(SWASM) South-West Asia Service Medal Miniature

If you require your medals to be mounted before they are shipped to you, please select the option for miniature medal mounting on the 1st page of the miniature medal collection. The fee is per medal.

The South-West Asia Service Medal recognizes service with or in direct support of operations against terrorism in South-West Asia.

Eligibility and Criteria
The South-West Asia Service Medal is awarded for a minimum of 90 days cumulative service in direct support of operations against terrorism in South West Asia from 11 September 2001 to 31 July 2009. Direct support occurs when a member is deployed to a unit or organization outside Canada but not into a specific theatre of operations, and where his or her primary duty is to provide direct assistance on a full-time basis to the operations against terrorism in South-West Asia.

The medal with AFGHANISTAN bar is awarded for 30 days cumulative service between 11 September 2001 and 31 Jul 2009 in the theatre of operations, which is a subset of the United States Central Command Area of Operation Responsibility (USCENTCOM AOR). The theatre of operations is defined as the land, sea, or air spaces of Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Suez Canal, and those parts of the Indian Ocean north of 5° South Latitude and west of 68° East Longitude.

For more information consult the Canadian Medals Chart page for SWASM.

Bars
Rotation Bar
Rotation Bars are awarded to recognize a further 180 days of eligible service following qualification for the Medal with AFGHANISTAN bar or the last Rotation Bar the person has earned. One bar bearing five maple leaves is worn in lieu of five bars bearing one maple leaf.

Note that those who received the SWASM without the AFGHANISTAN bar are not eligible for Rotation Bars.

AFGHANISTAN Bar
The “AFGHANISTAN” bar to the medal is awarded to those who served for at least 30 days in the theatre of operations. See the relevant section under Eligibility and criteria above.

Image shows front and back face of medal.