New Zealand Operational Service Medal

The New Zealand Operational Service Medal: Awarded to personnel who have served in operations since September 3, 1945, even though they may have qualified for other awards. Around 50,000 service people are eligible, and the medal acknowledges service in hazardous or extreme conditions, other than operational service. The first recipients will be those that witnessed atmospheric nuclear tests in the 1950s. There will be three new clasps available for this medal. They include �Near East�, �Vietnam� and �Rwanda.� The medal is cupro-nickel, 36mm in diameter. The riband is white, with (left to right) a thin black stripe, thin white stripe, wider black stripe, thin white stripe and a central thin black stripe. The pattern is then repeated to the right-hand side of the riband. The medal is viewed by many as the Kiwi equivalant of the Australian Active Service Medal.