Canadian Forces Decoration

Canadian Forces Decoration
Name	Canadian Forces Decoration
Awarded by	Monarch of Canada
Type	Service medal
Eligibility	Members of the Canadian Armed Forces
For	12 years of honorable service
Status	Currently awarded
First award	1949
Higher	Special Service Medal
Lower	Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal

Canadian Forces Decoration. It is a service award presented to recognize members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have completed twelve years of honorable service. Established in 1949 during the reign of King George VI, it is one of the most common and recognizable honors within the Canadian military system. The decoration signifies long-term commitment and dedication to the profession of arms in service to Canada.

Description and Appearance

The medal features a Royal Crown surmounted on a disc bearing a maple leaf within a ring, all framed by ten spruce boughs. The reverse is plain, allowing for the engraving of the recipient's service number, initials, and surname. It is suspended from a ribbon consisting of three equal stripes of red, white, and red, mirroring the colors of the Flag of Canada. A silver bar is awarded for each subsequent period of ten years of qualifying service, with the first bar representing twenty-two total years. The design was created by the Canadian Heraldic Authority and is manufactured by the Royal Canadian Mint.

Eligibility and Criteria

Eligibility extends to all ranks of the Regular Force and Primary Reserve, including officers of the Cadet Instructors Cadre and Canadian Rangers. The required twelve years of service must be honorable, with time accrued in any combination of regular or reserve duty since September 1, 1939. Service in the British Army, Royal Navy, or Royal Air Force prior to Canadian citizenship may also count under specific conditions. Certain periods of service, such as time spent as a cadet or on certain types of leave, are explicitly excluded from the calculation.

History and Institution

The decoration was instituted on December 15, 1949, by King George VI on the advice of his Canadian ministers, replacing several British long service awards. Its creation reflected a growing sense of Canadian national identity within the military following the significant contributions of Canadian forces during the Second World War. The first investiture was held at Rideau Hall by Governor General Viscount Alexander of Tunis. Minor amendments to the criteria have been made over the decades, including changes to recognize service in the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command and to clarify eligibility for Royal Canadian Mounted Police members who transfer.

Award Process and Administration

Nominations are processed through the recipient's chain of command and the relevant Directorate of Honours and Recognition within National Defence Headquarters. Final approval authority rests with the Governor General, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces. The medal is typically presented by a senior officer or at a formal ceremony, often on occasions like Canada Day or during Remembrance Day events. Records of awards are maintained by the Directorate of History and Heritage and the Canada Gazette.

Notable Recipients

Many distinguished military leaders and public figures have received the decoration, including former Chiefs of the Defence Staff such as General John de Chastelain and General Rick Hillier. Every serving Governor General who has had prior military service, such as Roméo LeBlanc and David Johnston, has been a recipient. Other notable holders include Lieutenant-General Christina M. Carrières, the first woman to command the Royal Canadian Air Force, and Honorary Captain William Shatner, recognized for his support to the Royal Canadian Navy.

Related Awards and Distinctions

For shorter periods of service, members may be eligible for the Special Service Medal. For operational service, decorations like the South-West Asia Service Medal or the General Campaign Star are awarded. The Order of Military Merit recognizes exceptional merit and service, while the Sacrifice Medal is awarded for death or injury due to military service. The analogous long service award for members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is the RCMP Long Service Medal.

Category:Military awards and decorations of Canada Category:Awards established in 1949