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| Australian Active Service Medal | |
|---|---|
| Name | Australian Active Service Medal |
| Caption | Obverse and ribbon of the medal |
| Presenter | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Type | Campaign medal |
| Awarded for | Service in prescribed operational theatres |
| Established | 1988 |
| Status | Currently awarded |
Australian Active Service Medal The Australian Active Service Medal recognizes members of the Australian Defence Force and certain allied personnel for prescribed operational service in designated campaigns and operations. Instituted in 1988 during the term of Bob Hawke and in the context of post-Vietnam War revisions to Australian honours, the medal complements other awards such as the Australian Service Medal, the Defence Force Service Medal, and the Returning Service Medal.
The medal was created to acknowledge active service in declared warlike operations, distinct from non-warlike service recognized by the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal and the International Force East Timor Medal. It provides formal recognition alongside international decorations such as the United States Bronze Star Medal, the United Kingdom Operational Service Medal, and the NATO Medal. The design and criteria reflect recommendations from reviews including the Honours and Awards Tribunal and policy input from the Department of Defence (Australia) and the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Eligibility is limited to personnel who served in declared warlike operations designated by the Australian government, often following advice from the Chief of the Defence Force and the Minister for Defence. Qualifying service periods and geographic areas are specified for individual operations such as Gulf War (1991), Somalia intervention, East Timor (1999), the Iraq War (2003–2011), Afghanistan conflict (2001–2021), and Syrian Civil War related deployments. Reserve members, members of the Australian Federal Police and allied personnel seconded to Australian units may be eligible when operating under Australian command or on declared missions. Determinations have been influenced by precedents set during Korean War and Malayan Emergency recognitions and by legal instruments such as governor-general determinations.
The medal is a circular silver-plated medal bearing the Commonwealth Crown and the Federation Star on the obverse, surrounded by laurel and inscriptions reflecting Australian service. The reverse typically features a design emblematic of service and includes the recipient's details on the rim. The ribbon is centrally divided with yellow flanked by stripes representing the Australian national colours and operational service; the ribbon design complements ribbons for the Australian Defence Medal and the Centenary Medal. Insignia authorized for wear with the medal include rosettes and clasp bars denoting particular campaigns; these visual elements are consistent with other Commonwealth decorations such as the Order of Australia insignia and the Elizabeth Cross.
Clasps (also called bars) denote specific operations and are issued for campaigns including but not limited to: "GULF 1991" for the Gulf War (1991), "SOMALIA" for Operation Restore Hope, "EAST TIMOR" for INTERFET, "IRAQ 2003" for the Iraq War (2003–2011), and "AFGHANISTAN" for operations in Operation Slipper and successor missions. Additional clasps have been issued for operations associated with the Solomon Islands Intervention, Bougainville peace process, and maritime security tasks tied to Operation Manitou and Operation Sovereign Borders. Each clasp aligns with specific campaign designations similar to campaign bars used by the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force.
Medals are issued by the Department of Defence (Australia) through unit administrative channels, and gazetted entitlement lists are published following ministerial approval. Recipients may wear the medal on service dress and mess dress in accordance with directions from the Chief of the Defence Force and dress manuals of the Australian Defence Force. When multiple awards or clasps apply, separation and order of wear are governed by the official Australian Order of Wearing, which places the medal relative to decorations such as the Conspicuous Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross (Australia), and the Victoria Cross for Australia.
Recipients include members of high-profile formations and personnel from units such as the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Special Air Service Regiment (Australia), HMAS Adelaide (L01), and RAAF No. 75 Squadron. Senior personnel awarded the medal for operational service include officers who later served as Chief of the Defence Force or Chief of Army, and decorated veterans who also received honours like the Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) and the Order of Australia (Military Division). Allied units embedded with Australian contingents, including personnel from the United States Marine Corps, United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, and New Zealand Defence Force, have received the medal under exchange and attachment arrangements.
The Australian Active Service Medal is established by Australian honours regulations and sits within the Australian Honours System, administered by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on advice from the Prime Minister of Australia and the Minister for Defence. Its order of precedence is specified in the Australian Order of Wearing, positioned with other campaign medals and below gallantry awards such as the Star of Gallantry but above certain long service medals. Legal instruments and determinations affecting entitlement have been subject to review and amendment in response to operational developments, parliamentary oversight, and recommendations from inquiries including those into Australian peacekeeping operations and military honours reviews.
Category:Australian military awards