The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Greater Middle East)
Overview
The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Greater Middle East) was instituted in 2016 to recognise NZDF personnel who have served for 30 days or more on general regional security operations in the Greater Middle East since 7 December 2014.
Description
The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Greater Middle East) is silver in colour and circular in shape. On the obverse is the Effigy of the Sovereign surrounded by the legend: “ELIZABETH II QUEEN OF NEW ZEALAND”. On the reverse is the inscription “THE NEW ZEALAND GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL” within a wreath of New Zealand flora (pohutukawa blossom, fern fronds, and kowhai blossom) ensigned by a Royal Crown. The wreath of New Zealand flora adds a distinctive New Zealand appearance to the medal.
The ribbon has a wide central stripe of blue, symbolising the oceans and seas of the region. A narrow stripe of white on either side represents peace and truth. A wider stripe of green and a narrow stripe of yellow on the edge of the ribbon symbolise the arid nature of the region. Green and white also reflect the colours in many of the national flags of the region.
Eligibility
NZDF personnel who:
- Deploy on general regional security operations in the Middle East; or
- Supported the training mission in Iraq from other locations in the Middle East from 2015-2020; or
- Served with the P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft from 2015 – 2018; or
- Served with HMNZS TE KAHA from May – June 2015.
For full details:
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Wearing this medal
The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Greater Middle East) is worn as a campaign medal in the New Zealand Order of Wear. Campaign medals are worn in order of date of participation in the campaign, operation, or peacekeeping mission for which the medal was awarded. This includes United Nations, NATO mission, and European Union mission medals. As a result, different individuals may mount their medals in different orders depending on the time served in theatre.
For more information on how to wear and care for honours, medals, and awards:
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Checking eligibility and applying for this medal
NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals (PAM) issues war, operational, and service medals to both former and current NZDF members. If you believe you or someone you know may be eligible for these medals, you can use our online eligibility tool to check and apply easily.
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Checking if this medal was issued
Honours, medals, and awards bestowed on an individual for service in the New Zealand Armed Forces are recorded in their individual service record. NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals holds a collection of about 1.5 million service records relating to 420,000 New Zealand service personnel who served in New Zealand’s Military Forces after the First World War.
Service records are not currently digitised, but we can locate it and find the information you might be looking for or help you book a time for you to see the records in Trentham by completing the form on the Service Record page.