Guidance

Wider Service Medal – eligibility criteria for Ministry of Defence personnel and armed forces veterans

Published 25 June 2025

Introduction

The introduction of the Wider Service Medal (WSM) provides Tier 4 medallic recognition^{[footnote 1]} for Armed Forces personnel, MOD Civilians, contractors, and other public servants, who are engaged on operational activity that delivers a significant and direct contribution to UK objectives in rigorous circumstances, but not necessarily in roles that expose them to physical risk. It encompasses the changing nature of conflict and reflects the new ways in which the Armed Forces are utilised to deliver operational effect in support of HMG strategic objectives.

In June 2024, 2024DIN09-008 was issued to facilitate the award of the first medals to small, representative cohorts of personnel in summer 2024. The process to consider the next phase of other eligible operational activity, separate to that announced in March 2024, has now been undertaken.

Operational activity must have been ongoing as of 5 March 2024 or have commenced after this date; this is the date the WSM was approved by His Majesty The King. Activity approved may be backdated to no earlier than 11 December 2018, when the initial concept of the medal was first endorsed.

Eligible operational activity  

A list of operational activity that has been approved as eligible for the medal is set out at Annex A. Operational activity approved for the medal and promulgated in March 2024 is set out at Annex B.^{[footnote 2]}

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria for the WSM are defined as follows:

1. Personnel must have accrued 180 days service on eligible operational activity.
2. Reckonable service may be aggregated across multiple deployments and/or operational activity.
3. Subsequent periods of service of 180 days will result in the award of bars to the medal.^{[footnote 3]}
4. Operational activity must have been ongoing as of 5 March 2024 or have commenced after this date, with eligibility backdated to no earlier than 11 December 2018.

Reckonable service

Time spent on the following will also be included as reckonable service towards the 180 aggregated days total required for the medal:

• Decompression - only when taken in the same location as the operational activity.
• Stand Down - only when taken in the same location as the operational activity.
• Isolation - only when taken in the same location as the operational activity.
• Ships Alongside - while tasked to the operational activity.
• Exercises Conducted Out of Theatre - if being conducted under the operational banner^{[footnote 4]}.
• Conferences/Meetings - only when attending under the operational banner.^{[footnote 5]}
• Visits - only when conducted under the operational banner.^{[footnote 6]}
• Rest and Recuperation - regardless of location.

Air Sorties

If operational activity involves Air Sorties (operating crewed or un-crewed, fixed or rotary wing aircraft) entering the WSM qualifying location from another location, then these will count at a rate of one Air Sortie per day, equalling one WSM earning day, as per the calendar date of take-off as recorded in a logbook.

If additional Air Sorties are flown on the same calendar day, or if the duration of the Air Sortie spans across a date change (e.g. take-off on 1 January and landing 2 January), personnel will only be awarded a maximum of one Air Sortie as per the date of take-off. Personnel located on the ground within a WSM qualifying location will count those days towards the WSM regardless of any Air Sorties flown.

If personnel are attached to a WSM earning operation but are then required to conduct an Air Sortie in a Tier 1-3 medal earning location or fly an Air Sortie in support of a separate operation where that operation is Tier 1-3 medal earning, then the Tier 1-3 Air Sortie will take precedence for the purposes of medallic recognition. Personnel will not earn days for two separate medals on the same calendar day.

Deployments to Tier 1-3 medal earning locations

Personnel who are deployed on WSM eligible operational activity, and who deploy separately to a Tier 1-3 medal earning location, will only accumulate days towards the Tier 1-3 medal for the duration of that deployment. Personnel will not be able to earn days for two separate medals in the same day. Reckonable service towards the Tier 1-3 medal will be determined by Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system Move and Track records.

Shortened service

In the event an individual returns early from a deployment on WSM eligible operational activity for any reason, the days spent in theatre will be ‘banked’ and count as reckonable service towards the 180 aggregated days total required for the medal. The WSM is not awarded automatically if the individual returns to their permanent assignment location through illness or injury relating to operational activity. Similarly, should a Service person die on WSM eligible operational activity, this will not automatically bestow the award of a WSM.

Civilian personnel

Royal Fleet Auxiliary Personnel, MOD Civilian Personnel, Civilian Personnel from other Government Departments, Royal Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI), and Contractors, under the UK Commander Joint Operations will be eligible for the WSM, providing they have completed the 180 aggregated days total required for the medal and their time can be validated via official MOD records, Royal Fleet Auxiliary records, or records supplied by the relevant government department.

Personnel from other nations

Personnel from other nations on exchange/loan with UK Armed Forces, who deploy on operational activity eligible for the WSM, will qualify for the medal providing they have completed the 180 aggregated days total required for the medal. In instances where an individual from another nation is eligible for the medal, the guidance and process on the award of UK medals to personnel from other nations is set out in JSP 761 and must be adhered to.

Non-reckonable service

Time spent Out of Theatre, as recorded by JPA Move and Track, on the following are not considered as reckonable service towards the WSM:

• Training courses
• Medical/casualty
• Compassionate Leave
• Paternity Leave

No activities in the following categories have currently been assessed as reckonable service towards the WSM; however, the Operations Recognition Board may consider future examples on a case-by-case basis where the requisite JPA data exists to identify them:

• Permanent Assignments
• Accompanied Assignments
• Defence Activity other than Operations (Loan Service, Defence Attaché, Liaison Officer and Embassy roles^{[footnote 7]} and activity undertaken by Short Term Training Teams and British Military Advisory Training Teams)

Accumulated Campaign Service Medal

Service reckonable towards the WSM will not accrue towards the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal as the WSM is itself a reflection of aggregated service, and to do so would breach the ‘Double Medalling’ principle of the UK Honours system.

Armed Forces Memorial

Where a death occurs on operational activity eligible for the WSM, consideration will be given to the inclusion of an individual’s name on the Armed Forces Memorial in accordance with existing process.

Elizabeth Cross

Where a death occurs on operational activity eligible for the WSM, the award of the Elizabeth Cross will not be automatically conferred as unlike Tier 1-3 medals, the WSM is not Risk and Rigour based. However, this does not necessarily exclude the award of the Elizabeth Cross to the entitled Next of Kin following a death on WSM operational activity, which would depend on whether the circumstances met the other Elizabeth Cross criteria as set out in JSP 761.

Order of Wear

The medal shall be worn immediately after any Campaign, Operational or General Service Medal and before the Polar Medal.

Issuing of medals

The process of identifying eligible personnel and the issuing of medals will commence from July 2025. However, given the volume of operational activity approved for the medal, and the retrospection to 11 December 2018, it is estimated that there are up to 30,000 qualifying deployments that personnel (including veterans) have completed and thus a substantial number will be eligible for the medal. Consequently, the issuing of medals will be a substantial undertaking and is expected to take seven months to complete.

The MOD Medal Office (MODMO) will proactively identify and validate individuals who qualify for the medal. The primary source of data for validation for Service personnel will be JPA Move and Track records^{[footnote 8]}. Once approved, the records for each individual will be updated (e.g. JPA for Service personnel) and the physical medals issued to the individual’s unit or HQ (as appropriate).

Where JPA data does not support the ability for MODMO to confirm individual’s eligibility, the Front Line Commands are responsible for collating the evidence required to confirm eligibility and for correcting JPA records. Medals cannot be issued by MODMO until JPA records have been corrected. 

If an individual who believes they are eligible for the medal does not have a marker on JPA, or has not received their medal, by 31 January 2026 then they should submit an application to MODMO via the appropriate JPA S00 PowerApp form.

Former MOD personnel and MOD contractors who believe they are eligible for the medal should submit an application to MODMO using the form at the link below after 31 January 2026. Applications can only be validated via JPA in accordance with the relevant Defence Standard.

Ministry of Defence medal form

Individuals who believe they meet the criteria but were employed via Other Government Departments should contact their former employer in the first instance.

Where records (e.g. JPA, etc) have not been maintained then the emphasis is on the individual to contact their former Unit or employer for the appropriate investigation and action.

Personnel are not to contact MODMO or single Service medallic representatives regarding their eligibility for the medal and must respect the process described at ‘Issuing of medals’.

Engraving of medals

The Inscription on the medal will be the details of the individual as at the first qualifying date identified. If subsequent qualifying service is later identified following endorsement of another operation with retrospection, that service will be added to the total accruing to the next bar, but medals will not be reissued to reflect the earlier qualification point.

Requests for priority issue of medals

Given the scale of the award of the WSM, it will not be possible to cater for individual requests by units for the priority issue of the medal ahead of events, e.g. parades or similar, without delaying the overall process. Consequently, other than for exceptional circumstances, such as a parade with the Sovereign present, MODMO cannot accept requests for prioritisation.

Consideration of other operations, activities, and submission of operational impact statements

The Operations Recognition Board will continue to consider other operational activity for the WSM as part of routine business. This may include activities which have a defined operational impact, but which are not necessarily conducted under a named operation. Guidance on the completion and submission of an Operational Impact Statement to the Board will be available on the DefNet Honours & Awards Portal.

Details of any amendments to the eligibility criteria, the list of eligible operational activities, and future operational activity that is approved for the medal, will be promulgated via updates to this DIN and published in JSP 761 periodically.

Additional information

General queries in relation to this DIN, not about individuals’ eligibility for the medal should be addressed to the relevant single Service medallic representatives in the first instance:

Royal Navy: NAVYNAVSEC-HANDAGROUPMAILBOX@mod.gov.uk

Army: ArmyPers-Pol-Conditions-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

RAF: Air-People-ServicesDiscipPol@mod.gov.uk

Annex A - qualifying operational activity

List of qualifying operational activity for the Wider Service Medal:

Serial	OPERATIONAL ACTIVITY[footnote 9]	QUALIFYING DATES
1	Op Building Partner Capacity CROSSWAYS[footnote 10]	From 11 December 2018
2	Op FAIRFIELD	From 11 December 2018
3	KIPION Land and Shore Elements[footnote 11]	From 11 December 2018
4	Joint Force Support Africa	From 11 December 2018
5	Op TANGHAM (Combined Joint Task Force Djibouti)	From 11 December 2018
6	Op CETO[footnote 12]	From 11 December 2018
7	Op TURUS[footnote 13] [footnote 14]	From 11 December 2018 to 1 April 2024
8	KINGPIN (Shaw Air Force Base)	From 20 April 2021
9	Op COPPERWING	From 7 February 2022
10	Op SCORPIUS[footnote 15]	From 24 February 2022
11	Op ALUMINIUM	From 24 February 2022 to 14 February 2025
12	Op ROCKHARD[footnote 16]	From 24 February 2022
13	Op GLANCE	From 25 August 2023
14	Op LAZURITE	From 2 October 2023
15	Op INFLECTOR	From 27 October 2023
16	Land Delivery Team Nigeria[footnote 17]	From 2 April 2024

The details of eligible operational activities above Official Sensitive are held by: people-dssec-honsmailbox@mod.gov.uk.

Annex B - qualifying operational activity promulgated in March 2024

List of ongoing qualifying operational activity for the Wider Service Medal approved and promulgated in March 2024:

Serial	OPERATIONAL ACTIVITY	QUALIFYING DATES
1	Op AZOTIZE	From 11 December 2018
2	Op BILOXI	From 11 December 2018
3	Op CABRIT	From 11 December 2018
4	KIPION Maritime Elements[footnote 18] [footnote 19]	From 11 December 2018
5	Op RELENTLESS[footnote 20]	From 11 December 2018
6	Op WOODWALL[footnote 21] (Now known as OP HIGHWALL)	From October 2021
7	Op ORBITAL	From 24 February 2022
8	Task Force PSYMA	From 24 February 2022

Annex C - frequently asked questions

When will medals begin to be issued?

The process of identifying eligible personnel and the issuing of medals will commence from July 2025. However, given the volume of operational activity approved for the medal, and the retrospection to 11 December 2018, it is estimated that there are up to 30,000 qualifying deployments that personnel (including veterans) have completed and thus a significant number will be eligible for the medal.

Consequently, the award of medals will be a substantial undertaking and is expected to take seven months to complete. This is due to a number of factors, most notably the capacity of the MOD Medal Office (MODMO) to administer the new medal in parallel to the volume of existing work, and the challenge of producing large quantities of the medal. Personnel who qualify for the medal will be notified in the usual manner and individuals must not contact MODMO or their single Service medallic representatives.

Why does the WSM require 180 days’ service - most other operational medals are lower?

The WSM is fundamentally different to other operational medals, not least in that it is being awarded where personnel are deployed to deliver operational impact but not necessarily in roles that expose them to kinetic risk. The decision to use 180 days’ aggregated service was made in order to provide an appropriate balance between making the award achievable, whilst not compromising the credibility of the existing medallic framework and other operational awards, and in recognition of the enduring demands placed on our people. The aggregation principle of the WSM is the same as the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal, which requires either 1080 or 720 aggregated days.

Why is retrospection limited to December 2018?

The application of retrospection in terms of medallic awards is rarely straightforward. The date of 11 December 2018 has been determined as a clearly defined point in time when the initial concept of a Tier 4 medal was approved. At that time, there was no intention to include any retrospection. So, using December 2018 is a balanced approach, which recognises those original discussions and initial approval.

What about operational activity that occurred between December 18 and March 24 but was not ongoing on 5 March 24?

In the case of the WSM, a balance has been struck to include an appropriate degree of retrospection but one that is bounded in terms of ongoing operational activity only. This provides a clear linkage or ‘golden thread’ back to the approval of the original concept that would not be the case for operational activity that had already ceased.

Does service on multiple deployments and/or eligible operational activity count as reckonable service towards the 180 days’ aggregated total?

Yes, reckonable service may be aggregated across multiple deployments and/or eligible operational activity.

Will the WSM have clasps for specific operational activity or locations?

No, the WSM will not have clasps for specific operational activity or locations. Bars will be awarded to the WSM to recognise additional periods of 180 days qualifying service.

Who approved the operations for the WSM?

Eligible operational activity for the WSM was reviewed and recommended by the Operations Recognition Board and endorsed by the 2* Medal Forum, Service Chiefs, and Ministers. As with any new medal that is endorsed by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, and The Sovereign, the MOD has delegated authority to consider and approve operational activity for the WSM via existing governance arrangements.

Why haven’t any UK-based operational activities or operational activity conducted from the UK been approved for the WSM?

A number of UK-based operational activities were considered by the Operations Recognition Board; however, the Operational Impact Statements submitted to the Board were not judged to meet the WSM criteria. Notwithstanding this, UK-based activity delivering operational effect will be considered in future.

Will any other operational activity be eligible for the WSM in the future?

Yes, the Operations Recognition Board will continue to consider other operational activity for the WSM as part of routine business. These will be via submissions of Operational Impact Statements by the Operational Command chain, sponsored by the relevant Front Line Command. Templates and Guidance will be  available via the DefNet Honours & Awards Portal.

What is the process for operational activity being considered for the WSM?

An Operational Impact Statement must be completed by the Operational Chain of Command, sponsored by the relevant Front Line Command, and submitted for the Operations Recognition Board to consider before onward staffing to the 2* Medal Forum, Service Chiefs, and Ministers. Templates and Guidance will be available via the DefNet Honours & Awards Portal.  

Can operational activity that was not recommended for the WSM be reconsidered?

Yes, operational activity can be reconsidered by the Operations Recognition Board. However, an Operational Impact Statement will only be reviewed by the Operations Recognition Board if there is a significant change to the original submission (e.g. operational tempo, direct impact, increased rigour, etc), and may only be resubmitted to the Board twelve months after original Operational Impact Statement was submitted.

Can a decision be appealed?

No, there is no option to appeal. Once the Operations Recognition Board has made a decision to reject an application, it can only be resubmitted after twelve months if there is a significant change to the original submission.

If operational activity is already eligible for a Tier 1-3 medal will personnel also be entitled to the WSM?

No. One of the fundamental principles of the UK Honours System is that ‘double medalling’ cannot occur. Only one form of medallic recognition is acceptable for a single period of operational service.

Why is Rest and Recuperation included as part of the 180 aggregated days total required for the WSM?

In developing the eligibility criteria for the WSM it was considered that the inclusion of Rest and Recuperation as reckonable service was a measured approach that fitted with the broader intent of a Tier 4 medal. It was also noted that whilst not a guaranteed entitlement, the inclusion of Rest and Recuperation for individuals within the deployment cycle was linked to operational effectiveness, and so its inclusion for an aggregated medal that took account of the entirety of that deployment was, again, not considered unreasonable.

Why are permanent assignments and accompanied assignments not currently eligible for the WSM?

It was assessed that the rigour associated with permanent assignments and accompanied assignments was different to that from operational tours/deployments, and for this reason it was considered that such assignments were not currently in scope of the WSM. However, the Operations Recognition Board may reconsider this issue on a case-by-case basis.

Why are Defence Engagement activities not currently eligible for the WSM?

It was assessed that Defence Engagement activities fall under the auspices of Defence Activity Other Than Operations and therefore were not currently in scope for the WSM. However, the Operations Recognition Board may reconsider this issue on a case-by-case basis.

Why are Medical, Compassionate and Welfare periods spent out of theatre excluded as reckonable service towards the 180 aggregated days total required for the WSM?

Out of Theatre time for Medical, Casualty or Compassionate reasons have been excluded as affected service personnel will not be contributing to the operational activity during this period. This maintains parity with Tier 1-3 medals and the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal.

Why are periods of transiting to and from operational activity excluded as reckonable service towards the WSM?

Time transiting to and from operational activity has been excluded as personnel will not be contributing towards the operation’s objectives. This maintains parity with Tier 1-3 medals and the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal.

Will Service Personnel who are awarded the WSM be able to claim for the cost of getting the medal mounted?

In keeping with other medals, the cost of mounting the WSM will be the responsibility of individuals unless provided for in single Service regulations.

1. Tier One - War Stars: Tier Two - Campaign Medals: Tier Three - Operational Service Medals, General Service Medals. Awarded on the basis of Risk and Rigour. ↩

2. UK-based activity delivering operational effect will be considered in future on presentation of suitably compelling Operational Impact Statements which meet the threshold for award of the WSM. ↩

3. Number of bars to be confirmed. ↩

4. SP deployed to a JOA for an exercise only will not be considered eligible for the WSM. ↩

5. Excludes attendance to/from conferences/meetings in the UK. ↩

6. Excludes visits to/from the UK. ↩

7. Applications by exception, with an appropriate filter by the Director of the Global Defence Network, will be considered on a case-by-case basis before entering the Operations Recognition Board process. ↩

8. And the equivalent for Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel. ↩

9. Currently excludes all UK based personnel. ↩

10. Short Term Training Teams not currently eligible. ↩

11. (1) UKMCC eligible cohorts: UKMCC Headquarters, Fleet Support Unit, Naval Support Facility, Commander Maritime Forces International Maritime Security Construct Force Protection, Commander UK Mine Counter Measures Force Staff, Mine and Threat Exploitation Group. (2a) Personnel deployed to specific units as set out in 2023DIN09-018 will continue to accrue reckonable service towards the Operational Service Medal Iraq and Syria without Clasp, not the WSM (e.g. 83 EAG HQ, 903 EAW, CAOC). (2b) Personnel deployed to JFSp(ME) and JFCIS(ME) are only in scope for the WSM when deployed under Op KIPION. (3) Excludes all personnel serving in Cyprus under Op KIPION (this includes JFSp(ME) and JFCIS(ME)) as British Forces Cyprus medal eligibility is subject to separate review. ↩

12. On activation. The Maritime Operations Centre will provide MODMO with qualifying ships and locations. ↩

13. Short Term Training Teams not currently eligible. ↩

14. Excludes Borno State which attracts the GSM 08 with Western Africa Clasp; 2022DIN09-011 refers. ↩

15. BRAZERA, INTERLINK, INTERWEAVING, NONPAUSE, STIFFTAIL, National Support Element Eastern Europe/Joint Force Support Eastern Europe. ↩

16. Not when flying from the UK. ↩

17. Short Term Training Teams not currently eligible. ↩

18. The Maritime Operations Centre will confirm ships eligibility to MODMO. Eligibility will begin when platforms ‘Chop’ in and cease when they ‘Chop’ out of the KIPION JOA. ↩

19. Includes RFA personnel who are deployed under OPCOM CJO. ↩

20. The Maritime Operations Centre will confirm platforms and their qualifying dates to MODMO. ↩

21. Eligibility only applies when the platform was under Op WOODWALL/is under Op HIGHWALL and to those personnel physically assigned to the platform. The Maritime Operations Centre will provide MODMO with qualifying ships and locations. ↩