General Service Medal — SOUTH-WEST ASIA Ribbon

Summary#

This is the Order Awarding the General Service Medal With the SOUTH-WEST ASIA Ribbon: SI/2020-3 under the General Campaign Star and General Service Medal Regulations, 2009. It sets who can receive the General Service Medal with the SOUTH-WEST ASIA ribbon, defines the areas and dates of eligible service, and specifies the ribbon’s appearance and place in the order of wear. It was registered on January 8, 2020 after being made on December 19, 2019.

What it does#

• Repeals the earlier order P.C. 2010-253 (made March 10, 2010).
• Defines the geographic areas counted as the SOUTH‑WEST ASIA theatre:
  • Service inside Afghanistan’s political boundaries and airspace in direct support of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from April 24, 2003 to July 31, 2009.
  • Service in a larger theatre — Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal and parts of the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea (west of 68° east longitude and north of 5° south latitude), plus the airspace above those areas — in direct support of Canadian operations:
    • during August 1, 2009 to March 12, 2014, or
    • beginning on March 13, 2014 (no end date stated in the order).
• Sets minimum days of service that count toward the medal:
  • For service performed outside the theatre:
    • 30 cumulative days for periods tied to April 24, 2003–July 31, 2009 or August 1, 2009–March 12, 2014 (or a mix of those),
    • 21 cumulative days for service performed beginning March 13, 2014,
    • or a combined total of at least 21 cumulative days if service spans the different periods but doesn’t meet either period’s minimum on its own.
  • For service performed inside the theatre by people who meet the criteria in paragraph 6(1)(c) of the regulations:
    • 30 cumulative days for the earlier periods (as above),
    • 14 cumulative days for service beginning March 13, 2014,
    • or a combined total of at least 14 cumulative days if service spans periods without meeting a single period’s minimum.
• Specifies the ribbon design: 32 mm wide, with an 18‑mm red stripe in the middle, flanked by 2‑mm white stripes and 5‑mm green stripes.
• Says the medal with the SOUTH-WEST ASIA ribbon is to be worn after the General Service Medal with the ALLIED FORCE ribbon.

Who's affected#

• Canadian Armed Forces members who served in Afghanistan and the surrounding seas/airspace during the periods listed.
• Other people who provided direct support to Canadian operations and who meet the criteria in the regulations (the order refers specifically to paragraph 6(1)(c) for some inside‑theatre cases).
• The order does not list specific civilian groups; if you think you may qualify, the regulations and service records determine eligibility.

Why it matters#

• It clarifies and updates who is officially eligible for this campaign medal.
• It gives clear time and place rules so former service members (and those who supported operations) can check if they qualify.
• It fixes the ribbon’s appearance and how the medal is worn, which matters for uniformed personnel, medal records, and ceremonial presentation.