Iraq Campaign Medal ICM

Iraq Campaign Medal: The medal recognises service in and around Iraq from 18 MAR 2003 in two discrete operations and AOs; OP FALCONER and OP CATALYST. Zone 1 qualifying service is 18 MAR to 30 APR 2003 for a minimum 7 days’ service. Zone 2 is from 1 MAY 2003 onwards for a minimum 30 days’ service. Eligibility for RAAF is based on 7 or 30 sorties for the respective zone/s where those sorties were conducted over a period not less than an aggregate of 7 or 30 sorties performed at a rate of not less than one sortie per day.

The reverse of the Iraq Medal is based on a processional lion copied from a relief on the Gateway of the Temple of Ishtar in Babylon. The lion was one of the dominant ‘power symbols’ of the Assyrian Empire, being reserved to the ruling house and the higher priesthood of the dominant sects. The lion stands on a narrow plinth (for balance) and the word “IRAQ@” appears below. The obverse of the medal is based on the Australian Coat of Arms (the same as the Afghanistan Campaign Medal to be released for reproduction shortly and the Australian Defence Medal which has still not been gazetted or issued). The riband design for the Iraq Medal is a combination of:

a. Sand yellow – representing the desert sands of Iraq;
b. Purple – representing the ADF; and
c. Red – the conflict in Iraq.