New Defence Force Medal

[falcon91]

I know there are some current and past servicemen and women on this site so here is some news.
The Australian Defence Force is issuing a new medal for service. This is not replacing the 15 year one already issued. See Below

EligibilityIt is estimated that over one million serving and ex-serving ADF members will be eligible for the medal.

Ex-serving personnel who have served for four years (or have completed a lesser initial enlistment period) either as an ADF Regular or Reserve member since the end of World War II (3 September 1945) are eligible for the medal.

Eligibility for the medal has been extended to those personnel who:

have died in service; or
have been medically discharged with a compensatory impairment at the time of their discharge, thus rendering them unable to serve the required minimum qualifying period; or
have honourably served but, due to some Defence workplace enlistment policies of the time (as determined by the Chief of the Defence Force), were unable to serve the required minimum qualifying period.
National servicemen will also be eligible for the ADM, as the completion of their National Service obligation will be considered as completion of an initial enlistment period of service

http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/dpe_site/honours_awards/

[Mack 6]

Will this be along the lines of the "new" 6 year long service medal.

Like all the others, you get the 6 year the same time you get your 15 year medal.

Maybe when your dad goes to malaya and borneo, get's shot at and then is refused a medal because he allegedly got there 2 days after it was declared a combat zone? He doesn't really want it but my uncle (current member and viet vet) and I tried to get one for him.

I applaud recognition of service and respect those that work for their medals, but some are thrown around far too much these days.

[falcon91]

I agree 20+ years and three medals later. The new guys seem to have heaps from the Middle east, most (Not all ) are nowhere near the front end. I know for a fact that RAAF 707 pilots who refuel (Midair )F-18s received a medal and they where never closer than 1200ks from Kuwait. Took off and landed in Cyprus for gods sake.

I just put this info in, incase of any interest from past defence members that's all.

[pertuan]

From what I know and the buzz I've heard around the passageways, it was supposed to be the 6 year medal. You were only supposed to be eligible if you signed on after your initial 6 years was up. ie. 6 years and 1 day and you'll get it.

However, some people who have only 4 year contracts complained saying that they would be disadvantaged so they've changed it to 4 years. Thats what I've heard anyway.

[Redrum]

I have heard will be a massive waiting preiod for this medal!!

[Envious]

Originally Posted by pertuan

From what I know and the buzz I've heard around the passageways, it was supposed to be the 6 year medal. You were only supposed to be eligible if you signed on after your initial 6 years was up. ie. 6 years and 1 day and you'll get it.

However, some people who have only 4 year contracts complained saying that they would be disadvantaged so they've changed it to 4 years. Thats what I've heard anyway.

It was originally a 6 year gong, yes. You got it if you served for 6 years, you didnt need to sign a 6 year contract to be eligible. The reason it has changed is because there were a lot of chocks out there kicking up a stink cause they didnt want to stay in for 6 years to get it. The waiting list is going to be massive, they are back-dating these to WW2 i believe.
Im expecting my grandchildren to recieve mine..

Maybe I'm bitter because a busted knee kept me from 6 months in Timor and 6 months in the gulf. boo hoo

Your just bitter cause your a pogue Mack, lol... : j/k.

I feel your pain mate, 3 hernias and staf infection kept me from timor and iraq...

[Mack 6]

Originally Posted by Envious

Your just bitter cause your a pogue Mack, lol... : j/k.

I am a relaxing Pogue now, but this was when I was in arty and I got to do it hard all the time.

Originally Posted by falcon91

Take it easy, spent 10 years in the Navy, then they went and sold the Melbourne (The real one) {You know your shaving with it} and then they transferred a lot of us "Birdies" to the RAAF to complete my 20+. I started this thread so people who have been in (Whatever Service) would be kept up to date.

Don't suppoose you remmeber a fellow by the name of Bailey? He was a pilot in the fleet air arm and after the melbourne, he left and became a pilot for Cathay.

[Envious]

Originally Posted by Mack 6

I am a relaxing Pogue now, but this was when I was in arty and I got to do it hard all the time.

Umm...ok, if you say so...lol.
So you were a disgruntled gun bunny with no hope of going anywhere and was getting yelled at all the time? hehehe :dr_Evil:

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by Envious

Umm...ok, if you say so...lol.
So you were a disgruntled gun bunny with no hope of going anywhere and was getting yelled at all the time? hehehe :dr_Evil:

Now, now kiddies, play nice!

You need to realise that you are all just training aids for medics :gren:

[Mack 6]

You think RAAF is bad, try seeing clerks go to.... anywhere outside of Aust for a couple of months. Doing paperwork in an office and coming back with medals.

Maybe I'm bitter because a busted knee kept me from 6 months in Timor and 6 months in the gulf. boo hoo

[pertuan]

You're a serving member I take it?

[Envious]

Originally Posted by pertuan

You're a serving member I take it?

could be... : hehe

[Bucknaked]

My dad did 20 years in the RAAF. Might have to give a call

[nobbystang]

Have already heard it nick named the RAAF medal. I earnt mine in the Navy so another one will just weigh that side of the shirt down a bit more, if i ever receive it, still waiting on one from 4 years ago.

[DW260]

Originally Posted by nobbystang

Have already heard it nick named the RAAF medal. I earnt mine in the Navy so another one will just weigh that side of the shirt down a bit more, if i ever receive it, still waiting on one from 4 years ago.

Join the queue...

[falcon91]

Originally Posted by nobbystang

Have already heard it nick named the RAAF medal. I earnt mine in the Navy so another one will just weigh that side of the shirt down a bit more, if i ever receive it, still waiting on one from 4 years ago.

Take it easy, spent 10 years in the Navy, then they went and sold the Melbourne (The real one) {You know your shaving with it} and then they transferred a lot of us "Birdies" to the RAAF to complete my 20+. I started this thread so people who have been in (Whatever Service) would be kept up to date. Then again pride in your own service is also a good thing. As long as we don't end up looking like the yanks with 14 rows of medals that don't mean a thing. Rant over!

[Mack 6]

I don't believe a word that comes out of a RAFFie's mouth.... unless of course I'm out bush eating out of a cold CRP and the RAAFis tell me they just had filet minion(?) and nice tasting roast potatoes in their hotboxes.

That much I'll believe.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by Mack 6

I don't believe a word that comes out of a RAFFie's mouth.... unless of course I'm out bush eating out of a cold CRP and the RAAFis tell me they just had filet minion(?) and nice tasting roast potatoes in their hotboxes.

That much I'll believe.

Hot boxes?

Jeez, I did my nashos in Sinagapore with 6RAR. We used to get up to Butterworth RAAF base every few months for "guard duty" (read golf, hanging around Penang etc) but never did I see an RAAF hotbox.
Plenty of tables, tablecloths, fresh milk, fresh meat, fresh vegies but not a hotbox in sight ;)

[Mack 6]

they don't have those old metal ones that are robust enough to handle getting run over by a bucket (they even make the army food better that way).

They are now state of the are blow moulded plastic that are super dooper for food. I don't see them tho.

Saying that. I was guarding 114CARU (I think) out in the middle of nowhere. No shops for miles yet they brought out a half chicken and chips and a coke for my Det. Bugger knows where it came from.

[DivHunter]

Pretty sure my uncle was on the Melbourne and a few other ships. Got to go under one (frigate I believe) while it was in dry dock, that was a while ago probably around 10 years. Went to a fordmods cruise in Syd a couple of years back and met a bloke with a pretty sweet mock XY GT then on the way back home stopping in Canberra found out that him and his wife were good friends with my uncle and aunty from their navy days, small world.

[Mutley]

Yes, Arrived in Jan 1988 and served in 111, HQ, 110 and then back to 111. I finished in the regs in 1992 and transferred to the Ready reserve. I kept going untill 1995. My last Ex was K 95. A good chance we might have crossed paths.