23 February 2017 (Review commenced in April 2011)
Changes to the eligibility rules for the existing ten New Zealand military long service awards are expected to be announced in the second half of 2017, once the governing Royal Warrants and accompanying regulations are in place.
Additional work is currently being undertaken on the definitions of ‘Efficient Service’ and ‘Character and Conduct’.
As advised on 25 August 2015, the existing long service awards will remain, but the entitlement criteria will allow all eligible New Zealand military service to be counted. For example, service will be able to be accumulated rather than continuous (as is currently required for some awards). This will deliver a fairer system while maintaining the standing of the long service awards.
The appropriate long service award issued will reflect the majority of each recipient’s service. Persons who already have a long service award will continue to wear the award they have. There will be no swapping of awards.
Current serving military personnel will not need to apply for their long service entitlement to be assessed under the new rules. They will be automatically assessed via the data in their SAP HCM records. Please note that given the number of eligible personnel it may take around 12 to 18 months after the announcement to confirm and issue the medal entitlement for every current serving military Service person.
Applications from eligible ex-Service persons will be called for by the end of 2017, once a project team of additional staff has been hired and trained.
Full information on the changes will be released at the time of the formal announcement.
The time frame is not bad for a process which started in April 2011. Must be busy in the Medals Department.
