The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Afghanistan: Secondary Operational Area)
Overview
The New Zealand General Service Medal (Afghanistan) was instituted in 2002 to recognise New Zealand personnel (both military and non military) who served in Afghanistan from December 2001. There are two qualifying geographical areas for this award. The NZGSM 2002 (Afghanistan: Secondary Operational Area) recognises service in operational areas in the Middle East where supporting operations were based. The NZGSM 2002 (Afghanistan: Primary Operational Area) recognises service in Afghanistan itself. Different medal ribbons denote the primary and secondary areas.
Description
The NZGSM 2002 (Afghanistan: Secondary Operational Area) is silver in colour and circular in shape. On the obverse is the Effigy of the Sovereign surrounded by the legend 'ELIZABETH II QUEEN OF NEW ZEALAND'. On the reverse, the inscription 'THE NEW ZEALAND GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL' within a wreath of New Zealand flora (fern fronds, pohutukawa, and kowhai blossom) ensigned by a Royal Crown. The wreath of New Zealand flora adds a distinctive New Zealand appearance to the medal.
The ribbon has a central black stripe bordered by narrow red stripes and broad green stripes, with a narrow light blue stripe on either edge. Black, red, and green are the colours of the Flag of Afghanistan. Black represents the past, red for blood shed in the fight for independence, and green represents hope. The light blue edges represents service at sea and in the air in the areas surrounding Afghanistan.
There are no clasps or bars for this medal.
Eligibility
Members of the New Zealand Armed Forces, NZDF civilian staff, NZ Police, and other New Zealand citizens and permanent residents who were deployed at the direction of the New Zealand Government from December 2001 to August 2021 to:
- sea areas in the Middle East where New Zealand ships and aircraft undertook maritime interdiction patrols to intercept weapons and other contraband being transported to support international terrorist groups; or
- countries near Afghanistan in which forces were based to support the operations in Afghanistan or support the maritime interdiction patrols against international terrorism.
New Regulations approved in December 2018 allow personnel who completed the required amounts of qualifying service in both the primary and secondary operational areas to wear both the NZGSM 2002 (Afghanistan: Primary Operational Area) and the NZGSM 2002 (Afghanistan: Secondary Operational Area). Previously they were only awarded one NZGSM 2002 (Afghanistan), and wore it with the ribbon for the primary operational area.
The NZGSM 2002 (Afghanistan: Secondary Operational Area) ceased to be awarded for service on or after 6 December 2014. The NZGSM 2002 (Greater Middle East) is the successor medal.
For full details:
Royal Warrant for the New Zealand General Service Medal 2002(external link)
Recipients
The NZGSM 2002 (Afghanistan: Secondary Operational Area) has been awarded to over 800 NZDF personnel.
Queries & requests
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Wearing this medal
The New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Afghanistan: Secondary Operational Area) is worn as a campaign medal in the New Zealand Order of Wear. It may be worn before or after the New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Primary: Operational Area), depending on when the recipient served in each theatre.
Campaign medals are worn in order of date of participation in the campaign, operation, or peacekeeping mission for which the medal was awarded. This includes United Nations, NATO mission, and European Union mission medals. As a result, different individuals may mount their medals in different orders depending on the time served in theatre.
For more information on how to wear and care for honours, medals, and awards:
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Applying for this medal
NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals (PAM) issues war, operational and service medals to current and former NZDF members.
If you or someone you know may be eligible, you can apply through our application page.
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Checking if this medal was issued
Honours, medals, and awards bestowed on an individual for service in the New Zealand Armed Forces are recorded in their individual service record. NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals holds a collection of about 1.5 million service records relating to 420,000 New Zealand service personnel who served in New Zealand’s Military Forces after the First World War.
Service records are not currently digitised, but we can locate it and find the information you might be looking for or help you book a time for you to see the records in Trentham by completing the form on the Service Record page.