General Campaign Star – SOUTH-WEST ASIA (GCS-SWA)
General Campaign Star – SOUTH-WEST ASIA (GCS-SWA)
This general service award has been created as a means to recognize - in a timelier manner - those who serve in operations in the presence of an armed enemy. Rather than creating a new honour for each new Canadian Forces operation as it arises, the General Campaign Star and General Service Medal - with their theatre or service specific ribbons - can be awarded in future to honour participation in any operation that meets the criteria.
ELIGIBILITY & CRITERIA
The General Campaign Star (GCS) is awarded to members of the Canadian Forces and members of allied forces working with the Canadian Forces who deploy into a defined theatre of operations to take part in operations in the presence of an armed enemy.
The GCS is always issued with a ribbon specific to the theatre or type of service being recognized, and each ribbon has its own criteria.
The GCS with South-West Asia ribbon is awarded to Canadian Forces members and members of allied forces working with the Canadian Forces who served either:
with the Canadian contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan for at least 30 days cumulative between 24 April 2003 and 31 July 2009, in the theatre of operations which consisted of the political boundaries and airspace of Afghanistan; and/or
in the theatre of operations consisting of the political boundaries of Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal and those parts of the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea that are west of sixty-eight degrees East longitude and north of five degrees South latitude, as well as the airspace above those areas for at least 30 cumulative days commencing on August 1, 2009, provided that the service has not been recognized by another service medal.
The Star and Rotation Bars shall be awarded for honourable service.
DESCRIPTION
The GCS is a gold-coloured four-pointed star, 44 mm across, representing the cardinal points of a compass bearing on the obverse, built-up in order from the back: a wreath of maple leaves terminating at the top with the Royal Crown, two crossed swords, the blades and hilts forming four additional points to the star, an anchor and a flying eagle. The wreath represents honour, the maple leaves represent Canada, the anchor, crossed swords and eagle represent the three services of the Canadian Forces and the Crown represents the Queen of Canada and her role as the fount of all honours. On the reverse appear within a raised circle, from top to bottom: the Royal Cypher ensigned by the Royal Crown, a plain space for engraving, and three maple leaves on one stem.
The ribbon passes through a ring attached to a small ball at the top point of the star.
The ribbon is 32 mm wide with a central stripe of green (12 mm), on either side of which are stripes of white (2 mm) and red (8 mm). Red and white are the official colours of Canada as appointed by King George V in 1921 and green represents service.
The rotations bars for the Star are gold in colour with a raised edge and bear either one or five maples leaves.
WEARING
The GCS-SWA shall be worn in the 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 General Campaign Star with ALLIED FORCE ribbon and the General Campaign Star with EXPEDITION ribbon;
One bar is worn centred on the ribbon;
If multiple bars have been awarded, they shall be evenly spaced on the ribbon in the order earned, with the first bar earned worn the closest to the Star; and
When the undress ribbon is worn, a silver maple leaf shall be worn centred on the ribbon of the Medal to indicate the award of a Rotation Bar, a gold maple leaf shall be worn to indicate the award of a second Rotation Bar and a red maple leaf shall be worn to indicate the award of a third Rotation Bar. If more than three Rotation Bars have been awarded, those devices shall be worn in combination so as to indicate the total number of Bars awarded.
POSTNOMINALS
The use of a post-nominal is not authorized for this award.
Captain Rob G Wishnicki, CD awarded the General Campaign Star – SOUTH-WEST ASIA (GCS-SWA)for service with Op ATTENTION which ended 7 Dec 2013.
Members Deployed
Operation ATTENTION
Operation ATTENTION was Canada’s participation in the NATO Training Mission–Afghanistan (NTM-A), which delivers training and professional development support to the national security forces of Afghanistan: the Afghan National Army (ANA), the Afghan Air Force (AAF), and the Afghan National Police (ANP).
This general service award has been created as a means to recognize - in a timelier manner - those who serve in operations in the presence of an armed enemy. Rather than creating a new honour for each new Canadian Forces operation as it arises, the General Campaign Star and General Service Medal - with their theatre or service specific ribbons - can be awarded in future to honour participation in any operation that meets the criteria.
ELIGIBILITY & CRITERIA
The General Campaign Star (GCS) is awarded to members of the Canadian Forces and members of allied forces working with the Canadian Forces who deploy into a defined theatre of operations to take part in operations in the presence of an armed enemy.
The GCS is always issued with a ribbon specific to the theatre or type of service being recognized, and each ribbon has its own criteria.
The GCS with South-West Asia ribbon is awarded to Canadian Forces members and members of allied forces working with the Canadian Forces who served either:
with the Canadian contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan for at least 30 days cumulative between 24 April 2003 and 31 July 2009, in the theatre of operations which consisted of the political boundaries and airspace of Afghanistan; and/or
in the theatre of operations consisting of the political boundaries of Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal and those parts of the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea that are west of sixty-eight degrees East longitude and north of five degrees South latitude, as well as the airspace above those areas for at least 30 cumulative days commencing on August 1, 2009, provided that the service has not been recognized by another service medal.
The Star and Rotation Bars shall be awarded for honourable service.
DESCRIPTION
The GCS is a gold-coloured four-pointed star, 44 mm across, representing the cardinal points of a compass bearing on the obverse, built-up in order from the back: a wreath of maple leaves terminating at the top with the Royal Crown, two crossed swords, the blades and hilts forming four additional points to the star, an anchor and a flying eagle. The wreath represents honour, the maple leaves represent Canada, the anchor, crossed swords and eagle represent the three services of the Canadian Forces and the Crown represents the Queen of Canada and her role as the fount of all honours. On the reverse appear within a raised circle, from top to bottom: the Royal Cypher ensigned by the Royal Crown, a plain space for engraving, and three maple leaves on one stem.
The ribbon passes through a ring attached to a small ball at the top point of the star.
The ribbon is 32 mm wide with a central stripe of green (12 mm), on either side of which are stripes of white (2 mm) and red (8 mm). Red and white are the official colours of Canada as appointed by King George V in 1921 and green represents service.
The rotations bars for the Star are gold in colour with a raised edge and bear either one or five maples leaves.
WEARING
The GCS-SWA shall be worn in the 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 General Campaign Star with ALLIED FORCE ribbon and the General Campaign Star with EXPEDITION ribbon;
One bar is worn centred on the ribbon;
If multiple bars have been awarded, they shall be evenly spaced on the ribbon in the order earned, with the first bar earned worn the closest to the Star; and
When the undress ribbon is worn, a silver maple leaf shall be worn centred on the ribbon of the Medal to indicate the award of a Rotation Bar, a gold maple leaf shall be worn to indicate the award of a second Rotation Bar and a red maple leaf shall be worn to indicate the award of a third Rotation Bar. If more than three Rotation Bars have been awarded, those devices shall be worn in combination so as to indicate the total number of Bars awarded.
POSTNOMINALS
The use of a post-nominal is not authorized for this award.
Captain Rob G Wishnicki, CD awarded the General Campaign Star – SOUTH-WEST ASIA (GCS-SWA)for service with Op ATTENTION which ended 7 Dec 2013.
Members Deployed
Operation ATTENTION
Operation ATTENTION was Canada’s participation in the NATO Training Mission–Afghanistan (NTM-A), which delivers training and professional development support to the national security forces of Afghanistan: the Afghan National Army (ANA), the Afghan Air Force (AAF), and the Afghan National Police (ANP).
Canadian Contribution Training Mission–AfghanistanThe Canadian task force — known as the Canadian Contribution to the Training Mission in Afghanistan or CCTM-A — was concentrated in Kabul, with satellite teams in Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat.
Most CCTM-A members served with the Training Advisory Groups assigned to ANA, AAF and ANP training establishments to assist the Afghan leadership and instructor cadre with tasks such as curriculum design and development of teaching skills. The task force also included senior officers who were integrated into the NTM‑A command team, and a significant contingent of experienced staff personnel who served at NTM-A Headquarters.
Operation ATTENTION had a legislated personnel cap of 950 Canadian Forces members. The number deployed at any given time depended on NTM-A requirements.
Mission context
NATO Training Mission–AfghanistanFormally activated on 21 November 2009, NTM-A has a mandate to consolidate, standardize and strengthen the training and professional development that the Afghan national security forces have received from ISAF since 2006. NTM-A operates in parallel with ISAF under the ISAF Joint Command in Kabul.
The NTM-A mission is to “support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as it generates and sustains the Afghan national security forces, develops leaders, and establishes enduring capacity in order to enable accountable Afghan-led security.”
In its first year (2009–2010), NTM-A focussed on recruitment, increasing the quality of Afghan soldiers and police, and building the foundations of professionalization across the Afghan national security forces. In its second year (2010–2011), NTM-A priorities were instruction skills, leadership, literacy, vocational skills, stewardship and institutional development.
Since 2012, NTM-A has been working to sustain its momentum while initiating preparations for the transfer of the lead security responsibility to Afghan control in 2014. This is a conditions-based process that will take place when:
the Afghan national security forces are ready to shoulder responsibility for security with steadily decreasing assistance from ISAF;
security has improved to the point that people can go about and do business in safety; and
local governance has developed to the point that public safety will not suffer with the decrease in ISAF assistance.
Captain Rob G Wishnicki, CD is OP Attention, TF 2-13, CCTM-A- Afghanistan 28 June - 7 Dec 2013
Most CCTM-A members served with the Training Advisory Groups assigned to ANA, AAF and ANP training establishments to assist the Afghan leadership and instructor cadre with tasks such as curriculum design and development of teaching skills. The task force also included senior officers who were integrated into the NTM‑A command team, and a significant contingent of experienced staff personnel who served at NTM-A Headquarters.
Operation ATTENTION had a legislated personnel cap of 950 Canadian Forces members. The number deployed at any given time depended on NTM-A requirements.
Mission context
NATO Training Mission–AfghanistanFormally activated on 21 November 2009, NTM-A has a mandate to consolidate, standardize and strengthen the training and professional development that the Afghan national security forces have received from ISAF since 2006. NTM-A operates in parallel with ISAF under the ISAF Joint Command in Kabul.
The NTM-A mission is to “support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as it generates and sustains the Afghan national security forces, develops leaders, and establishes enduring capacity in order to enable accountable Afghan-led security.”
In its first year (2009–2010), NTM-A focussed on recruitment, increasing the quality of Afghan soldiers and police, and building the foundations of professionalization across the Afghan national security forces. In its second year (2010–2011), NTM-A priorities were instruction skills, leadership, literacy, vocational skills, stewardship and institutional development.
Since 2012, NTM-A has been working to sustain its momentum while initiating preparations for the transfer of the lead security responsibility to Afghan control in 2014. This is a conditions-based process that will take place when:
the Afghan national security forces are ready to shoulder responsibility for security with steadily decreasing assistance from ISAF;
security has improved to the point that people can go about and do business in safety; and
local governance has developed to the point that public safety will not suffer with the decrease in ISAF assistance.
Captain Rob G Wishnicki, CD is OP Attention, TF 2-13, CCTM-A- Afghanistan 28 June - 7 Dec 2013