Volunteer Reserves Service Medal

The Volunteer Reserves Service Medal (VRSM) is a medal awarded to all members of the reserves of all of the branches of the British Armed Forces - the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Marines Reserve, the Territorial Army and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. It replaced the separate medals awarded to officers and other ranks in each of the services - the Royal Navy's Reserve Decoration and Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, the British Army's Territorial Decoration and Efficiency Medal (Territorial), and the Royal Air Force's Air Efficiency Award - from 1 April 1999.

Description

The medal is a silver oval, 38mm high and 32mm wide, with an image of the monarch on the obverse and the words "For Service in the Volunteer Reserves" on the reverse, above a sprig of oak leaves and acorns. receive the same medal but with their own ribbon.

Criteria

The VRSM is awarded after 10 years service in the reserves, although service in the regular forces before joining the reserves may count towards the qualifying period. It should be noted however that a maximum of five years regular service can be counted and this service is counted as half qualifying time IE five years regular service counts as two and a half years service towards this medal. A clasp is awarded for each additional 5 years of service. Unlike earlier decorations, a recipient is not entitled to post-nominal letters.

References

* [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/Veterans/Medals/Vrsm.htm Volunteer Reserves Service Medal (VRSM)] from the Ministry of Defence
* [http://www.britishmedals.info/volunteer_reserves_service_medal.html Illustration]
* [http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/viewtopic/t=85056.html HAC variant illustration]
* [http://www.surreyarmycadets.com/images/photos/vrsm.jpgVRSM illustration]
* Medal Yearbook 2008, Token publishing, ISBN 978-1-870192-81-1

External links

* [http://www.medals.lava.pl/bc/uk1.htm Ribbons]