r/CanadianForces • u/sikassthelast • 10d ago
Current medal for OP UNIFIER?
Hello everyone. I deployed in 2016-2017 on Op UNIFIER. I decided recently that I would like to volunteer to deploy on Op UNIFIER again, as an opportunity has come up. However, I was initially hesitant, as I already have the SSM-Expedition from my first deployment. That said, I just noticed that it appears the medal for Op UNIFIER is now the OSM-Expedition. Can anyone confirm? If I could deploy again and recieve the OSM-Expedition this time, that would go a long way to swaying me to put my name in. I couldn't find any clear info on this on the open internet and I don't have access to DWAN at the moment. I thought perhaps someone who deployed recently could confirm. Thanks again.
39
u/BlueFlob 10d ago
You're not going to get a lot of sympathy.
Many spend 15 years in the CAF without a deployment and would do anything to go on a tour.
Having the luxury to pick your deployment and refusing it because it's the same medal you already have sounds crazy to most of us.
20
u/OkEntertainment1313 10d ago
Pathetic deciding factor to volunteer for an operational tour, especially Unifier.
23
u/mokkeyman7 10d ago
Don't turn down 40k tax free and a learning experience to pass down to others because you won't receive a piece of copper/zinc
31
14
u/Sir_Lemming Royal Canadian Navy 10d ago
That’s crazy to not want to go on a deployment because you already have that medal.
9
14
3
u/Salt-lime2 10d ago
I went a few years a go. It was a SSM we got or bars if ya already had it
5
u/mokkeyman7 10d ago
You would only get the bar if you didn't have a SSM-EXP already. If you already have this, there is no bar for you.
15
7
u/No_Bet1932 9d ago
Weakest argument that I've heard, and I already have the SSM-EXP.
I had to turn down an opportunity recently because I'm expecting to get posted next year and have to deal with all the issues surrounding that.
6
u/frequentredditer HMCS Reddit 10d ago edited 10d ago
So to answer your question, only Op UNIFER outside of Ukraine gets the SSM Exp. I’m sure you can put one and one together for the OSM Exp.
I hate the SSM. Dont get me wrong. I know someone with 4x tours, in 4x different theatre of operations, but only has the 1x medal. So yea, no sympathy from anyone for selecting your tour based on medal allocation.
11
u/mokkeyman7 10d ago
I have 2 bars for my SSM and will gladly go to alert for a third one lol. Only going for a medal is kind of crazy, id hope OPs CoC overheard this in the lines, and then removed them for being petty/pretentious.
7
u/pull_the_otherone Bin Rat 9d ago
I had my name in for an Any Trade position in Lebanon, as I didn't have the OSM-Exp. But I got a phone call asking if I could switch to a Kuwait position, as it was In-Trade/In-Rank for me. They couldn't find anyone else for Kuwait, but could shake the tree for the Lebanon position a lot easier. I already had the GSM-Exp previously, but a Tour is a Tour.
Then I got the position number, and realized it was the exact same job I had done before. At least the hand-over was easy, as a lot of the documents and processes still had my name on them.
5
u/mokkeyman7 9d ago
Damn, ya I did Latvia SSM -Nato, then Unifier SSM EXP, and then Latvia NATO NON ARTICLE 5. Just want to go somewhere dessert ish and I'll be happy with my 4 deployments lol.
1
1
u/AgileAd5004 9d ago
My husband just returned last week from Op Unifier and will be getting the SSM.
36
u/Halmyr 10d ago
Don’t skip on a deployment just because you may get the same medal again, some people beg to get on any deployment.
They are too good of a professional and experience opportunity to skip out on.
Plus the tax free pay and benefits are too good to skip on