| Added by |
 Alain Martineau
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| General Description : | 1. General Campaign Star – SOUTH-WEST ASIA (GCS-SWA) This general service award has been created as a means to recognize - in a timelier manner - those who serve in operations in the presence of an armed enemy. Rather than creating a new honour for each new Canadian Forces operation as it arises, the General Campaign Star and General Service Medal - with their theatre or service specific ribbons - can be awarded in future to honour participation in any operation that meets the criteria. 2. The prestigious Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to all United Nations Peacekeepers in 1988 in recognition of their collective efforts in the cause of peace. This inspired the creation of the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM) to acknowledge the unique contribution to peace that Canadian peacekeepers have made since 1947. 3. NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia (NATO-FY). On 14 December 1995 North Atlantic Council launched the largest military operation ever undertaken by the Alliance, Operation Joint Endeavour. Based on UN Security Council Resolution 1031, NATO was given the mandate to implement the military aspects of the Peace Agreement. A NATO-led multinational force, called the Implementation Force (IFOR), started its mission on 20 December 1995. IFOR was given a one-year mandate. Thirty days continuous or accumulated service in direct support of NATO operations, on land, at sea or in the air spaces of the Former Yugoslavia, Albania, the Former Republic of Macedonia, and the Adriatic Sea (the theatre of operations) commencing 1 July 1992 and ending 31 December 2002. 4. Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Operations in the Balkans. On 14 December 1995 North Atlantic Council launched the largest military operation ever undertaken by the Alliance, Operation JOINT ENDEAVOUR. Based on UN Security Council Resolution 1031, NATO was given the mandate to implement the military aspects of the Peace Agreement. A NATO-led multinational force, called the Implementation Force (IFOR), started its mission on 20 December 1995. IFOR was given a one-year mandate. Awarded for 30 days continuous or 60 days cumulative service on the land or in the air spaces of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslavia (including Kosovo), Albania, and the Former Republic of Macedonia, between 1 January 2003 and ending on 29 March 2010 for service under operation BRONZE. 5. The Canadian Forces' Decoration is awarded to officers and Non-Commissioned Members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of service. The decoration is awarded to all ranks, who have a good record of conduct. The decoration is awarded to the regular forces, reserve forces, officers of the Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC), Canadian Rangers and holders of honorary appointments in the CF. Service in the regular and reserve or auxiliary forces of the British Commonwealth of Nations will be counted towards the medal if the final five years have been served with the Canadian Forces and no other long service, good conduct or efficiency medal has been awarded for the same service. The medal may be awarded to persons in possession of any long service, good conduct or efficiency decoration or medal clasps, provided that the individual has completed the full qualifying periods of service for each award and that no service qualifying towards one award is permitted to count towards any other. The service need not be continuous. This award supersedes all other long service awards for members joining the Canadian Forces after 01 September 1939. |
| Front Description : | 1. The GCS is a gold-coloured four-pointed star, 44 mm across, representing the cardinal points of a compass bearing on the obverse, built-up in order from the back: a wreath of maple leaves terminating at the top with the Royal Crown, two crossed swords, the blades and hilts forming four additional points to the star, an anchor and a flying eagle. The wreath represents honour, the maple leaves represent Canada, the anchor, crossed swords and eagle represent the three services of the Canadian Forces and the Crown represents the Queen of Canada and her role as the fount of all honours. 2. The medal is a circular medal, 36 mm diameter. On the obverse: in the centre of the obverse is three figures of unarmed observer. Above them flies a dove. The words “PEACEKEEPING” and “SERVICE DE LA PAIX” are written around the three figures separated by two maple leafs on either side. 3. The Medal is circular in form and made of bronze, and bearing the NATO star set in a wreath of olive leaves. 4. The Medal is circular in form and made of bronze, and bearing the NATO star set in a wreath of olive leaves 5. It is a decagonal (ten-sided, representing the ten provinces) gold plated brass medal, 36mm across the flats, bearing: on the obverse a youthful effigy of Her Majesty the Queen wearing a wreath of laurel leaves in her hair and facing right, circumscribed with the legend "ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA - CANADA" |
| Back Description : | 1. On the reverse appear within a raised circle, from top to bottom: the Royal Cypher ensigned by the Royal Crown, a plain space for engraving, and three maple leaves on one stem. The ribbon is 32 mm wide with a central stripe of green (12 mm), on either side of which are stripes of white (2 mm) and red (8 mm). Red and white are the official colours of Canada as appointed by King George V in 1921 and green represents service. 2. in the centre of the reverse is the Queen’s Cypher on a maple leaf, surrounded by two sprigs of laurel and the word “CANADA”. The ribbon is 32 mm wide and consists of a central stripe of United Nations blue on each side of which are stripes of white, red and green. The blue in the official colour of the United Nations, organisation under which authority most of the peacekeeping missions are conducted, the green represents service, the white is the colour of peace, the red represents the blood shed in the service of peace. Red and white are also the official colours of Canada as appointed by King George V in 1921. 3. the title "North Atlantic Treaty Organization" and the words "In the service of peace and freedom" in English and French. The ribbon is dark blue the colour of NATO with, two white strips on either end representing peace. The medal is always issued with a bar, inscribed "FORMER YUGOSLAVIA" or "EX-YOUGOSLAVIE". 4. the title "North Atlantic Treaty Organization" and the words "In the service of peace and freedom" in English and French. The ribbon is NATO-blue ribbon with two white stripes centered on the two outer thirds of the ribbon, with a silver stripe in the center of each white stripe. The white represents peace and the silver signifies that the operation was ordered in accordance with another article that the Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The medal is always issued with a bar. Medals issued until 31 December 2010 had a bar inscribed "NON ARTICLE 5" while those issued from 1 January 2011 onwards have a bar inscribed "BALKANS". 5. on the reverse appears, from top to bottom a naval crown, three maple leaves and an eagle representing the Navy, Army and Air Force. The word "SERVICE" appears on a scroll at the bottom and two fleur-de-lis are depicted on each side of the crown. The suspension consists of a small bar between two scroll arms emerging from a natural maple leaf at the top of the medal. The ribbon is 38mm wide, red with three equally spaced thin white lines, red and white are the official colours of Canada as appointed by King George V in 1921. The clasp (bar) for the Decoration is 6 mm high, has the shield of the Canadian coat of arms in the center surmounted by the Crown, and is gold in colour. |
| Material | -I do not know- |
| Catalog prices | No catalog prices set yet |
