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Oak Leaf Clusters
Posted: Fri 13 Feb, 2004 11:40 am
by Pasha
I wonder if any among you can help me with an idle curiosity. If a soldier has been Mentioned in Dispatches or awarded the QCB, but no medal currently exists for the campaign or situation in which it took place (e.g. Op Telic). Does the serviceman/woman still wear the leaf straight onto the uniform without a ribbon. If so, where? i.e. above existing ribbons or after them.
Thanks in advance for any help, best regards!
Pasha
Posted: Fri 13 Feb, 2004 3:05 pm
by Ex-URNU-Student
Good question, iv always wondered that myself...
Posted: Fri 13 Feb, 2004 4:23 pm
by Rogue Chef
Ahoy there!
All campaigns will be aligned to a medal. For example, for Op Haven a 'N Iraq/S Turkey' bar was awarded to the General Service Medal. I'm not sure about Op Telic, but I would expect that a new medal will be struck. If that is not the case, a bar will be added to the GSM.
Posted: Fri 13 Feb, 2004 5:20 pm
by Pasha
Hello Rogue Chef,
I believe that an Operational Service Medal (OSM) will be struck for Telic. The OSM replaces the GSM 1962 and now you are awarded a seperate OSM for each differant campaign instead of a succesive bar, with the outer edge colours of the ribbon varying to denote which campaign. Thus far two OSMs have been struck; one for Sierra Leonne and one for Afghanistan.
My point was though, that as no campaign medal has yet been awarded and gallantry decorations have, what do MiD and QCB holders do in the meantime?
Best regards!
Pasha
p.s. Although all subsequant campaigns are noted with an OSM, I believe GSMs with clasps/bars for N.Ireland and Air Operations Iraq are still being awarded.
Posted: Sat 14 Feb, 2004 7:38 pm
by pondlife252
Turning Pedantry into an art form.................
The CSM NI clasp is still issued at the moment but I understand that the Air Ops Iraq is now done and dusted as there are no air ops left to conduct over Iraq outside the auspices of either Op Telic or its aftermath.
As for the MID leaves, they are sown directly onto the uniform in line with medal ribbons but after the last one and until such time as the OSM is issued, whereupon the leaves decorate the new ribbon.
That being said there is probably some MOD directive countering such frivolity.
Aye.
Posted: Sun 15 Feb, 2004 1:05 pm
by Pasha
Hello Pondlife,
Thank you, both for that comprehensive answer and for keeping me company here in 'Pedant's Corner'!
Best regards!
Pasha