk, 36 mm diameter. Clasps Southern Asia
Arabian Peninsula
Northern Africa
Western Africa
East Africa | ||
The General Service Medal (GSM 08), was introduced in 2015 to recognize specified operations, not qualifying for another campaign medal. The medal was first awarded in 2016 for service in operations since January 2008. Like its predecessor medal the General Service Medal (1962), operations will be denoted by clasps which indicate the geographic area of operations and not a specific operation. The first awards of the medal were made by Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon at a ceremony on 12 June 2016.
Contents
Appearance
The GSM 08 is a circular silver medal. The obverse features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Elizabeth II. The reverse bears a design featuring a figure of Britannia holding a trident standing ahead of a lion, symbolising Britain. The whole is encircled by an oak leaf wreath similar to the designs of previous GSM medals.
Clasps
The claps for the medal are named based on the geographic region of operations and not for specific named operations. The clasps for this medal and their qualifying periods of service are as follows: