5 Ways General Service Medal

Introduction to the General Service Medal

The General Service Medal (GSM) is a campaign medal that was instituted in 1962, to recognize service in various parts of the world, outside of the United Kingdom, where the British Armed Forces have been involved in operations. The medal is awarded to personnel who have served in a variety of roles, including combat, peacekeeping, and humanitarian missions. In this blog post, we will explore 5 ways the General Service Medal is awarded, and the eligibility criteria for each.

Eligibility Criteria for the General Service Medal

To be eligible for the General Service Medal, personnel must have served in a designated theatre of operation for a specified period. The eligibility criteria vary depending on the specific operation, but generally, personnel must have completed a minimum of 30 days of service in the designated area. The medal can be awarded to personnel from all branches of the British Armed Forces, including the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force.

5 Ways the General Service Medal is Awarded

The General Service Medal is awarded in 5 different ways, each with its own unique clasp or ribbon. The 5 ways the medal is awarded are: * Northern Ireland: This clasp is awarded to personnel who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, from 1969 to 2007. * Malaya: This clasp is awarded to personnel who served in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency, from 1948 to 1960. * South Arabia: This clasp is awarded to personnel who served in South Arabia during the Aden Emergency, from 1963 to 1967. * Borneo: This clasp is awarded to personnel who served in Borneo during the Indonesian Confrontation, from 1962 to 1966. * Radfan: This clasp is awarded to personnel who served in the Radfan region of Yemen during the Radfan Campaign, from 1964 to 1967.

Clasps and Ribbons

Each clasp has its own unique ribbon and design. The ribbons are worn on the medal, and the design of the clasp is specific to each operation. The General Service Medal itself is a silver medal, with the effigy of the British monarch on the obverse, and the reverse features a laurel wreath surrounding the inscription “For Campaign Service”.

Clasp	Ribbon	Operation
Northern Ireland	Green, white, and blue	Troubles
Malaya	Red, white, and blue	Malayan Emergency
South Arabia	Blue, white, and red	Aden Emergency
Borneo	Green, yellow, and blue	Indonesian Confrontation
Radfan	Red, white, and black	Radfan Campaign

👉 Note: The General Service Medal is a campaign medal that is awarded to personnel who have served in a variety of roles, including combat, peacekeeping, and humanitarian missions.

In summary, the General Service Medal is a campaign medal that is awarded to personnel who have served in a variety of roles, including combat, peacekeeping, and humanitarian missions. The medal is awarded in 5 different ways, each with its own unique clasp or ribbon. The eligibility criteria for each clasp vary depending on the specific operation, but generally, personnel must have completed a minimum of 30 days of service in the designated area.