Operational Service Medal (United Kingdom)

The reverse has a design featuring the Union Flag, surrounded by a circlet bearing the inscription FOR OPERATIONAL SERVICE, on top of a four pointed star representing the four cardinal points of the compass; in between the points, in line with the saltire of the Union Flag, are four coronets, representing the Crown and the three armed services - Royal (top left), Naval (Royal Navy, top right), Mural (British Army, bottom left), and Astral (Royal Air Force, bottom right).

[1] The ribbon for each version of the medal follows the same format, with a wide red bar in the centre, flanked on each side by navy blue, and then light blue bars, representing the three services, with on the edge bars of a unique colour - green (Sierra Leone), buff (Afghanistan), ochre (Democratic Republic of Congo), grey (Iraq and Syria).

The first OSM to be awarded was for service during Operation Palliser, the United Kingdom's intervention in the Sierra Leone Civil War from May 2000 to July 2002.

Recipients of the medal are eligible to be awarded the Afghanistan clasp if they have served in Afghanistan itself for a period of time (which varies depending on the operation), and the Operation Pitting clasp for personnel assigned to the 2021 evacuation of Kabul.

Those personnel that do serve in the operational area itself are eligible to receive the Iraq & Syria clasp.