World’s first new military medal launched after official approval by King

The Minister of Defense announced the award of a new medal, the first in the world.

The medal is intended to recognize personnel who perform “critical combat duties” that do not necessarily involve physical threat.

According to the Department of Defense, the Wide Service Medal (WSM) will be the first to be awarded to those whose duties exceed traditional “risk and rigor” standards.

The Ministry of Defense added that the King has approved the WSM, with beneficiaries likely to include personnel deployed on the UK’s Continuing Maritime Nuclear Deterrent.

Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Our modern armed forces are among the best in the world and do an incredible job across the globe.

“The Extensive Service Medal recognizes the broad role our people play in ensuring operational success.

“It also recognized the changing nature of warfare, emphasizing the importance of actions that deterred adversaries in the pre-war world.”

The Ministry of Defense said the Tudor crown on the medal symbolized the monarch’s “central role and inspiration” to government, the armed forces and the civil service.

The image has the text “For Wider Service” surrounding it.

It added that the arrows pointing from the crown represent “stretching in all directions to all parts of the world,” and the surrounding laurel wreath represents service and achievement.

The ribbon has a purple stripe in the center and four narrow stripes on either side.

Purple is said to symbolize government, with the color of the thin line representing the multiple departments that make up its operations.

The land is green, the ocean is dark blue, and the air is light blue.

The MoD said Army personnel, Royal Air Force pilots and ground crews assisting NATO with air policing patrols in Estonia and Romania will be eligible for the WSM.

Royal Navy members deployed in the Middle East can also get one.

Recipients must contribute to UK military objectives and serve 180 days uninterrupted in qualifying operations to be recognized.

Those who continue to serve for 180 days will receive a medal, up to a maximum of three.

The first awards will be awarded in early summer and those involved in ongoing operations as early as December 2018 will be eligible.