OSM Op Shader with Iraq/Syria Clasp Full Size Medal

The Operational Service Medal for Operation Shader full size medal. Operation Shader is the operational code name given to the UK's contribution to the US-led mission against Islamic State. The operation started in August 2014 following the genocide of the Yazidi people and other ethnic minorities by Daesh (the Arabic name for Islamic State) in Northern Iraq. The operation soon expanded to involve all 3 military services providing ground support and training, escorts, humanitarian air drops, reconnaissance and airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. This is the first time a Campaign medal has been awarded to personnel working from outside the operational area of Iraq and Syria, such as operators of RAF Reaper remotely piloted aerial systems working from within the UK, reflecting the changing nature of modern conflict.

In order to qualify for the clasp personnel must have deployed to Iraq or Syria and worked with the conventional area of operations.

The obverse of this medal has the crowned profile of Queen Elizabeth II which is attached to the ribbon with a scrolled suspender bar. The reverse is an 8 pointed star, with different crowns impaled on every other point. There is a circular centre to the star, which has FOR OPERATIONAL SERVICE written around the central circle, and within the text shows the Union flag. The clasp is silver and bears the words 'IRAQ & SYRIA', the clasp is designed to be connected to the medal itself with a medal pin. The ribbon is striped with a red centre, followed by stripes of Navy and then light blue on each side of the red, (representing the 3 services) and the outer edge of the ribbon is grey. The ribbon is a standard width of 32mm.

Our museum quality replica full-size medals are made to the same exacting standards as the original, with the word COPY added to the back of the medal and in line with MoD licensing (COPY is added to the top left on the reverse of the medal, between the top central point of the star and an impaled crown). The full-size medal can be engraved on the edge with the recipient's service number, rank, name & initials and regiment.

All official medals are sent loose on the ribbon unless medal mounting is also purchased on the same order.