Australian medals 1975 to . . .

Australian Active Service Medal 1975- and clasps

This Medal was created in 1988 to recognise prescribed service in warlike operations.

The Medal is awarded with a clasp to denote the prescribed operation and subsequent awards of the Medal to the same person are made in the form of a further clasp to the Medal.

The reverse shows a stylised laurel wreath around the inscription For Active Service.

The colours of the ribbon are primarily variations of the Australian colours of green and gold with a central red stripe, which signifies active service, that is, the dangers faced in warlike situations. Photo www.cqms.com

Australia Service Medal 1975...

The Australian Service Medal was instituted to recognise service in a prescribed peacekeeping but non-warlike operation.

The award of the Medals will be made with a Clasp to denote the prescribed operation and any subsequent award to the same person will be made in the form of a further Clasp to the Medal. .

see below

Defence Force Service Medal

Instituted: 20 April 1982.

Awarded: For 15 years' service in the Australian Regular Armed Forces.

The National Medal

Instituted: 14 February 1975.

Awarded: Defence and Police Forces for 15 years' service; also to members of fire, ambulance, correctional and emergency services for long service.

not to scale

The Australia Remembers medal 1945/95

The "Australian Remembers" Medallion marking 50 years since end of WW2. 1945/95

The Reserve Force Medal was announced in 1982, and first issued in 1984. It is awarded for fifteen years service (not necessarily continuous) in the Australian Defence Forces, at least twelve of these years having been in the reserve forces.

Clasps to the medal may be awarded for further periods of five years service, four clasps being the largest number so far awarded to any individual. Individuals receiving the Reserve Force Medal who later qualify (as officers) for the Reserve Force Decoration are no longer permitted to wear the medal, the decoration having precedence.

The Reserve Force Decoration was announced in 1982, and first issued in 1984. It is awarded for fifteen years service (not necessarily continuous) as an officer in the Australian Defence Forces, at least twelve of these years having been in the reserve forces. Clasps to the decoration may be awarded for further periods of five years service, four clasps being the largest number so far awarded to any individual.

Recipients of the Reserve Force Decoration are entitled to the post-nominal initials 'R.F.D.'.

Individuals receiving the Reserve Force Medal who later qualify for the Reserve Force Decoration are no longer permitted to wear the medal, the decoration having precedence.

Papua New Guinea Independence Medal

The Papua New Guinea Independence Medal:

Established and issued in 1976 and into 1977 for a range of personnel from civilian to members of the defence and emergency forces and members of the ADF who served in PNG between 1 December 1973 to 16 September 1975.

187 medals were issued to members of the Australian Army, 9 to RAN and 6 to RAAF. The medal is cupro nickel with PNG colours on the riband (rust red with narrow stripes of white and yellow with black edges.

Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (HOSM)
	What it means The central symbol of the medal is the Australian eucalyptus tree, spreading its branches out from the Australian land at the base of the medal, to the world. The world is symbolised by the circle, which encloses the tree. Surrounding the circle of the world is a ring of gum nuts, symbolising life after disaster. The regeneration of eucalyptus seeds following bush fire ensures survival of the Australian bush – just as humanitarian service assists recovery and restores celebration of life.
Sound off to get medal By Cpl Cameron Jamieson (ARMY, The Soldiers Newspaper, 2005) ELIGIBLE personnel who served on Operations Sumatra Assist I and II can now apply for their Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (HOSM) with Indian Ocean clasp. Applications should be made through the "sounding process", where an eligible ADF member must individually accept the award, as the HOSM is administered by the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet (DPM&C). Ms Irene Wilson, Director of Honours and Awards, said it was important for personnel to understand that they must apply to receive the award. "The HOSM is not an ADF medal," she said. "While the Directorate of Honours and Awards (DHA), in consultation with HQJOC, have identified eligible ADF personnel who were members of elements force-assigned to Op Sumatra Assist, it is DPM&C which will issue the medal. Therefore the DPM&C protocols must be observed."