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The United Nations Special Service Medal Obverse The United Nations Special Service Medal Reverse

The United Nations Special Service Medal

Overview

The United Nations Special Service Medal (UNSSM) was created in 1995 to recognise personnel serving the United Nations in capacities other than established peace-keeping missions and United Nations Headquarters.  

Description

The medal is bronze in colour and circular in shape. The obverse depicts the official emblem of the United Nations, surmounted by the letters "UN". The reverse bears the inscription  "IN THE SERVICE OF PEACE."

The ribbon is light blue with white edges.

A bar with the name of the United Nations Organization or country may be awarded with the United Nations Special Service Medal.  The following are bars that have been issued with the UN Special Service Medal:

  • the "UNSCOM" clasp for service with the United Nations Special Commission on Iraq (UNSCOM) between 1991 and 1999
  • the "Timor Leste" clasp for service with the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL) between 20 May 2005 and 30 June 2006; and
  • the "Afghanistan" clasp for service with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) from December 2004 to 2014.

Numerals are not awarded for the UNSSM.

Eligibility

 Approval has been given for New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel to wear the United Nations Special Service Medal for at least 90 days of service with the following United Nations missions:

  • United Nations Mine Clearance Training Team (UNMCTT) – Pakistan and Afghanistan, 1989-1991
  • Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) – 1993-2005
  • United Nations Special Commission on Iraq (UNSCOM) – 1991-1999
  • United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs Accelerated De-Mining Programme (MADP) – Mozambique, 1995-2005
  • United Nations De-Mining Programme (National Institute for the Removal of Obstacles and Explosive Ordnance (INAROE) – Angola, 1997-2000
  • Programme for the Assistance to the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme (UXOL) – Laos, 1997-2003
  • United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) – Iraq, 2002-2003
  • United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) – 2004-2014
  • United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) – 2005-2014
  • United Nations Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL) – 2005-2006
  • United Nations Mine Action Coordination Centre in Southern Lebanon (UNMACC-SL) – 2007-2008

Queries & requests

  • Wearing this medal

    The United Nations Special Service Medal is worn as a campaign medal in the New Zealand Order of Wear.  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.  Since the United Nations Special Service Medal is awarded for service that continues to the present day, different individuals may mount this medal in different orders depending on the time served in theatre.

    For more information on how to wear and care for honours, medals, and awards:

  • Checking eligibility and applying for this medal

    NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals (PAM) does not approve or issue United Nations medals.

  • 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. 

    Request a service record