Back to the topic (briefly)
You can bet your mortgage that, like GW1 there will be plenty of high ranking Cyprus permies get their medal by hook or by crook.
I seem to remember Commander British Forces Cyprus doing a single trip in a Nimrod, just to get his clasp. (GW1) That famous one - Sandy something? AKA The fool on the hill.
So if the bloke in the bedding store, who was in fact working extra hard in support of Op Telic, gets a medal then good luck to him.
Me? I've done 74 (Zone 2) Albert sorties but don't qualify. But I'm sure I'll be back there soon. This one's going to run and run......