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United Nations Special Service Medal

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United Nations Special Service Medal
Obverse of the UNSSM
TypeService medal
Awarded for90 days on a peace mission for which no other medal was established
Presented bythe United Nations
EligibilitySoldiers and police officers serving with UN missions
EstablishedJune 1995
Ribbon bar of the medal
Precedence
Next (higher)Varies by country
Next (lower)Varies by country

The United Nations Special Service Medal (UNSSM) is presented to personnel with 90 days of service with a United Nations mission not covered by a specific United Nations Medal. United Nations Headquarters service is not eligible.[1]

Eligibility

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The following is an incomplete listing of eligible missions which qualify for the Special Service Medal:

Appearance

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The UN Special Service Medal is a circular bronze medal 35 mm in diameter. The obverse depicts the official emblem of the United Nations, a world map oriented from the north pole. Above the emblem are the letters UN. The reverse is plain except for the words "In the Service of Peace" in relief. This design is common to the all United Nations Medals starting with the UNTSO Medal and the UNMOGIP Medal and follows the current convention of a common medal design with a varying ribbon.[5]

The ribbon of the UN Special Service Medal is wide stripe of light blue, often referred to as UN Blue,[3] with white edges. United Nations Special Service Medal '

Claps or medal bars are worn on the ribbon of the medal to denote areas of service with the country name where the service took place, or the name of the UN organization involved.[3] Examples are a "Timor Leste" clasp for service with UNOTIL in East Timor,[4] "Afghanistan" for service with UNAMA in Afghanistan,[4] or "UNSCOM" for service in Iraq.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "UNSSM UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL SERVICES MEDAL". United Nations Medals. United Nations Peacekeeping. 16 June 1997. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
  2. ^ a b c d "JSP 761 HONOURS AND AWARDS IN THE ARMED FORCES" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. May 2008. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "UN Special Service Medal (UNSSM)". Canadian Honours Chart. National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "UNITED NATIONS MEDALS - THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL SERVICE MEDAL". MEDALS AWARDED TO NEW ZEALAND MILITARY PERSONNEL. New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  5. ^ "UNITED NATIONS MEDALS - THE UNITED NATIONS MEDAL". MEDALS AWARDED TO NEW ZEALAND MILITARY PERSONNEL. New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 2011-09-12.