UN Special Service Medal (UNSSM)

The official description, eligibility, criteria, and history of the UN Special Service Medal (UNSSM).


UN Special Service Medal (UNSSM)

 


UN Special Service Medal (UNSSM)

 

Context

This medal was established in June 1995 to recognize those personnel serving the United Nations in capacities other than established peace-keeping missions and United Nations Headquarters.

Eligibility and criteria

This medal is awarded for 90 days consecutive service for the following UN missions:

The UN strictly applies their medals policy and will not consider requests for initial issue of the UN medals that are submitted more than one year after repatriation from the mission area.

The qualifying service is not required for members killed or presumed killed while on assignment. In such cases, the medal may be awarded posthumously.

Description

A circular bronze alloy medal, 1.4 inches (35mm) in diameter,

A 0.5 inch (12mm) bronze ring, which holds the ribbon, passes through a small hollow ball at the top of a claw joined to the top of the medal.

The colour combination consists of a large UN blue stripe framed between two white stripes.

Bar(s)

There is a bar produced for some of the missions recognized by this medal; the bar bears the name of the country or name of the UN organization concerned (e.g. UNAMA). These bars are not created centrally by the UN but rather approved and produced locally by the missions and therefore bars are not created for every mission and those created vary in design and quality.

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, after the MINUSMA medal and before the UNHQ medal.

Post-nominals

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

Page details

Date modified: