Canadian South-West Asia Service Medal (SWASM)

[Guest Darrell]

South-West Asia Service Medal (SWASM)

CONTEXT

The South-West Asia Service Medal recognizes the participation of CF members deployed or in direct support of the operations against terrorism in South-West Asia. The medal is awarded to those employed in direct support, and a bar is added for those deployed into the theatre of operation.

ELIGIBILITY & CRITERIA

The South-West Asia Service Medal is awarded for a minimum of 90 days cumulative service in direct support of operations against terrorism in South West Asia from 11 September 2001. Direct support occurs when a member is deployed to a unit or organization outside Canada but not into a specific theatre of operations, and where his or her primary duty is to provide direct assistance on a full-time basis to the operations against terrorism in South-West Asia.

The medal with bar is awarded for 30 days cumulative service after 11 September 2001 in the theatre of operations, which is a subset of the United States Central Command Area of Operation Responsibility (USCENTCOM AOR). The theatre of operations is defined as the land, sea, or air spaces of Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Suez Canal and those parts of the Indian Ocean north of 5° South Latitude and west of 68° East Longitude.

CF exchange personnel posted to foreign units or organizations in direct support of operations as described above are eligible for this medal.

All service under the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is not eligible for the SWASM but qualifies for the ISAF+FIAS bar to either the General Campaign Star or General Service Medal. See the pages for these medals for details.

Visits and inspections do not constitute qualifying service. Specifically, visits for the purpose of leadership, familiarization, ceremonial, or morale by civilian or military VIPs as well as Staff Assistance Visits (SAVs), Staff Inspection Visits (SIVs), and specialist visits for the conduct of summary/criminal/administrative investigations, courts martial, Boards of Inquiry, trial evaluations, academic studies, surveys or other similar administrative activities are excluded from qualification.

DESCRIPTION

The South-West Asia Service Medal is a circular medal, made of nickel-plated red brass (silver in colour), 36 mm across.

On the obverse: The effigy of Her Majesty the Queen of Canada, wearing the King George IV State Diadem, facing right, circumscribed with the legend: "ELIZABETH II • DEI GRATIA REGINA" and at the base of the effigy the word "CANADA" flanked by two small maple leaves; and

On the reverse: A representation of the mythical figure of Hydra, a many-headed serpent of Greek mythology described as a multifarious evil not to be overcome by a single effort, symbolising international terrorism. Each head is different, symbolising the idea that evil is found in every part of the world and that its face is constantly changing. The Hydra is transfixed by a Canadian sword and over the design is the Latin phrase, "ADVERSUS MALUM PUGNAMUS" - "We are fighting evil".

A claw at the top of the medal, in the form of a cluster of olive leaves representing peace, is

attached to a straight, slotted bar.

The ribbon is 32 mm in width with a white stripe in the middle (12 mm), on either side of which are stripes of black (4 mm), red (2 mm) and sand (4 mm). The black represents the shock of 11 September 2001 for the world and the mourning of the victims of the terror attacks. The sand colour represents the challenges of the theatre of operations, the white is for peace which is the ultimate aim of this operations. The red is for the blood that has been spilled on 11 September 2001 and in the ensuing campaign in the service of peace. Red and white are also the official colours of Canada as appointed by King George V in 1921.

The bar to the medal is made of nickel-plated red brass (silver in colour) with raised edges and bears the inscription "AFGHANISTAN".

BAR(S)

The "AFGHANISTAN" bar to the medal is awarded to those who served for at least 30 days in the theatre of operations.

WEARING

The medal shall be worn in sequence prescribed in the Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals Directive, and in the following manner:

on the left breast, suspended from the ribbon described above, between the Somalia Medal and the General Campaign Star.

When the bar is awarded, it shall be attached to the center of the ribbon.

A silver maple leaf is worn on the ribbon in undress to denote the award of the bar.

POSTNOMINALS

The use of a post-nominal is not authorized for this medal.

Obverse:

[Guest Darrell]

Closeup of Clasp:

[Guest Darrell]

Reverse:

[Guest Darrell]

Normally I would scan these medals, but these Rhodium Plated medals do NOT scan very well. However that being said, it is obvious that the quality of these early SWASM issues was not very good (especially the obverse). The Queen's head / face are not very detailed due to the thick layer of Rhodium. It has been noted that later issues are more detailed or clear. Not sure if the die was changed or less Rhodium used on the plating process.

[TacHel]

On a brighter side... The mint has regained control of Canadian military medals. No more crappy triple plated horrors like this! No more lower bidder nonsense!

[Guest Darrell]

On a brighter side... The mint has regained control of Canadian military medals. No more crappy triple plated horrors like this! No more lower bidder nonsense!

I wonder if some recipients wondered who that really was on the medal :unsure:

[TacHel]

I wonder if some recipients wondered who that really was on the medal

Yeah... Looks more like Celine Dion's mother than EIIR! Notice how the detailing of the crown remained, a definite hint at the horrible amount of plating used and the complete lack of quality control.