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Who could earn the Afghanistan Medal?

This medal was given to members of the Australian Defence Force and some approved civilians who served in the mission. To qualify, a person had to work in the Afghanistan area for at least 30 days between 2001 and 2014. Thousands of sailors, soldiers, and air force members earned this honor for their long service. It recognized their hard work in everything from dangerous combat patrols to helping rebuild towns and schools across the country.

The Australian government officially created the medal in 2004. Queen Elizabeth II started the award after being asked by the Australian Prime Minister. It was made because the mission in Afghanistan lasted for a very long time and was quite difficult for the troops. The government felt that because of the intensity of the war, the soldiers deserved a special campaign medal to show they were part of this specific mission.

What colors are on its ribbon?

The medal hangs from a ribbon with several bright vertical stripes. You can see colors like khaki, red, purple, light blue, and green on the fabric. Each of these specific colors represents a different part of the Australian military forces, including the army, navy, and air force. It is worn on the left side of the chest to show others the importance of the duty performed during the conflict.

What image is on the medal reverse?

The back of the medal shows a detailed picture of a rocky mountain range. It also features a snow leopard standing on the stones. This design was chosen to show the rough and difficult land found throughout Afghanistan. It reminds people that the soldiers worked in a place with very tall, steep mountains and extremely cold weather.

Are new Afghanistan Medals still given out today?

No, the time to earn this medal for new service has ended. It was only for people who served in the Afghanistan region between the years 2001 and 2014. If a person earned the medal back then but never received their copy, they can still apply to get it now. Today, the medal stands as an important historical symbol of the work done during that long 13-year mission.

Who could earn the Afghanistan Medal?

This medal was given to members of the Australian Defence Force and some approved civilians who served in the mission. To qualify, a person had to work in the Afghanistan area for at least 30 days between 2001 and 2014. Thousands of sailors, soldiers, and air force members earned this honor for their long service. It recognized their hard work in everything from dangerous combat patrols to helping rebuild towns and schools across the country.

The Australian government officially created the medal in 2004. Queen Elizabeth II started the award after being asked by the Australian Prime Minister. It was made because the mission in Afghanistan lasted for a very long time and was quite difficult for the troops. The government felt that because of the intensity of the war, the soldiers deserved a special campaign medal to show they were part of this specific mission.

What colors are on its ribbon?

The medal hangs from a ribbon with several bright vertical stripes. You can see colors like khaki, red, purple, light blue, and green on the fabric. Each of these specific colors represents a different part of the Australian military forces, including the army, navy, and air force. It is worn on the left side of the chest to show others the importance of the duty performed during the conflict.

What image is on the medal reverse?

The back of the medal shows a detailed picture of a rocky mountain range. It also features a snow leopard standing on the stones. This design was chosen to show the rough and difficult land found throughout Afghanistan. It reminds people that the soldiers worked in a place with very tall, steep mountains and extremely cold weather.

Are new Afghanistan Medals still given out today?

No, the time to earn this medal for new service has ended. It was only for people who served in the Afghanistan region between the years 2001 and 2014. If a person earned the medal back then but never received their copy, they can still apply to get it now. Today, the medal stands as an important historical symbol of the work done during that long 13-year mission.

Home Library AustraliaAfghanistan Medal

Campaign medal

Afghanistan Medal

A specific campaign medal awarded for military service during the international conflict in Afghanistan.

Australia Established 2004 All servicesPrecedence: Worn after the International Coalition Against Terrorism Medal

Medals & Awards

Awarded For

Awarded for 30 days of service in the designated Afghanistan area of operations between 2001 and 2014.

Eligibility

Australian Defence Force personnel and approved civilians deployed to Afghanistan.

Branch

All services

Precedence

Worn after the International Coalition Against Terrorism Medal

Afghanistan Medal, Campaign medal, Australia medal

History

In 2004, the Australian government established the Afghanistan Medal to specifically recognize military duty in the Afghanistan theatre. It was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Initially, Australian service personnel in the region had received broader active service awards with clasps. However, due to the duration and intensity of the operation, the government felt a dedicated campaign medal was necessary.

Thousands of Australian sailors, soldiers, and aviators received the medal for duties ranging from combat patrols to reconstruction work across the country.