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The Iraq Reconstruction Service Medal Eligibility

Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by Command of Her Majesty January 2007
© Crown Copyright 2007
THE IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION SERVICE MEDAL
Service in Iraq from 19 March 2003 On 26 June 2004 Her Majesty The Queen graciously approved a proposal for the issue of a special medal to recognise service by civilians and others involved in the reconstruction and transition to democracy in Iraq.
The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals has had under consideration the eligibility criteria and other details of the medal, known as the Iraq Reconstruction Service Medal (IRSM). Their recommendations have been submitted to Her Majesty The Queen, who has graciously approved them, as described below.
Operational Area
The operational area for the medal will be the geographical territory of Iraq.
Commencement Date
The commencement date for the medal will be 19 March 2003, until a date to be decided. The situation will be reviewed on a regular basis to determine whether the medal is still warranted.
Qualifying Period
The qualifying period for the medal is set at 40 days of continuous service, or 40 days of service on working visits within Iraq aggregated over a period of one calendar year, provided that the visits are for a minimum of 48 hours each.
Qualifying Service Unexpectedly Reduced/Terminated
If qualifying service is brought to an end before the completion of the specified qualifying period on account of death, capture, wounding or other disability due to service in Iraq, and the individual had otherwise been expected to complete the qualifying period but for the unexpected termination, the reduced period completed by the individual will be sufficient qualification for an award. The grant of a British honour, decoration or medal (other than the Iraq Medal (military)) for services on operations during the qualifying period not amounting to the qualifying criteria specified above, will also qualify the recipient for an award.
Service already counted towards the award of the Operation TELIC military medal cannot qualify for the civilian medal. There will be some circumstances in which individuals might qualify for both the civilian and the military medal for different periods and differing types of service.
Accumulated Campaign Service Medal
In parallel with the criteria for the military Iraq Medal, qualifying service for the Iraq Reconstruction Service Medal should not count towards the qualifying criteria for the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (ACSM). 1 Details of the recommendations for eligible and excluded personnel are as follows:
Eligible Personnel
  • All civilian Public Servants and those that hold the office of Constable not qualifying for the Iraq military (Campaign) Medal, appointed by HMG to serve in Iraq with, or in support of, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), British Office Baghdad (BOB) or British Embassy (including their Regional Offices).
  • Civilian Public Servants deployed by HMG to work alongside coalition/multinational forces in Iraq, and who do not qualify for the Iraq military (Campaign) Medal.
  • Members of the Armed Forces, working with or seconded to HMG Departments, and who do not qualify for the Iraq (Campaign) Medal.
  • Contractors and their employees directly employed by HMG on a full time basis to work for, or in support of the CPA, BOB or British Embassy (including their Regional Offices), or to work alongside coalition/multinational forces in Iraq for HMG, and not qualifying for the Iraq (Campaign) Medal.
  • Consultants and their employees directly employed by HMG on a full time basis to work for, or in support of the CPA, BOB or British Embassy (including their Regional Offices), or to work alongside coalition/multinational forces in Iraq for HMG, and not qualifying for the Iraq (Campaign) Medal.
  • Any Foreign and Commonwealth nationals who qualify under the above provisions.
Exclusions
Locally employed civilians
Specifications, Design and Production
The Ian Rank Broadley effigy of Her Majesty will appear on the obverse of the medal. Details of the agreed design for the reverse, which has also been approved by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee, together with the design for the medal ribbon, are attached.
The cuneiform symbols on the reverse of the medal can be roughly translated as “land bringing forth life”. The depiction of the two rivers is based on relief carving from Mesopotamia, to be found in the British Museum.
Front design: Round with obverse showing the Rank Broadley effigy of HM The Queen with the wording ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID DEF.
Material: Cupro-Nickel
Diameter: 36.07mm
Thickness: 4mm
Manufacture: Struck Rhodium Plating/Coating
Finish: Struck Rhodium Plating/Coating
Engraving: Recipients name to be inscribed on rim 
The medal will be on a plain bar swivel, with standard 3 pin mount and will come in a presentation case. The medal should carry no rights to the use of post-nominal letters. The IRSM is being produced by the Royal Mint, and will be distributed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to those eligible to receive it, as soon as possible.