Special Service Medal - Domestic Operations Bar

[Kilted]

Meanwhile, Mr. Gringras proposes...

Canadian Defence Medal (Proposal)​

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-gingras-06938a211/


View attachment 89665

Canadian Defence Medal (Proposal)

Canada's honours and awards system only goes as far back as 1967, in that time a lot of excellent medals have been included in it that allows for not only military, but first responders and civic recognition. With that said, there are still gaps that we should be looking to fill and one of these gap

www.linkedin.com

You can't introduce a three-year service medal, when you already have a 12-year service medal. The original Canadian Volunteer Service Medal represented service in the second world war. The only real viable way to use something similar closer to the present would be for specific conflict, so for example the Cold War (1945-1991), and the War on Terror (2001-an undefined date, probably the fall of ISIS), where if the member served for three years in that time frame they would be eligible. I guess we could be on to the Service Medal for Cold War II at this point.

 

[Blackadder1916]

You can't introduce a three-year service medal, when you already have a 12-year service medal. The original Canadian Volunteer Service Medal represented service in the second world war. The only real viable way to use something similar closer to the present would be for specific conflict, so for example the Cold War (1945-1991), and the War on Terror (2001-an undefined date, probably the fall of ISIS), where if the member served for three years in that time frame they would be eligible. I guess we could be on to the Service Medal for Cold War II at this point.

Of course you can. Just write the regulations so that any period of service recognized by such an award does not affect eligibility for any other award, e.g. just the way that Australia did for its "Australian Defence Medal".

https://www.defence.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-07/ADM-S48-06.pdf

6. Award of Medal has no effect on entitlement to other awards
The award of the Medal does not affect the entitlement of a person to any other award.

 

[Kilted]

So if this medal was adopted and I already had the CD, would I still receive the new one?

 

[Blackadder1916]

That's how it worked in Australia. Those who already had long service medals received the Defence Medal including those who had been National Servicemen (conscripts).

 

[foresterab]

The table seems to miss every SOVOP prior to the creation of the dotCOMs. The Swiss Air crash was another domestic operation.

Thanks for the reminder McG. Again I'm only going off of of those mission assignments that I was aware of and/or could find somewhat easily. Part of the issue appears that some have been simplified under a common label in recent years but late 1990's deployments were all unique mission names.

Swiss Air crash I'm not sure how I would define it but was another good example of a unique mission that borders SAR and/or Security mission profiles. Most likely SAR based upon my shallow knowledge of events remembered from new articles on the opposite side of the country.

Definitely aware that some/many are missing and any insight is good.

foresterab

 

[Good2Golf]

While we're at it...

View attachment 89530

Don’t forget a YOUREWELCOME bar.

 

[dimsum]

Don’t forget a YOUREWELCOME bar.

YWFMS

 

[Navy_Pete]

I think something for people that finish their initial contract makes sense, but would be good to add some caveats like 'reached OFP'. We had a few people that never did, but were such an administrative mess they got some contract extensions while their court and medical issues were processed.

 

[dimsum]

I think something for people that finish their initial contract makes sense, but would be good to add some caveats like 'reached OFP'. We had a few people that never did, but were such an administrative mess they got some contract extensions while their court and medical issues were processed.

I think that awarding the medal after the end of the first operational posting makes more sense. It signifies that the member was trained and did their job for 3-4 years.

 

[daftandbarmy]

I think that awarding the medal after the end of the first operational posting makes more sense. It signifies that the member was trained and did their job for 3-4 years.

The US military launched a review of its medal system in response to the need to recognize contributions from capabilities that didn't exist before e.g., drone operators. We might want to do the same if, for no other reason, than to avoid 'medal inflation':

Medal Fatigue​

After a bitter controversy over how to recognize the contributions those who fly drones stateside make to the fight against global terrorism, the Pentagon is undertaking a “comprehensive review” of the entire awards system. It’s long overdue.

Among Secretary Chuck Hagel’s first acts when he succeeded Panetta was to suspend the medal pending more review. By April, the man who had earned multiple Purple Hearts for wounds suffered as an enlisted infantryman in Vietnam rescinded the medal entirely, with a promise to create a drone “device” for attachment to other medals. Nine months later, there is still no device. Instead, Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby announced that Hagel had decided to order a “comprehensive review” of the entire awards system rather “than looking piecemeal at any specific one.”

This is the right call. While details are scant on what the review board’s mission will be, it’s time for a substantial culling of the current inventory of medals and ribbons, which is bloated because of parochial service interests and the creation of a plethora of peacetime medals 30-plus years ago. Further, we need a standardization of awards, instead of the present system where the same medals and devices mean different things depending on what uniform one wears.

Indeed, the controversy of the Distinguished Warfare Medal illustrates some of the shortfalls of the system.

Medal Fatigue - War on the Rocks

After a bitter controversy over how to recognize the contributions those who fly drones stateside make to the fight against global terrorism, the Pentagon

warontherocks.com

 

[brihard]

Pragmatic thought: sticking an occasional gong on things like UAS operators, intelligence analysts, and SIGINT operators might also help show appreciation and retain people who otherwise have some other very compelling job opportunities in other government departments or agencies. If they feel like CAF has just stuck ‘em in a SCIF and forgotten them while they make operational contributions, they might look to see where else they could do that but be more mainstream within their organization, and have better compensation and working conditions.

 

[CountDC]

The table seems to miss every SOVOP prior to the creation of the dotCOMs. The Swiss Air crash was another domestic operation.

Thanks for the reminder McG. Again I'm only going off of of those mission assignments that I was aware of and/or could find somewhat easily. Part of the issue appears that some have been simplified under a common label in recent years but late 1990's deployments were all unique mission names.

Swiss Air crash I'm not sure how I would define it but was another good example of a unique mission that borders SAR and/or Security mission profiles. Most likely SAR based upon my shallow knowledge of events remembered from new articles on the opposite side of the country.

Definitely aware that some/many are missing and any insight is good.

foresterab

and in the early 2000's - Hurricane Juan and White Juan White Juan - Wikipedia

I did note that the article there doesn't mention the military aid provided for both.

SWISS Air was purely a search and body parts recovery effort with the Navy mainly searching the waters and a fair number of army reserves combing the shoreline. It was not a pleasant task for those that found things especially after a few days.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Pragmatic thought: sticking an occasional gong on things like UAS operators, intelligence analysts, and SIGINT operators might also help show appreciation and retain people who otherwise have some other very compelling job opportunities in other government departments or agencies. If they feel like CAF has just stuck ‘em in a SCIF and forgotten them while they make operational contributions, they might look to see where else they could do that but be more mainstream within their organization, and have better compensation and working conditions.

 

[KTown Cowboy]

and in the early 2000's - Hurricane Juan and White Juan White Juan - Wikipedia

I did note that the article there doesn't mention the military aid provided for both.

SWISS Air was purely a search and body parts recovery effort with the Navy mainly searching the waters and a fair number of army reserves combing the shoreline. It was not a pleasant task for those that found things especially after a few days.

Op Splinter! I was there! First day was mostly eating BBQ, because everyone was cooking everything due to no power. My first Class C contract, and now with well over 7 years of Class C time behind me.

 

[foresterab]

Will try to look up some more Operations based upon some comments made and provide an updated list. Also trying to source the number of CAF members involved...some operations have involved up to 16,000 CAF members.

Standby for updates next week due to field work this week.
foresterab