A group of Defence personnel have become the first to be awarded the Operational Service Medal for their service on Border Protection operations with Operation RESOLUTE. 

The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, and the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, attended the presentation ceremony held at HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin. 

The Australian Operational Service Medal – Border Protection was established to properly recognise members of the Australian Defence Force and civilians involved in all forms of operational service, including border protection operations since 1997 and those who continue to be involved through Operation RESOLUTE. 

Minister Snowdon highlighted the importance of the new medal in recognising the men and women who protect our borders.

“This is a significant event for thousands of ADF personnel who have been protecting Australian sovereignty under challenging conditions for a number of years,” Minister Snowdon said. 

“This award provides worthy and just recognition for all of those involved in border protection operations, from Navy, Army, Air Force and civilian authorities.”

The Operational Service Medal will replace the Australian Active Service Medal and Australian Service Medal for future operations. It will have both an ADF and civilian variant. 

The Operational Service Badge will accompany the Operational Service Medal. It serves a similar purpose to the current Returned from Active Service badge as it will recognise those who have returned from operational service.

The Operational Service Medal will be awarded to ADF members for service on operations recommended and approved as warranting recognition. 

Each declared operation will be recognised by the standard medal with a unique ribbon for each operation in the same way as the United Nations Medal is awarded. 

The Operational Service Medal - Border Protection ribbon will feature a central ochre stripe flanked by one blue and one green stripe.

The civilian Operational Service Medal will have the same medal design but with its own unique ribbon. Clasps will be issued to denote separate operations.

Media Note:
Further information can be found at:
http://www.defence.gov.au/MEDALS/

Imagery of the ceremony can be found at:
http://images.defence.gov.au/12132234

Media contacts:
Lidija Ivanovski (Minister Snowdon’s Office) (02) 6277 7820 or 0407 108 935
Defence Media Operations (02) 6127 1999