COLD WAR VETERANS
Irrespective of where they served and what they did?
That means a front line pilot that did say 10 years in RAF(G) gets nothing but a clerk that did 15 years in the archives in Little-Wallop-On-The Bottom gets a gong
So let's go with it. What are the selection criteria going to be?
Service personnel only?
What about all the civilians on units without whom we could not have functioned?
What about the ROC?
What about the UKWMO?
How long do you have to have served?
Where?
Doing what?
I'll stop there. Answer those first.
Service personnel only?
What about all the civilians on units without whom we could not have functioned?
What about the ROC?
What about the UKWMO?
How long do you have to have served?
Where?
Doing what?
I'll stop there. Answer those first.
All wives and kids on the married patch, the projectionist at the Astra, the NAAFI manager, George, the Squadron cleaner, the bloke who ran the station farm, Bill the mess receptionist and all the other mess civilian staff.
If 300,000 GSM (NI) were issued, how many would the Cold War Medal run to? A million? one and a half million?
When you dish them out like that, they become meaningless.
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I would argue that there was no 'Cold War' anyway really. The term is just shorthand for the geopolitical/military tensions that existed at the time - you won't find Cold War on the Battle Honours of any RAFG Squadron. We were there to deter war, not to fight one, and essentially all most of us were doing was enhanced training. Certainly some faced more danger and hardship than others, but there are already a whole range of medals, awards, commendations and Good Shows to recognise particularly valuable service. I am pleased for all concerned that the feared war never happened, and if our efforts helped bring that about, that's thanks enough for me.
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Amen to that.
The MSM medal used to to be limited to around eight per year. A board of senior officers chose the recipients from recommendations from PMA. In 2004 it was changed drastically and in that year more were issued than in the previous thirty years, no real reason for the change was publicised. Now every WO and FS who has done over thirty years seems to get one.
Last edited by Senior Pilot; 7th Feb 2024 at 08:53. Reason: Fix quote
Beags Well considering the RAF weren't even there in N.I. officially in the early days ( when mine was handed out by the back door) I find that figure astounding.
( incidentally , to avoid silly questions , many of us didn't put it up.)
( incidentally , to avoid silly questions , many of us didn't put it up.)
Given that RAF Aldergrove opened in 1918, I'd suggest they were officially there even in the early days.
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RAF Ballykelly...?
Oh &...TSW were officially operating out of Bessbrook Mill as far back as 1970.
I’d love to see where you got the stats for that. MSMs are awarded in the Honours List after the recipients being written up. A look at how many FSs and OR9s we have in the RAF, and how many are awarded MSMs would give you a more accurate depiction.
Last edited by Toadstool; 7th Feb 2024 at 15:47.
This campaign has been going on since 2004 as far as I know under the guise of the National Defence Medal. It has been through at least 3 Medal Reviews and each time it has failed. This campaign has however high lighted some that have been successful, i:e Artic Star, GSM (Cyprus) and more recently The Atomic Tests Medal. The same reasons of lack of medallic recognition has been given with all the arguments here. It is doomed to failure precisely for the reason of lack risk and rigour. I understand the frustration felt by the COLD War Warriors but there will always be some who miss out. There have always been arguments over whether some should or some should not. I am one of the quoted 300000 GSM (NI) recipients. I spent nearly 9 years over the water as a crewman flying in South Armagh but I am no more worthy than a clerk behind the wire in Aldergroves General Office. The criteria is laid down and the medal office sticks to it. I retired in 2010 after nearly 40 years and have gone on to complete another 13 years as Commissioned Staff in the ATC. I presently have 11 medals and 3 extra bars, not for being brave but just in the right place at the time. Therefore from a position of having had recognition I support the campaign, so that those that haven't may be recognised in some way but as I have said sadly it is doomed to fail in the end.
If I recall there is also still a limit on how many MSMs can be awarded in any year.
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They will probably issue one in about 30 years time when most of those that would qualify have died off and the numbers to mint will be financially viable.
MSM:
as per BRd 3(1) NAVAL PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Chapter 44 effect June 2017
4425. Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)
a. The MSM can be awarded to not more than 201 candidates from the Regular
Forces in each calendar year. The award quota is RN/RM not more than 52, Army not
more than 89, and RAF not more than 60 per calendar year. There are no clasps to
this award.
Apparently the RAF recommendation process is under review
as per BRd 3(1) NAVAL PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Chapter 44 effect June 2017
4425. Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)
a. The MSM can be awarded to not more than 201 candidates from the Regular
Forces in each calendar year. The award quota is RN/RM not more than 52, Army not
more than 89, and RAF not more than 60 per calendar year. There are no clasps to
this award.
Apparently the RAF recommendation process is under review
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Why not just back-date the LSGC medal for Officers and then use a bar to this medal for service during the period of the Cold War? (A Bar seems appropriate given the RAF culture of the period).
Prefacing this with noting that I am ambivalent about a Cold War Medal, if several other sorts of folk deserve one, perhaps I do/don't.
It is not generally known that in the period in question Met staff [MoD civilians] being sent to many overseas posts [voluntarily or otherwise] fell under the Air Force Act and held a Dormant Commission in an appropriate rank. No uniform except combats and NBC, no weapon apart from pistol [Cyprus EOKA period and when attached 1 BR Corps BFG], no extra pay, no RAF ID ................ the commission to be activated by the S o S, together with an ID, pistol and officer number. Essentially this was for TTW, and every year we in BFG [not just RAFG] did full NBC training and occasionally donned combats. I had a name badge on my chest, and a Met Officer badge on the shoulders, to be exchanged for the relevant [!] rank badge .................. Flt Lt at RAF Gutersloh [and also as deputy S Met O 1 Br Corps on exercises], Sqn Ldr at JHQ as a senior forecaster and finally Gp Capt at JHQ as C Met O BFG. [At dinners I was seated above the Wg Cdrs and below the proper Gp Capts, protocol at its most British]. The Air Cdre SASO was my line manager.
All the above was totally about potential WW III and nobody is more glad than I was to not have to stay behind as my family activated Plan B and drove Westwards if one of the Mini/Maxi/TACEVALS turned out to be the real thing.
But here is the crux. BFG was crawling with civvy Executive Officers and above with absolutely no war task or commitment [and more pay].
In the vanishingly unlikely scenario of a gong being forthcoming, the fewer than 100 Met Officers [at any one time] have to be higher up the food chain than the civvy pen-pushers
A NOTE FOR THE WELL-INFORMED.
Not to be confused with the Mobile Met Unit, all part -time uniformed and armed RAFRO or RAFVR who deployed from their usual civilian station to support out of area exercises and ops [and rightly collected a huge array of chest salad in the process].
No need to answer .............. just pointing out the intrinsic difficulty of a CW Medal.