Just to clarify the position for the Reservists on the long service medals.
It was the case that after 10 years' qualifying service you were awarded the Air Efficency Award (AE), with postnominals (if you like that sort of thing) and a bar for each subsequent 10 year period. There were equivalent RNR/RNVR/TA medals all with slightly different criteria (can't remember the Navy one, but the TA one was the Territorial Decoration, TD).
These were amalgamated a few years ago into the Volunteer Reserves Medal (VRM), common across the forces after 10 years' qualifying service, with bar for every five years subsequent qualifying service. However, VRM does not have postnominals.
Additionally, for outstanding service, Reservists may be nominated for the Queens Volunteer Reserve Medal (QVRM) which does have postnominals.
The unfairness crept in with the transitional arrangements, where Officers with 5 or more years served towards their AE could elect to collect an AE after 10, whereas all ORs - irrespective of length of service or seniority were not given the choice and got the VRM, minus postnominals. (Less than 5 years in, all got the VRM).
Poor decision IMHO, causing compeltely unnecessary aggro - should have been one decision for all.
Hope this clarifies things.
S41