This general service award has been created as a means to recognize in a
timelier manner those who serve in or provide support to overseas operations
and for which no other medals, such as United Nations or NATO medals, are
available. Rather than creating a new honour for each new Canadian Forces
(CF) operation as it arises, the Operational Service Medal — with its theatre- or
task-specific ribbons — can be awarded in future to honour participation in
any operation that meets the criteria. The Operational Service Medal (OSM) is
awarded to:
members of the CF;
members of allied forces serving with the CF;
members of recognized Canadian police forces and allied police officers
working with them; and
Canadian citizens in the employ or under contract with the
Government of Canada, other than members of the CF or sworn police
officers;
who served in a theatre of operations, provided direct support on a full-
time basis to operations conducted in such a theatre, or served under
dangerous circumstances outside Canada provided the said service is
not counted towards another service medal other than the Canadian
Peacekeeping Service Medal where applicable.
The OSM is always issued with a ribbon specific to the theatre or type of
service being recognized, and each ribbon has its own criteria. The OSM with
SIERRA LEONE ribbon is awarded for 30 cumulative days of service in Sierra
Leone between 31 July 2002 and 16 February 2013, or 21 cumulative days of
service from 17 February 2013 onward. Primarily intended for CAF members
who served with the British-led International Military Advisory and Training
Team (IMATT) following the Lome Peace Agreement (Op SCULPTURE).