Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Australian Operational Service Medal - Border Force

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Overview

The Australian Operational Service Medal is a campaign medal established in 2012 to recognise service by Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel on designated hazardous operations. It replaces the Australian Active Service Medal and Australian Service Medal for future ADF operations. The medal is a cupro-nickel medal finished in antique silver. The obverse bears an old-world stylised world globe signifying global operations, interlinked with a Federation Star. The globe is surrounded by the words ‘AUSTRALIAN OPERATIONAL SERVICE MEDAL’.The reverse bears a central horizontal stylised scroll with the words ‘Defending Australia and its national interests’, overlaying a wreath of mimosa, above which sits an hour glass motif signifying the ongoing vigilance and timely response of Defence.

Historical information

The medal is issued to military personnel with a different ribbon for each designated operation.The variant for border protection operations was announced on 19 July 2012. This variant is awarded to Australian Defence Force personnel who have served on border protection operations since 1997. Eligibility extends to personnel who served on naval vessels, maritime patrol aircraft or Regional Force Surveillance Unit patrols whilst assigned to any of these operations.
The following are the current declared operations and dates:
• Operation CRANBERRY – 1 August 1997 to 16 July 2006
• Operation DIRK – 1 September 1997 to 31 October 1997
• Operation STANHOPE – 3 February 1998 to 6 March 1998
• Operation MISTRAL – 1 August 1998 to 30 June 2006
• Operation TEEBONE – 8 April 2001 to 7 May 2001
• Operation CELESTA – 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2006
• Operation SUTTON – 25 January 2002 to 19 February 2002
• Operation GEMSBOK – 29 August 2003 to 3 October 2003
• Operation RELEX – 3 September 2001 to 13 March 2002
• Operation RELEX II – 14 March 2002 to 16 July 2006
• Operation RESOLUTE – 17 July 2006 to present

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-748

Inscriptions and markings

The Border Protection ribbon has three equal stripes of dark blue, ochre and dark green which denote the seas and sky, the deserts, and the forests and grasslands. An accumulated service device is awarded for subsequent qualifying service by ADF members where they undertake further service on an operation for which they have already been awarded the Australian Operational Service Medal.

Contextual Information

Multiple examples of this medal are retained as an ongoing memorial to the service and sacrifice of Western Australians. All medals are identified, archivally stored and are accessible and viewable with prior notice.

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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