Prior to this announcement commissioned service in the UK Regular Forces could already count (in various proportions and with several caveats) towards the VRSM, LS&GCM and various Commonwealth Long Service awards, so the principle of recognising some commissioned service for LS awards was already in place. All this change does is enable all (rather than some) commissioned service to count, with an additional amendment to time served for a clasp (10 years vice 15). Simply evolution.