This medal recognizes service with or in direct support of operations against terrorism in South-West Asia.
The medal is awarded to those employed in direct support, and the AFGHANISTAN bar is added for those deployed into the theatre of operations.
“In direct support” means a person deployed to a unit or organization outside Canada, but not into the theatre of operations, whose primary duty is to provide direct assistance, on a full time basis to the operations against terrorism in South-West Asia.
The Medal, AFGHANISTAN Bar and Rotation Bars shall be awarded for honourable service in accordance with Chapter 1.
Regulations governing the award of the medal are reprinted in Annex M, Appendix 1.
The period of eligibility for this medal is 11 September 2001 to 31 July 2009.
The South-West Asia Service Medal (SWASM) is awarded for a minimum of 90 days cumulative service in direct support of operations against terrorism in South-West Asia. For more details, consult the eligible service list (Annex M, Appendix 2).
The medal with AFGHANISTAN Bar is awarded for 30 days cumulative service between 11 September 2001 and 31 July 2009 in the theatre of operations. For more details, consult the eligible service list (Annex M, Appendix 3).
The theatre of operations is defined as the land, sea, or airspaces of Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Suez Canal and those parts of the Indian Ocean north of 5º South Latitude and west of 68º East Longitude.
CF members deployed or in direct support of the operations against terrorism in South-West Asia are eligible. The medal is awarded to those employed in direct support, and the AFGHANISTAN bar is added for those deployed into the theatre of operations.
CF exchange personnel posted to foreign units or organizations in direct support of operations as described above are eligible for this medal unless the said service has been recognized by the host nation.
The only civilians eligible are members of the Public Service working for the CF, Canadian civilians under contract with the CF and Canadian Police Officers serving under the authority of the CF in the locations described above and between the dates indicated. Foreign civilians are not eligible for the SWASM.
The only members of allied forces eligible are those who serve in approved locations on behalf of Canada. They are usually foreign exchange personnel who deploy with CF units or personnel seconded to the CF specifically to serve in its mission. In all cases, they must be on the Canadian Forces Task Plans and Operations (CFTPO) filling a Canadian position and they are usually assigned a CF SN. Foreign personnel working in concert with the CF or reporting to a Canadian superior in an international context are not eligible for Canadian service medals.
All service under the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is not eligible for the SWASM but qualifies for the SOUTH-WEST ASIA ribbon to either the General Campaign Star (GCS) or General Service Medal (GSM). For more details, refer to Annex N, Appendix 3.
Any person who dies or is evacuated because of injuries or medical reasons directly attributable to service is deemed to have satisfied the time criteria set out above. Any recipient of the Medal with AFGHANISTAN Bar who dies or is evacuated because of injuries or medical reasons directly attributable to service shall be credited the entire period the person would have served in theatre should the person have completed their tour of duty for the purpose of calculating eligibility for Rotation Bars.
Recipients of the SWASM without the AFGHANISTAN Bar are not eligible for Rotation Bars.
Rotation Bars are awarded to recognize a further 180 days of eligible service following qualification for the Medal with AFGHANISTAN bar or the last Rotation Bar the person has earned.
AFGHANISTAN bar
The AFGHANISTAN Bar to the medal denotes 30 days cumulative service between 11 September 2001 and 31 July 2009 in the theatre of operations.
