Originally Posted by Roamer
But "he"..maybe "she" probably got a gong out of it...these days aircrew are fine to get gongs for OOA (specific telic) but groundcrew dont...cause the 2 months away from their family EVERY year dont cont !
A bit off the thread; but, no one (in the UK Armed Forces at least) has ever received campaign medals just for being away from home. The issue of a UK campaign medal (either a specific medal like Iraq or as a separate clasp/ribbon to a GSM/OSM like Afghanistan) and the approval to wear a foreign campaign medal (NATO/UN) is judged on the basis of the risk and rigour. Hence why those chaps in Basra, Kandahar etc (that are subject to regular presents from the indigenous population) qualify for the award of such medals whereas those who stay in places such as Al Udied (complete with Burger King, coffee bars and a bra-shaped entertainment area) don't.