The Australia Iraq medal was awarded for service in Iraq during the relevant deployment period, which for the main Iraq campaign medal ran from the 2003 invasion into the later drawdown years. The specific Australian medal most people mean is the Australian Operational Service Medal (Iraq), and it covered service in Iraq from 2003 until the end of the qualifying period set by Defence arrangements.

Quick answer

In plain terms, it was awarded for years of service, not a single day or event. The exact qualifying dates depend on which Iraq-related Australian medal or clasp you mean, because Australia used different honours for different phases of the Iraq mission.

What to check

  • Australian Operational Service Medal (Iraq) : for operational service in Iraq.
  • Other Iraq-related recognitions : sometimes people also mean general campaign or coalition awards rather than the Australian medal itself.

Bottom line

If you mean the Australian Iraq service medal, it was awarded for service during the Iraq operation period , not indefinitely. The most accurate answer depends on the exact medal name or clasp shown on the ribbon.