General Service Medal (2008)

The General Service Medal (GSM 08), was introduced in 2015 to recognize specified operations, not qualifying for another campaign medal. The medal was first awarded in 2016 for service in operations since January 2008. Like its predecessor medal the General Service Medal (1962), operations will be denoted by clasps which indicate the geographic area of operations and not a specific operation. The first awards of the medal were made by Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon at a ceremony on 12 June 2016.

Appearance
The GSM 08 is a circular silver medal. The obverse features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Elizabeth II. The reverse bears a design featuring a figure of Britannia holding a trident standing ahead of a lion, symbolising Britain. The whole is encircled by an oak leaf wreath similar to the designs of previous GSM medals.

Clasps
The clasps for the medal are named based on the geographic region of operations and not for specific named operations. The clasps for this medal and their qualifying periods of service are as follows:
 * Southern Asia
 * Operation VERDITER (LEEWAY) (Pakistan), 1 January 2008–6 May 2015 EOD Short Term Training Team
 * Arabian Peninsula
 * Operation QUANTAM 1 January 2009–21 May 2012
 * Operation ICENI 1 June 2012–2 December 2013
 * Northern Africa
 * Operation DEFERENCE (Libya), 21 February–22 March 2011
 * Operation VOCATE (Libya), 11 November 2011–present
 * Western Africa
 * Operation NEWCOMBE (Mali), 13 January–22 May 2013
 * Eastern Africa
 * Operation PRESIDIUM, 10 February 2010–present
 * Operation MODEST (Somalia), 24 January 2013–present
 * Operation BACKWELL (African Union Mission to Somalia), 20 April 2012–present