Golden Jubilee Medals

[Michael Dorosh]

Originally posted by Coniar:
[qb]Im (as always) confused. I dont know what you all think of the Monarchy but I personaly see it as a part of our History not to be forgotten and If some one where to hand me a metal hounoring the Queen I certainly would wear it with pride. I think having a medal for doing well on the firing range or an obstacle course is stupid but for courage and campaigns they are deserved. Think about it, any member of the armed forces that has served for any lengthe of time during that lengthe of time has in a way been part of a campaign and helped to keep the peace during all those years thus deserving a medal to recognise there service.

Makes sense to me...

Coniar [/qb]

I think the concern here, however, is that these medals don‘t always go to deserving candidates. I recall one Army unit that received its sum of Canada125 medals, and promptly gave one of them to a Navy officer and another to a CO that had retired 15 years previously, never appeared in uniform at mess functions or for any other reason, and was probably not ever going to wear the medal. In other words, the distribution of the awards was highly politicized, and instead of honouring worthy soldiers for their performance/attendance, it went to paying off political favours.

 

[portcullisguy]

Well Dorosh, that‘s the trouble you see, particularly under our present regime.

One way to look at it is that the people who end up with the medals, however inappropriate it may seem, probably don‘t deserve it any LESS, just that others might have deserved it MORE.

Personally, I could care less who gets one. I know I won‘t be, as I just got here, and I believe there is a 3 or 5 year service minimum (if the British model is anything to go by). It‘s more important that the medal be struck in recognition of the event, than to worry about who it goes to.

My uncle fought in the Falklands and shot down 2 Argie Skyhawks, and served a full career with the Royal Navy, mainly on exchanges and far-flung postings (Germany, Hong Kong, US, Caribbean, etc.), all he ever got was the South Atlantic Medal. He‘s not the "gong" type, although I am quite sure he is very, very proud to wear that one medal, when occasions call for it.

 

[jrhume]

Interesting conversation. And informative.

Thought you might like to know how ‘gongs‘ were awarded to US soldiers in Vietnam. I was not a combat soldier, so my own decorations are typical of a single-tour VN veteran.

I served in the US Army for three years - 1965-68 - and kept my nose clean so I received the Good Conduct and National Defense ribbons along with millions of my contemporaries.

For VN service I received a VN Service Medal and the VN Campaign ribbon with two stars. (Before Tet, ‘68 and after that event were two different campaigns)

Both of the units I was with were awarded Vietnamese Unit Citations with palm, so I could wear that if I knew what the **** it was. There is also an unofficial Cold War medal out there, although it‘s mostly for civilians who served in various posts during the Cold War era.

So, that‘s it. Four awards, two of which were for simple honorable service and two for VN service. I could wear those in miniature on civilian dress clothing, but since I never wear such stuff, I just have a VN service badge for my cap, along with unit badges, rank, etc.

Infantrymen typically were awarded the CIB and helicopter crew members earned beucoup Air Medals.


Jim

 

[meamer]

To add insult to injury, only trained privates and above, and Lieutenants and above qualify for the medal. I have 12 years service, but just recently commissioned, so am but a mere 2Lt. Seems my loyalty to Her Majesty is less because of my apparent "lack" of standing in the Forces.

In regard to other members‘ posts about not liking the idea of commemorative medals like this - I think there is a need for them. I just have to look around my armoury to see people that devote 2 nights a week and at least one weekend a month - some a lot more - to the army. This on top of their own civilian careers. All too often I have sat on the bus going to an ex listening to a guy bemoaning the fact that he is going away with the militia for the weekend on yet another of his wife‘s birthdays and is gonna catch **** for it when he gets home, or is missing another of his kid‘s birthdays etc etc. Not to take away from the Reg Force guys out there, they do more of this than we do, bit there are some very devoted people out there who get little or no recognition for their service. On the Land Force Reserve Restructure page, people questioned why there wouldn‘t be a wider distribution etc. Higher told us that there were other awards for long service etc OMM, MMM etc etc. When was the last time you heard of a militia Sgt getting the MMM? :warstory:

 

[Recce41]

Well
Theres only 8000, so stop crying. Not everyone will get one. Growup and stop proving me right about the RESs. As for MMM,OMM. You have to something special. What have you done? Made it to work on time.
Sgt J. CD,CDS com
Bold and Swift/AIRBORNE!

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Recce 41,
You want to get together when you come home, you better let me know when it will be. You have my email.

 

[Veteran`s son]

Are retired CF personnel eligible for the Golden Jubilee Medal?

My Dad retired from the CF a little over 30 years ago, would he be eligible for this medal?

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Matt Eamer - I heard an ubsubstantiated rumour that in my unit, the senior serving corporal was to get one; the dude who got it was a good troop, and no sour grapes on my part, but because of a mandatory remuster on my part, the fact that I have a year of service on him got lost in the shuffle. So if it makes you feel better, you‘re not the only one.

It was kind of funny also, that since our senior serving Lieutenant had been CFR, he added the Golden Jubilee to his rack - which also includes the Silver Jubilee medal!

 

[Doug VT]

No offense to anyone who may have received this pointless medal, but something as insignificant as this should either go to all those presently serving, or no one at all...