Veterans get new medals

The new Afghanistan (left) and Iraq (right) campaign medals.

ADF veterans of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan can soon expect to receive their campaign medals.

The Directorate of Honours and Awards has embarked on a tight timetable to have the new medals produced and ready to present by April 2005.

There is no requirement for members to individually apply for the medals, as the Component Commanders will produce lists of eligible personnel.

Medals will be sent to each member’s current unit address as shown on PMKeyS, so with the posting period coming up over Christmas it will be important for members to make sure this information remains up to date.

The designs of the medals are based on a traditional style that includes a generic obverse side, based on the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, and images with heraldic or symbolic relevance to the area on the reverse of each medal.

The reverse of the Afghanistan Medal is based on portion of a snow-capped mountain range with a multirayed sun rising behind the mountains.

The mountains represent the dominant terrain of the country and the rising sun represents a “new dawn” for the nation.

The word “Afghanistan” appears around the central device on the flan in English and in the Arabic script of the two dominant languages of Afghanistan, Dari and Pashton

The ribbon design for the Afghanistan Medal is a combination of:

Khaki: representing the dominant ground colour of the terrain;
Purple: representing the three arms of the ADF (the colour being a combination of dark blue (RAN), red (Army) and light blue (RAAF));
Light blue: the sky above the mountains;
White: the snow on the mountain peaks; and
Red: the conflict in Afghanistan.

The reverse of the Iraq Medal is based on a processional lion copied from a relief on the Gateway of the Temple of Ishtar in Babylon.

The lion was one of the dominant “power symbols” of the Assyrian Empire, being reserved to the ruling house and the higher priesthood of the dominant sects.

The lion stands on a narrow plinth (for balance) and the word “IRAQ” appears below.

The ribbon design for the Iraq Medal is a combination of:

Sand yellow: representing the desert sands of Iraq;
Purple: representing the ADF; and
Red: the conflict in Iraq.

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