This order revokes an earlier order and specifies when service counts as special service for the Special Service Medal, including NATO-related service and the Bar design to be awarded.
Special Service Medal Bar Order "NATO—OTAN" Whereas, pursuant to sections 2, 4 and 5 of the Special Service Medal Regulations, the Special Service Medal shall be awarded to a member of the Canadian Forces who has performed special service as determined by the Governor in Council; And Whereas, pursuant to subsection 4(4) of the said Regulations, the Special Service Medal shall be awarded with a Bar representing a particular special service; Therefore, His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, pursuant to the definition special service in section 2 of the Special Service Medal Regulations, is pleased hereby: to revoke Order in Council P.C. 1992-2436 of 26 November, 1992*; SI/92-220, 1992 Canada Gazette Part II, p. 5134 to determine an aggregate of 180 days of honourable service within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) area of responsibility, defined as the territory of any of the Parties in Europe or North America, on the Algerian Departments of France, on the territory of Turkey or on the islands under the jurisdiction of any of the Parties in the North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer, or with forces deployed, on vessels or aircraft of any of the Parties, when in or over these territories or any other area in Europe in which occupation forces of any Parties were stationed, or the Mediterranean Sea or the North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer, since its beginning on January 1, 1951 and ending on October 19, 2004, to be special service within the meaning of those Regulations; despite paragraph (b), to determine that, if on October 19, 2004 a person engaged in the service referred to in paragraph (b) has not completed the aggregate of 180 days referred to in that paragraph, the remaining period of that person’s service can be included in calculating the aggregate; to determine an aggregate of 180 days of honourable service performed outside Canada, beginning on October 20, 2004 and still continuing, as part of, or in direct support of, a NATO operation or mission, on the condition that the service has not been acknowledged by an award of any other honour that is part of, or is recognized by, the Canadian Honours System, to be special service within the meaning of those Regulations; and to specify that the Bar to be awarded with the Special Service Medal to represent the special service referred to in paragraph (b) or (d) shall bear the NATO Star flanked by the words “NATO–OTAN”.