Long Service Awards Regulations.

[willie777]

Are the irreproachable service and veteran of the armed forces medals retroactive? I mean, if someone had over the number of service years required for the medal the day it was instituted, would it still be awarded to them? I mean, if someone had over 15 but under 20 years of service in 1958 would they be awarded the 10 and 15 year medals right away, or not and have to wait until several years later to get the 20 year medal? If someone have more than 25 years of service in 1976, would they be awarded the veteran of armed forces medal?

Also, was the veteran of labor medal awarded for armed forces retirement?

[Lapa]

Willie,

They were not retroactive. Someone eligible for 20 years service in, say, 1958 or 1959 would only receive the 20 year medal when his time is up.

Marc

[matteti]

And to add the obvious to Marc's answer, he would also have already received the medal for Combat service (10 years) and the order of the red star (15 years).

In the case of motherhood awards, they were also not receiving the previous medals and orders when the awards got instituted. They just started with the next highest award. If i remember correctly the Mother Hero 1 received it for having 11 children, but she never received the lesser motherhood awards.

[willie777]

Originally Posted by Lapa

Willie,

They were not retroactive. Someone eligible for 20 years service in, say, 1958 or 1959 would only receive the 20 year medal when his time is up.

Marc

Thanks. What about the veteran of the armed forces medal?

Originally Posted by matteti

And to add the obvious to Marc's answer, he would also have already received the medal for Combat service (10 years) and the order of the red star (15 years).

Its not that obvious... I mean, i didn't know that...

[desantnik]

Originally Posted by willie777

Also, was the veteran of labor medal awarded for armed forces retirement?

No. Armed Forces had their own retirement medal.

[willie777]

I forgot to ask- If CS is 10 years, and RS is 15 years, whats 20 and 25? RB and Lenin?

[Lapa]

Originally Posted by willie777

I forgot to ask- If CS is 10 years, and RS is 15 years, whats 20 and 25? RB and Lenin?

You got it!

[matteti]

And another RB for the rare cases of 30 years.

[willie777]

Originally Posted by Lapa

You got it!

Wow, I am right! For once...

Originally Posted by matteti

And another RB for the rare cases of 30 years.

Are these rules corresponding the award to the number of years of service "de jure" or "de facto", for the lack of a better way to say it?

Originally Posted by Lapa

Willie,

They were not retroactive. Someone eligible for 20 years service in, say, 1958 or 1959 would only receive the 20 year medal when his time is up.

Marc

What about the Veteran of the armed forces medal? It shows the person has 25 years of service (at least) but isn't exactly an irreproachable service medal, so I'm not sure whether it was retroactive.

Originally Posted by desantnik

No. Armed Forces had their own retirement medal.

Really? I only know of the Armed Forces vetran medal, which I know was awarded for 25 years of service. I don't think retirement was a requirement. (Hey, that rhymes!) Also, I read on the main site:
Medal for Veteran of Labor
Established 18 January 1974. Awarded to all workers of retirement age for their many years of labor in the Soviet economy, culture, science, medicine, and education. This medal could also be given to military personnel who had reached retirement age. It is made of a Zinc and Copper alloy. Approximately 36,000,000 were issued.

Now, was the Veteran of Labor medal retroactive? I assume so, as there was no previous medal to mark retirement, and a person who has reached retirement age before the institution of the medal is still of retirement age when its instituted, but as always "I just wanna make sure". Maybe I should change that into my sig.

[willie777]

Was the armed forces veteran medal retroactive?