Medal "For Service In The Armed Forces".

[Taz]

Medal for Service in the Armed Forces, 4th class (for 5 Years of Service), 1987-1992.

Made of German silver, red enamel. 32mm wide. On the reverse is an inscription in Dari "Medal of Service in the Armed Forces, 4th Class, After 5 Years' Service".

Here are a few details on the other classes of this medal.

Medal for Service in the Armed Forces, 1st class (for 20 Years of Service), 1987-1992.
In gilded brass. Inscribed in Dari "Medal of Service in the Armed Forces, After 20 Years".

Medal for Service in the Armed Forces, 2nd class (for 15 Years of Service), 1987-1992.
Brass, sky blue enamel. 32mm wide. Reverse is inscribed in Dari "Medal of Service in the Armed Forces, 2nd Class, After 15 Years' Service".

Medal for Service in the Armed Forces, 3rd class (for 10 Years of Service), 1987-1992.
Brass, red enamel. 32mm wide. Reverse is inscribed in Dari "Medal of Service in the Armed Forces, 3rd Class, After 10 Years' Service".

Eddie

[Felix]

- 4th class for 5 years of service
- 3rd class for 10 years
- 2nd class for 15 years

[Felix]

- 1st class for 20 years of service
- without class for 25 years

[medals73]

This is the long service medal, a very complex award with varieties in both the medal and the ribbon.

As it was widely awarded, this ribbon turns up on all sorts of things where the ribbon does not belong.

If there is interest, I could post a survey of this medal, but I know that interest is limited and this would take some time, so . . . ???

[Art]

Always interested in hearing more. I'm sure others are as well.

[medals73]

OK, you asked for it. Here goes. In many cases, there are great gaping holes in my knowledge and I have never been one to pretend to know things where I am guessing. I'll try, throughout, to mark guesses as such.

Medal for Good Conduct in Military Service

Established 24 December 1980. In general, it is a circular 32-mm medal, in the center star bearing the Afghan State arms.

There are, I believe, three different ribbons. I am guessing as to the chronology:

1- 23 mm, white with a 3-mm central blue stripes and two 1-mm blue stripes toward each edge; the ribbon is made much more intricate in that all of the blue stripes are edges with very thin dark red stripes.

2- 24 mm, red with stripes on the right edge (reading inward) of 3.5 mm white and 3 mm blue. This gives the ribbon a somewhat “unbalanced” appearance.

3- 25 mm, seven essentially equal stripes: red, black, red, green, red, black, red (this ribbon is commonly misused for other Afghan medals since it was, apparently, so common).

I have, at present, no basis to even guess as the dates for these.

It seems obvious that the clocks for years of service started whenever one entered service, regardless of the government they served.

There are, in general terms, five classes. I'll post them individually.

For 25 years, also known as “Veteran of Armed Forces” – Gilt medal with blue-enameled background, doubled rayed star.

Shown on second and third ribbons.

[medals73]

For 20 years – Gilt medal with no enamel, doubled rayed star. Reverse legend includes on the third line “Darje ۱” or “class 1”.

Shown on first and third ribbons.

[medals73]

For 15 years – Gilt medal with light-blue-enameled background. Reverse legend includes on the third line “Darje ۲” or “class 2”.

On second and third ribbons.

[medals73]

For 10 years – Gilt medal with red-enameled background. Reverse legend includes on the third line “Darje ۳” or “class 3”.

Third ribbon only.

[medals73]

For 5 years – White metal medal with red-enameled star. Reverse legend includes on the third line “Darje ۴” or “class 4”.

Third ribbon only.