Rant Not entitled to a medal

[John A Silkstone]

We all get irate when we hear about people wearing medals that they are not entitled to. A recent case was put up about some of the RAF lads and lasses who are not allowed to have the Afghan medal as they don’t qualify for being in the theatre for the correct number of days, even though they have done the trip 20 or 30 times with the cargo plains.

However, the one thing I was not aware of; was the little perk the MPs get. They only have to visit the country to claim the medal.

Below is a petition to stop these people getting the medal which other deserving military personnel are not entitled to?


http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/notompmedals/


Please pass this link on.

 

[John A Silkstone]

This is the Government’s response

Our Armed Forces are a very special group of people of whom the Government is extremely proud. We fully recognise and appreciate the professionalism, dedication and sacrifice our Service men and women make on a daily basis in serving and protecting our country.

It is completely untrue to suggest that MPs are receiving medals for visits within the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme to Afghanistan or any other operational theatre. Visits of this kind are usually only of one or two days’ duration and do not count towards the eligibility for an operational medal.

The purpose of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS) is to provide an opportunity for MPs to gain an understanding and hands on knowledge of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the roles, rigour and functions of the Armed Forces. As a result they are better able to work within parliament, as public figures, and as constituency MPs, on behalf of the Armed Forces.

The AFPS has its own badge of merit which members may be presented with in recognition of 10 years with the scheme and when they have completed the four stages, participated in debates, asked questions in the house, and issued statements on the Scheme. There are very few members who have achieved this status.

It is important to understand that the awards, acknowledgements, certificates presented by the AFPS are unofficial and entirely separate to formal Honours and Awards presented to members of the Armed Forces which are subject to The Queen’s approval.

On 1 July 2009, the Secretary of State for Defence announced in Parliament Her Majesty The Queen’s approval and institution of a new form of recognition, called the Elizabeth Cross, and a Memorial Scroll for the families of Service personnel who die on operations or as a result of terrorist action. This is not a posthumous medal for the fallen, but is tangible national recognition for their families in recognition of their tragic loss and sacrifice.