Special Service Medal ALERT Bar
Special Service Medal Bar Order “ALERT”: SI/2020-11
The Order makes 180 aggregate days of service at Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert count as “special service” under the Special Service Medal Regulations, so eligible military personnel and qualifying civilians can receive the Special Service Medal with a bar reading “ALERT”. The Order was made by the Governor General in Council on 2019-12-19, rescinds the earlier P.C. 1995-2003, was published 2020-01-08, and applies retroactively to service since CFS Alert began operations on 1958-09-01.
- Published
- January 8, 2020
- Department
- Unavailable
- Section
- Special Service Medal Bar Order “ALERT”
- Comment deadline
- Unavailable
- Effective date
- December 19, 2019
- Publication part
- Part II
Summary
Summary#
The order called Special Service Medal Bar Order “ALERT” sets out who counts as having done “special service” at CFS Alert for the purpose of awarding the Special Service Medal. It says an aggregate of 180 days of service qualifies, makes the medal’s bar read “ALERT”, and was made by the Governor General in Council on December 19, 2019 and published January 8, 2020.
What it does#
- Cancels the earlier Order in Council P.C. 1995-2003 (dated November 28, 1995).
- Under the Special Service Medal Regulations, declares that an activity made up of an aggregate of 180 days of service is “special service” when the service is either:
- honourable service while on the posted strength of CFS Alert, or
- honourable service while part of a military force operationally deployed to CFS Alert,
- or honourable service by an eligible civilian employed at CFS Alert under similar conditions.
- Says the bar awarded with the medal for that service must bear the word “ALERT”.
- Notes the service qualifying for this recognition extends back to when CFS Alert began operating on September 1, 1958.
Who's affected#
- Members of the Canadian Armed Forces posted to CFS Alert.
- Military personnel who were operationally deployed to CFS Alert.
- Eligible civilians employed at CFS Alert (the order says such civilians qualify when employed under conditions similar to posted military personnel).
- Veterans or family members who may be seeking recognition or medals for past service at CFS Alert.
- The source does not give a full legal definition of “eligible civilian,” so there may be follow-up by administrators to confirm who exactly qualifies.
Why it matters#
- It makes service at Canada’s most northerly station officially count for the Special Service Medal after 180 days, including for past service back to September 1, 1958.
- That can change who receives a medal or bar for northern, remote, or short-term operational postings — important for personal recognition, service records, and veteran honours.
- For anyone who served at CFS Alert, this clarifies the medal criteria; for others, it is a narrow, targeted change with limited public impact.
Key topics
Source: Canada Gazette