Special Service Medal (SSM)
The Special Service Medal (SSM) was created to recognize members of the Canadian Forces who are taking part in activities and operations under exceptional circumstances.
ELIGIBILITY & CRITERIA
The Special Service Medal (SSM) recognizes members of the Canadian Forces (CF) who have performed a service determined to be under exceptional circumstances, in a clearly defined locality for a specified duration. The SSM recognizes approved activities underway on 11 June 1984 or subsequently established. This medals is always issued with a bar that specifies the special service being recognized, each bar having its own criteria.
DESCRIPTION
The Medal shall be circular in form, of copper and zinc alloy, 36 mm in diameter, bearing:
on the obverse, a maple leaf surrounded by a laurel wreath;
on the reverse the inscription "SPECIAL SERVICE SPÉCIAL" ensigned with the Royal Crown and Cypher.
A single-toe claw attached to the top of the medal and to the centre of a straight, slotted bar.
The ribbon is 32 mm wide with a dark green centre (12 mm) flanked with white stripes (5mm) and edged with red (5 mm). The dark green is similar to the "unification green" of the uniform worn when the medal was approved in 1984, red and white are the official colours of Canada as appointed by King George V in 1921.
The bars are silver in colour with a raised edge and bear the title of the bar on a pebbled background.
NATO Bar
Awarded for an aggregate of 180 days of honourable service within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) area of responsibility between 1 January 1951 and 19 October 2004.
Mar 94 Captain Noel RR Dykes, CD was awarded the SSM with NATO bar. Headquarters presentations are often in congruence with the expectations of field units. The presentation of this award was a “simple sliding across the table during the Headquarters’ Commanding Officer’s O Group.”
ELIGIBILITY & CRITERIA
The Special Service Medal (SSM) recognizes members of the Canadian Forces (CF) who have performed a service determined to be under exceptional circumstances, in a clearly defined locality for a specified duration. The SSM recognizes approved activities underway on 11 June 1984 or subsequently established. This medals is always issued with a bar that specifies the special service being recognized, each bar having its own criteria.
DESCRIPTION
The Medal shall be circular in form, of copper and zinc alloy, 36 mm in diameter, bearing:
on the obverse, a maple leaf surrounded by a laurel wreath;
on the reverse the inscription "SPECIAL SERVICE SPÉCIAL" ensigned with the Royal Crown and Cypher.
A single-toe claw attached to the top of the medal and to the centre of a straight, slotted bar.
The ribbon is 32 mm wide with a dark green centre (12 mm) flanked with white stripes (5mm) and edged with red (5 mm). The dark green is similar to the "unification green" of the uniform worn when the medal was approved in 1984, red and white are the official colours of Canada as appointed by King George V in 1921.
The bars are silver in colour with a raised edge and bear the title of the bar on a pebbled background.
NATO Bar
Awarded for an aggregate of 180 days of honourable service within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) area of responsibility between 1 January 1951 and 19 October 2004.
Mar 94 Captain Noel RR Dykes, CD was awarded the SSM with NATO bar. Headquarters presentations are often in congruence with the expectations of field units. The presentation of this award was a “simple sliding across the table during the Headquarters’ Commanding Officer’s O Group.”