History
The Australian Operational Service Medal was established on 22 May 2012 by Letters Patent and the Australian Operational Service Medal Regulations 2012, replacing the Australian Active Service Medal and the Australian Service Medal for future operations. The Indo-Pacific version, declared by an instrument made in 2024 and registered on 12 January 2025, recognises Australian Defence Force members who have served on contemporary operations across the Indo-Pacific region, with the first medals anticipated for dispatch from the second quarter of 2025.
The declared operations reach across the region and back in time: Operation Gateway preserving regional security and stability in South East Asia, Operation Render Safe disposing of explosive remnants of the Second World War in the South Pacific, Operation Augury supporting the Philippines against terrorism and violent extremism, Operation Argos enforcing United Nations sanctions on North Korea, Operation Saville monitoring territorial waters from November 2014, Operation Linsemen supporting the Inter-Korean peace process, and Operation Lilia supporting the Solomon Islands from 2021 to 2024. Only one medal may be awarded for service on Indo-Pacific operations, however many of them a member serves on.
Design & ribbon
The medal
The Australian Operational Service 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 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 hourglass motif signifying the ongoing vigilance and timely response of Defence.
The ribbon
A central yellow stripe within greens for the Pacific, flanked by light blue and edged deep blue for the sea and the air.
The ribbon has a central yellow stripe surrounded by green stripes, which represent the flora and beaches of the Pacific. These are flanked by light blue stripes and edged with deep blue, representing service on the sea and in the air.
Eligibility
The medal is awarded by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Chief of the Defence Force or a delegate. Australian Defence Force 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 thirty continuous days, or for periods that total thirty days.
- Only one medal may be awarded for service on Indo-Pacific operations, however many declared operations a member serves on;
- Eligible current serving personnel are not required to apply; lists are drawn from operational logs and awards are dispatched to the member's unit for presentation;
- The full list of declared operations, areas and dates is set out in the Operational Service Medal instruments.
Order of wear
The Operational Service Medals are worn among the Australian campaign and operational awards, after the Australian Service Medal. Where a person holds more than one Operational Service Medal, they are worn in order of date of qualifying service. The precise neighbours should be confirmed against the current Australian Order of Wear.
Frequently asked questions
Which operations does the medal cover?
Contemporary operations across the Indo-Pacific region. The declared operations include Gateway, Render Safe, Augury in the Philippines, Argos enforcing United Nations sanctions on North Korea, Saville monitoring territorial waters from November 2014, Linsemen supporting the Inter-Korean peace process, and Lilia in the Solomon Islands from 2021 to 2024. The full list is in the instruments.
How much service is needed to qualify?
Thirty continuous days deployed or force assigned to a declared operation, or periods that total thirty days.
Do I need to apply?
Eligible current serving personnel are not required to apply. Lists of eligible personnel are drawn from operational logs, and awards are processed and dispatched to the member's unit for presentation.
Can I receive more than one Indo-Pacific medal?
No. Only one medal may be awarded for service on Indo-Pacific operations, however many declared operations you serve on.
Can allied personnel receive it?
Yes. Allied foreign defence force members who meet the qualifying service on a declared operation are eligible alongside ADF members.
Does it carry a post-nominal?
No.