Special Service Medal - Domestic Operations Bar

[Booter]

The honours system in the RCMP is glacial and not used as often as it could be- bouncing between levels and review. But the problem is MOSTLY unfamiliarity or disinterest in filling
Out the forms. The majority of things that should result in awards are never nominated- which is a leadership culture issue.

The OIC certificate and coin process is two emails and often doesn’t even include the OIC until the certificates need to be signed in a good portion of cases.

The formal process is slow to where it really doesn’t super help with morale and recognition- being measured in years. The coin and cert can recognize in weeks if it needs to. But it’s not viewed as being especially valuable by most recipients after they see the volume of issued certificates.

 

[PrairieFella]

You guys might find this interesting. Private Members Bill to create a DOMOPS medal. It would be worth emailing the member who tabled the Bill and your own MP if you think this should exist. Despite being called the SSM in the title, the Bill mentions the creation of a new medal and ribbon.

C-386 (44-1) - LEGISinfo - Parliament of Canada

 

[Maxman1]

Will the ribbon be made of sandbag material?

 

[dimsum]

Will the ribbon be made of sandbag material?

It’s only fitting, really.

 

[PuckChaser]

Will the ribbon be made of sandbag material?

Much like the Victoria Cross, each medal will be made from a piece of melted down metal from the shovels and pick axes used in BC every year.

 

[dapaterson]

Much like the Victoria Cross, each medal will be made from a piece of melted down metal from the shovels and pick axes used in BC every year.

How dare you deny the collapsed towers of the '98 ice storm and hip waders of the '17 and '19 eastern Canada floods!

 

[Remius]

How dare you deny the collapsed towers of the '98 ice storm and hip waders of the '17 and '19 eastern Canada floods!

If I’ve done all three do I get three bars? lol.

 

[dapaterson]

If I’ve done all three do I get three bars? lol.

Maybe not three bars but I'll pay for three beers for you (at the same bar).

 

[Remius]

Maybe not three bars but I'll pay for three beers for you (at the same bar).

That’s a better deal.

 

[Maxman1]

Anyone else think there should be other ribbons for the SSM like with other medals? That would solve a few problems. Like an expedition ribbon with operation bars, a NATO ribbon, maybe theatre ribbons like Southwest Asia. That would allow the standard SSM to more easily be used for domestic operations as well as Alert and Rangers.

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

Anyone else think there should be other ribbons for the SSM like with other medals? That would solve a few problems. Like an expedition ribbon with operation bars, a NATO ribbon, maybe theatre ribbons like Southwest Asia. That would allow the standard SSM to more easily be used for domestic operations as well as Alert and Rangers.

Our honours and awards is a bit of a dogs breakfast.

There are, in some cases, 4 different medals for the exact same operation.

I would be a fan of less medals with more bars to denote operations.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Anyone else think there should be other ribbons for the SSM like with other medals? That would solve a few problems. Like an expedition ribbon with operation bars, a NATO ribbon, maybe theatre ribbons like Southwest Asia. That would allow the standard SSM to more easily be used for domestic operations as well as Alert and Rangers.

I've participated in two DOMOPS, fairly modest roles TBH, and never thought that a medal or bar was appropriate.

However, it would have been nice if someone had at least said 'thankyou', a letter even, and then paid me sooner than 4 months after the event (because apparently we still can't figure out how to transfer a Class A member to Class C within the span a single business quarter)

 

[medicineman]

I've participated in two DOMOPS, fairly modest roles TBH, and never thought that a medal or bar was appropriate.

However, it would have been nice if someone had at least said 'thankyou', a letter even, and then paid me sooner than 4 months after the event (because apparently we still can't figure out how to transfer a Class A member to Class C within the span a single business quarter)

I too did for one OP LENTUS - literally did my day job then went and did a few hours after at the UMS set up. Don't think I need an SSM for that and certainly didn't put in enough time to qualify, but the folks that were out sandbagging and helping farmers bunker up their farmhouses, doing waterway searches, those that came across a huge illegal grow op while not armed, etc, should get a something.

 

[Rifleman62]

.....we ( the Army) still can't figure out how to transfer a Class A member to Class C within the span a single business quarter....

Been like that for decades. The RCAF fingered it out decades ago.