The Australian Operational Service Medal - Africa recognises operations that occur across the African region. To qualify, Defence members and allied foreign Defence Force members must have been deployed or force assigned for duty as a member of a declared operation for a period of 30 continuous days or for periods that total 30 days.
The following are the current declared operations and dates:
- Operation ASLAN that commenced on 1 November 2023 within the area comprising the land area and superjacent airspace of South Sudan
- Operation ORENDA that commenced on 1 April 2020 within the area comprising the land area and superjacent airspace of the Republic of Mali.
The following conditions must be met in relation to the service.
- The service must be given while the ADF member or allied foreign Defence Force member is assigned for Operational duties on operations that comprise Africa.
- The period of eligible service can only be used towards one award. A member is not eligible for the award of the Australian Operational Service Medal - Africa for service during the same period for which they received the Australian Service Medal or another Australian Operational Service Medal.
- An ADF member or allied foreign Defence Force member may be awarded only one Australian Operational Service Medal – Africa for their service on declared operations.
The Australian Operational Service Medal – Africa is not available for service involving non-operational duties such as:
- participation in training activities
- exercises and conferences (with no planning objectives)
- liaison visits
- lessons learnt/fact finding
- activities and command/staff visits.
The medal is a cupro-nickel medal finished in antique silver. The obverse bears an old-world stylised world globe signifying global operations, interlinked with a Federation Star. The globe is surrounded by the words ‘AUSTRALIAN OPERATIONAL SERVICE MEDAL’.
The reverse bears a central horizontal stylised scroll with the words ‘Defending Australia and its national interests’, overlaying a wreath of mimosa, above which sits an hour glass motif signifying the ongoing vigilance and timely response of Defence.
The ribbon denoting AFRICA is 32 millimetres wide. It has a central red stripe, flanked by black stripes of equal width, bordered with golden yellow and white stripes of equal width and edged with mid-green stripes.
Declaration and Determination of 27th October 2023.
Australian Operational Service Medal (Africa) Instrument 2023 (PDF, 839.83 KB)