Operational Service Medal — EXPEDITION Ribbon

Summary#

On December 19, 2019, the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, issued an order under the Operational Service Medal Regulations that sets out who can receive the Operational Service Medal with the EXPEDITION ribbon. The order was published in the Canada Gazette on January 8, 2020 and replaces an earlier order (P.C. 2010-1098).

What it does#

• Defines the kind of service that qualifies for the Operational Service Medal with the EXPEDITION ribbon: service performed outside Canada in “approved locations.”
• Sets minimum service-time rules:
  • 30 cumulative days of service during the period October 7, 2001 to May 14, 2014.
  • 21 cumulative days of service beginning May 15, 2014.
  • Allows mixing days from the two periods so long as the total is at least 21 cumulative days.
• Describes the ribbon’s look: 32 mm wide, with a 22-mm light grey stripe in the middle, flanked by 2.5-mm white and 2.5-mm red stripes.
• Says the EXPEDITION ribbon is to be worn after the Operational Service Medal with the HUMANITAS ribbon.
• Repeals the earlier Order in Council P.C. 2010-1098.

Who's affected#

• Members of the Canadian Armed Forces and other personnel who served outside Canada in the unspecified “approved locations” during the listed periods.
• Veterans and current service members who may now meet (or no longer need to meet) the clarified day-count rules for this medal.
• It is not clear from this order alone exactly which geographic locations are considered “approved locations.” That detail is defined elsewhere in the rules.

Why it matters#

• This order clarifies who qualifies for the EXPEDITION ribbon of the Operational Service Medal. That affects official recognition of deployments and the medals people are entitled to wear.
• It fixes the ribbon’s design so issued medals will match a single standard.
• For individuals who served during the listed periods, the change could change whether they receive (or have already received) this medal and how it appears in their service records.