General Campaign Star with SOUTH-WEST ASIA Ribbon

Summary#

This order updates who can get the General Campaign Star with the SOUTH-WEST ASIA ribbon. It sets the places and dates that count as the theatre of operations, the minimum days of service needed, the ribbon design, and where the medal is worn in relation to other campaign stars.

What it does#

• Repeals an earlier Order in Council (P.C. 2010-250, March 10, 2010) and replaces its rules.
• Made under the General Campaign Star and General Service Medal Regulations, 2009 and issued as P.C. 2019-1392 on December 19, 2019.
• Defines the theatre of operations that counts for this award:
  • the political boundaries of Afghanistan and its airspace for service as part of the International Security Assistance Force during April 24, 2003 to July 31, 2009; and
  • Afghanistan plus the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, 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, and the airspace above those areas, during two time spans: August 1, 2009 to March 12, 2014, and from March 13, 2014 onward.
• Sets how much service counts:
  • 30 cumulative days for service during the Afghanistan/ISAF period or the August 1, 2009 to March 12, 2014 span (or a mix of both);
  • 14 cumulative days for service that begins on or after March 13, 2014;
  • a mix of days from the earlier and later periods counts if the combined total is at least 14 cumulative days.
• Describes the ribbon: the SOUTH-WEST ASIA ribbon is 32 mm wide with a 12-mm green stripe in the centre, flanked by 2-mm white stripes and 8-mm red stripes.
• Says the General Campaign Star with the SOUTH-WEST ASIA ribbon is to be worn after the General Campaign Star with the ALLIED FORCE ribbon.

Who's affected#

• Members of the Canadian Armed Forces who served in Afghanistan or in the listed surrounding waters and airspace during the dates above.
• Veterans and families who are checking or claiming campaign medals or recognition from those deployments.
• Military records and honours administrators who process awards and determine eligibility.
• It is not clear from the order whether non‑military personnel or members of other countries who served alongside Canadians are affected; the primary focus is Canadian service.

Why it matters#

• It clarifies who is officially eligible for this campaign star. That affects who can receive the medal, who can wear it, and how service is recorded.
• For veterans, the change can mean formal recognition of time spent in theatre and appears on service records and medal groups.
• For military families and units, it affects historical records and ceremonial displays of honours.