Long Service Medal for Officers
Speaking as someone due to get one, yes. I see it much the same as the Jubilee medals; might look ok on a Remembrance Sunday, but ultimately a chocolate medal that I haven’t earned.
I’d much rather any available money (of which there isn’t any) spent on a medal to reward those participating in Op SHADER who don’t qualify currently (Reaper Force, FJ TG1, CAOC etc).
I’d much rather any available money (of which there isn’t any) spent on a medal to reward those participating in Op SHADER who don’t qualify currently (Reaper Force, FJ TG1, CAOC etc).
Last edited by frodo_monkey; 26th Dec 2017 at 15:27. Reason: Forgot one point!
Well FR, well done! But again, you fall into the trap, being derisive. You are entitled to your opinion but, there is more to this. You may have qualified for other awards but, it is also quite likely that you have missed-out on others due to time and place? This can happen, despite making major contributions and just not making the criteria. One of the background attributes of long service recognition is..just that! Long Service, not always recognised. TBH, I am not impressed by those who slag awards for Military Service.
BTW, you do not have to wear it.
OAP
Posted before your edit. Your EDIT reference to other meritorius awards that are lacking in breadth is still not helped by slaging others, IMO.
BTW, you do not have to wear it.
OAP
Posted before your edit. Your EDIT reference to other meritorius awards that are lacking in breadth is still not helped by slaging others, IMO.
Well FR, well done! But again, you fall into the trap, being derisive. You are entitled to your opinion but, there is more to this. You may have qualified for other awards but, it is also quite likely that you have missed-out on others due to time and place? This can happen, despite making major contributions and just not making the criteria. One of the background attributes of long service recognition is..just that! Long Service, not always recognised. TBH, I am not impressed by those who slag awards for Military Service.
BTW, you do not have to wear it.
OAP
Posted before your edit. Your EDIT reference to other meritorius awards that are lacking in breadth is still not helped by slaging others, IMO.
BTW, you do not have to wear it.
OAP
Posted before your edit. Your EDIT reference to other meritorius awards that are lacking in breadth is still not helped by slaging others, IMO.
Meant to say, I see it much like the argument for a National Defence Medal (couldn’t remember the name I saw on a petition). Why not give everyone who has done one day in the military a medal? In my opinion doing so would cheapen the value of the medals people do have...
Not meaning to be argumentative or a “name-caller”, I just don’t particularly feel proud of either my QDJM or the LS&GCM I have inbound. I probably wouldn’t bother getting it mounted if I didn’t have the SHADER one coming at the same time.
Not meaning to be argumentative or a “name-caller”, I just don’t particularly feel proud of either my QDJM or the LS&GCM I have inbound. I probably wouldn’t bother getting it mounted if I didn’t have the SHADER one coming at the same time.
Well argue your case - why do you feel hard done by in not being awarded a LS&GCM? I agree that the arbitrary date of 2014 is quite a strange decision; indeed, as stated above I think the status quo prior to then was fine. Why do you feel that you should be awarded the medal, barring “Bloggs left in 2016 and he has one”? Genuinely curious - certainly not wanting to start a Boxing Day argument!
Do you feel that is a fair comment TTN? OAP
Incidentally I was chatting to my old plotter on the phone and discovered he hadn't heard about this medal. I told him that his service dates would not qualify him for the award, but he said he would probably have failed on the "good conduct" side of things anyway!
Quote TTN
"All I meant to say was that if the powers that be felt that if a man who was killed as a result of enemy action still didn't qualify for campaign medals as he hadn't actually reached the theatre he was heading for, then putting an arbitrary limit on which officers may qualify for a long service medal seems a fairly trivial matter by comparison."
Yep, I am with you there TTN.
My point is that you also chose to write,
"Something to think about for those who are moaning that they are not going to get the LS&GC!"
Please say why you imply that "those who are moaning" would not already fully understand and sympathise with others who are treated badly by the system?
Cheers
OAP
"All I meant to say was that if the powers that be felt that if a man who was killed as a result of enemy action still didn't qualify for campaign medals as he hadn't actually reached the theatre he was heading for, then putting an arbitrary limit on which officers may qualify for a long service medal seems a fairly trivial matter by comparison."
Yep, I am with you there TTN.
My point is that you also chose to write,
"Something to think about for those who are moaning that they are not going to get the LS&GC!"
Please say why you imply that "those who are moaning" would not already fully understand and sympathise with others who are treated badly by the system?
Cheers
OAP
gijoe wrote:
Fully agree. What's the point in recognising appearance time and brown-nosing?
I'd far sooner see something awarded to air-and-groundcrews who supported UK QRA at some time or other - whether interceptor, V-bomber or AD tanker force members.
The whole LS&GC for officers issue is pathetic and smacks of a medal system that is outdated and totally out of touch with those that receive them.
I'd far sooner see something awarded to air-and-groundcrews who supported UK QRA at some time or other - whether interceptor, V-bomber or AD tanker force members.
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ExA, which starts to emulate the US route, a medal with a posting notice. I think we went round that buoy earlier in this thread but medals for Brass Nut, Dirty Dicks, Strait Street, Heroes Square, Bugis Street, perhaps with a Kokinelli Star and no doubt many others for places various in RAFG.
The Silver Jubilee medal was only awarded to a handful of people in the 70s - should we revisit that? I was serving in 2002 when the Golden Jubilee medal came out, but didn’t get one as I hadn’t done 5 years - whereas my ex-UAS colleagues did. Should we revisit that decision? I do know that I don’t feel bitter at all that I don’t have a Golden Jubilee medal...
I’m never convinced on the ‘National Defence Medal’ argument either - people get a very nice lapel badge saying ‘Veteran’ when they leave, along with a lifetime of memories and friends; isn’t that enough?
Selective awarding of Medals
One area that has been inconsistent has been to diplomatic staff in posts supporting operations or within the joint operational area.
I spent a bit of time (over three years) in a middle eastern state directly supporting operations from the Embassy, yet this did not qualify me for the operational medal. in contrast other personnel who served at a HQ for four months did. This risk and rigour aspect was debatable: all vehicle travel for me was in a civilian armoured vehicle and on occasions i wore covert body armour as well. I narrowly avoided two large terrorist attacks and the risk to life and limb was much greater and more persistent than those at the coalition HQs.
And then there was the shameful awarding of the Kosovo and FRY NATO medals to those who spent 3 or more months drinking cappuccinos at Frankie's in AFSOUTH/JFC Naples. I had served in both theatres and resented being regarded as a Naples REMF.
But it's also water under the bridge; I'm proud of my service and my medals but apart from the annual airing on Remembrance Sunday or the miniatures at a College dinner, i will never wear them or my ribbons again on a uniform.
I joined when few people wore medals; I have left when two rows are common (and justified), and as mentioned in an earlier post just qualified for the LSGCM and clasp. I dare say in a few years time the debate will continue to smoulder as those with a rash of operational medals leave.
I spent a bit of time (over three years) in a middle eastern state directly supporting operations from the Embassy, yet this did not qualify me for the operational medal. in contrast other personnel who served at a HQ for four months did. This risk and rigour aspect was debatable: all vehicle travel for me was in a civilian armoured vehicle and on occasions i wore covert body armour as well. I narrowly avoided two large terrorist attacks and the risk to life and limb was much greater and more persistent than those at the coalition HQs.
And then there was the shameful awarding of the Kosovo and FRY NATO medals to those who spent 3 or more months drinking cappuccinos at Frankie's in AFSOUTH/JFC Naples. I had served in both theatres and resented being regarded as a Naples REMF.
But it's also water under the bridge; I'm proud of my service and my medals but apart from the annual airing on Remembrance Sunday or the miniatures at a College dinner, i will never wear them or my ribbons again on a uniform.
I joined when few people wore medals; I have left when two rows are common (and justified), and as mentioned in an earlier post just qualified for the LSGCM and clasp. I dare say in a few years time the debate will continue to smoulder as those with a rash of operational medals leave.
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I joined when few people wore medals; I have left when two rows are common (and justified), and as mentioned in an earlier post just qualified for the LSGCM and clasp. I dare say in a few years time the debate will continue to smoulder as those with a rash of operational medals leave.
...it will. And there will be those junior personnel of all ranks and colours of uniform who will leave after becoming totally bemused by a system that pretends to send them on op tours to Cyprus, Jordan, Turkey, Oman, Qatar etc but doesn't see that as more relavent than LS&GC-earning time spent behind a desk in Blighty.
G
...it will. And there will be those junior personnel of all ranks and colours of uniform who will leave after becoming totally bemused by a system that pretends to send them on op tours to Cyprus, Jordan, Turkey, Oman, Qatar etc but doesn't see that as more relavent than LS&GC-earning time spent behind a desk in Blighty.
G
Last edited by gijoe; 27th Dec 2017 at 13:34. Reason: Mong spelling
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I’ve just read that, as Boxing Day TV is pretty poor. I’m still not any the wiser - I agree that the imposition of an arbitrary date in 2014 is divisive, but there has been a divide between the “qualifies” and the “don’t qualifies” for every medal that I can think of.
The Silver Jubilee medal was only awarded to a handful of people in the 70s - should we revisit that? I was serving in 2002 when the Golden Jubilee medal came out, but didn’t get one as I hadn’t done 5 years - whereas my ex-UAS colleagues did. Should we revisit that decision? I do know that I don’t feel bitter at all that I don’t have a Golden Jubilee medal...
I’m never convinced on the ‘National Defence Medal’ argument either - people get a very nice lapel badge saying ‘Veteran’ when they leave, along with a lifetime of memories and friends; isn’t that enough?
The Silver Jubilee medal was only awarded to a handful of people in the 70s - should we revisit that? I was serving in 2002 when the Golden Jubilee medal came out, but didn’t get one as I hadn’t done 5 years - whereas my ex-UAS colleagues did. Should we revisit that decision? I do know that I don’t feel bitter at all that I don’t have a Golden Jubilee medal...
I’m never convinced on the ‘National Defence Medal’ argument either - people get a very nice lapel badge saying ‘Veteran’ when they leave, along with a lifetime of memories and friends; isn’t that enough?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I have just received a splendid replacement with a clutch pin. It was to replace one with a brooch pin that defied all efforts to get it out of its box.
I sent it by courier on the 20th and got its replacement today. What splendid service for an excellent device.
I sent it by courier on the 20th and got its replacement today. What splendid service for an excellent device.