OTTAWA—His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, announces the creation of the EXPEDITION bar to the Special Service Medal (SSM). The SSM and the new bar will be awarded to Canadian Armed Forces members for honourable service performed outside Canada, while participating in or providing direct support on a full-time basis to approved operations.
“Canadian Armed Forces members who proudly serve our country merit our recognition and gratitude,” said His Excellency. “I am pleased that the new EXPEDITION bar will provide formal recognition of the valued contributions of the women and men who offer critical support while deployed overseas, and who participate in the success of a number of missions.”
The SSM was created in 1984, and has always been issued with a bar that specifies the service being recognized; each bar has its own eligibility criteria. The EXPEDITION bar is being introduced to ensure an inclusive and consistent recognition for a broader spectrum of overseas service and was especially designed to fill a gap where certain missions were not eligible for recognition.
For more information on this military honour and on the eligibility criteria, please visit the Directorate of Honours and Recognition section of the Department of National Defence website at http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhr-ddhr/chc-tdh/chart-tableau-eng.asp?ref=SSM&submit1=Go.
-30-
A high-resolution image of the EXPEDITION bar to the Special Service Medal is available for download at www.gg.ca/images/SSM_barretteEXPbar.jpg.
Marie-Pierre Bélanger
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-9166
marie-pierre.belanger@gg.ca
Department of National Defence
Media Relations
613-996-2353
1-866-377-0811 (toll-free)
Follow GGDavidJohnston and RideauHall on Facebook and Twitter
