NATO vigilance medal

[MilEME09]

CANFORGEN 179/24 dropped this morning, as interim direction for the new NATO vigilance medal which is undergoing approval right now. For those operating in Europe after Dec 15 2024 they will receive the new Non-article 5 vigilance medal instead of the SSM with the NATO bar. I think it makes sense, since its a NATO wide mission to have a NATO medal for it.

 

[Blackadder1916]

I wonder how long before some good idea fairy will propose (in somewhat the same way that led to the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea and the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal) that a NATO medal was not "Canadian" and that another award should be developed so that Canadians' service is recognized by Canada.

 

[Furniture]

I wonder how long before some good idea fairy will propose (in somewhat the same way that led to the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea and the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal) that a NATO medal was not "Canadian" and that another award should be developed so that Canadians' service is recognized by Canada.

We issued the Article 5 Active Endeavor and Non-Article 5 Sea Guardian medals for a long time, I see no real difference with the new Non-Article 5 Vigilance medal.

One issue with the current use of the SSM is that it has the same lack of recognition for multiple tours that the GCS-ISAF did. People like getting something to recognize multiple trips to the same mission, so switching to the NATO medal will bring numerals for multiple trips.

 

[daftandbarmy]

I wonder how long before some good idea fairy will propose (in somewhat the same way that led to the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea and the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal) that a NATO medal was not "Canadian" and that another award should be developed so that Canadians' service is recognized by Canada.

Maybe just lobby NATO so they don't put out such ugly medals.

Seriously, most of them look like the bottom of a pop can

 

[Blackadder1916]

I refer to two Hansard transcripts from 1997 to illustrate the reasoning (of politicians) that led to the CPSM (the CVSMK had similar original justification) being developed. We received UN medals and they were accepted into the Canadian honours system. However, much like the notion that the campaign stars and service medals of WW2 were "British" (the CVSM was Canada's recognition for WW2 service), likewise the Korea Medal (though the Canadian version was inscribed "CANADA") and the UN Service Medal weren't Canadian so the first push was the CVSMK in 1991.

From Hansard in 1991.

House of Commons Debates, 34th Parliament, 3rd ... - Canadian Parliamentary Historical Resources

House of Commons Debates, 34th Parliament, 3rd Session : Vol. 7

parl.canadiana.ca

And the 1997 Hansards.

Debates (Hansard) No. 58 - June 10, 1996 (35-2) - House of Commons of Canada

Debates (Hansard) No. 58 - June 10, 1996 (35-2) - House of Commons of Canada

www.ourcommons.ca

CANADIAN VOLUNTEER SERVICE MEDAL FOR UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING ACT
Mr. Jack Frazer (Saanich-Gulf Islands, Ref.) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-300, an act respecting the establishment and award of a Canadian volunteer service medal and clasp for United Nations peacekeeping to Canadians serving with a United Nations peacekeeping force.
He said: Madam Speaker, as was said, this bill is an act respecting the establishment and award of a Canadian volunteer service medal and clasp for United Nations peacekeeping to Canadians serving with a United Nations peacekeeping force.

This bill is introduced to correct a present oversight. The United Nations now issues medals to Canadians who serve on peacekeeping activities. Some time later, the Governor General declares that United Nations medal to be a Canadian medal.

However, many of our peacekeepers do not accept this as appropriate Canadian recognition, and desire that such service be properly recognized by the award of a purely Canadian volunteer service medal for peacekeeping. . . .

Debates (Hansard) No. 121 - February 3, 1997 (35-2) - House of Commons of Canada

Debates (Hansard) No. 121 - February 3, 1997 (35-2) - House of Commons of Canada

www.ourcommons.ca

For years we received the UN medals (later with numerals for additional tours) and they were accepted as part of the Canadian honours system but there's always be someone who'll eventually pick the flyshit out of pepper as to the origin of the recognition.

These threads always remind me that I should have my CPSM added to my medals rack.

 

[Kilted]

I refer to two Hansard transcripts from 1997 to illustrate the reasoning (of politicians) that led to the CPSM (the CVSMK had similar original justification) being developed. We received UN medals and they were accepted into the Canadian honours system. However, much like the notion that the campaign stars and service medals of WW2 were "British" (the CVSM was Canada's recognition for WW2 service), likewise the Korea Medal (though the Canadian version was inscribed "CANADA") and the UN Service Medal weren't Canadian so the first push was the CVSMK in 1991.

From Hansard in 1991.

House of Commons Debates, 34th Parliament, 3rd ... - Canadian Parliamentary Historical Resources

House of Commons Debates, 34th Parliament, 3rd Session : Vol. 7

parl.canadiana.ca

View attachment 89717

And the 1997 Hansards.

Debates (Hansard) No. 58 - June 10, 1996 (35-2) - House of Commons of Canada

Debates (Hansard) No. 58 - June 10, 1996 (35-2) - House of Commons of Canada

www.ourcommons.ca

Debates (Hansard) No. 121 - February 3, 1997 (35-2) - House of Commons of Canada

Debates (Hansard) No. 121 - February 3, 1997 (35-2) - House of Commons of Canada

www.ourcommons.ca

For years we received the UN medals (later with numerals for additional tours) and they were accepted as part of the Canadian honours system but there's always be someone who'll eventually pick the flyshit out of pepper as to the origin of the recognition.

These threads always remind me that I should have my CPSM added to my medals rack.

The CPSM is kind of an annomally in the Canadian Honours System. Generally speaking, wearing multiple medals that repersent the same service is prohibited. For example, wearing the NATO Medal when you already received the SSM for the same tour. However, the CPSM is still permitted, even thought it is awarded for service that is already reconized by another medal.

 

[Blackadder1916]

The CPSM is kind of an annomally in the Canadian Honours System. Generally speaking, wearing multiple medals that repersent the same service is prohibited. For example, wearing the NATO Medal when you already received the SSM for the same tour. However, the CPSM is still permitted, even thought it is awarded for service that is already reconized by another medal.

This is how this deviation from "dual recognition" is explained in A-DH-300-000/AG-001, Canadian Forces Honours Policy Manual.

Chapter 1 – Honours and awards to individuals - Canada.ca

Provides Forces personnel with the rules and regulations for wearing, replacing and recommending national honours and awards.

www.canada.ca

31. This rule also does not prevent the award of the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM). The CPSM is different in that it does not recognize service with any particular operation but rather recognizes the wearer as a peacekeeper and commemorates the granting of the Nobel Peace Prize to all peacekeepers in 1988. Therefore, its award, often in parallel with a UN, NATO or other mission-specific service medal, is not considered dual recognition.