The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service Medal is a long service medal presented to the officers,

petty officer A petty officer (PO) is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotation OR-5 or OR-6. In many nations, they are typically equal to a sergeant in comparison to other military branches. Often they may be super ...

s, and rates of the

Royal Fleet Auxiliary The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) is a naval auxiliary fleet owned by the UK's Ministry of Defence. It provides logistical and operational support to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The RFA ensures the Royal Navy is supplied and supported by ...

(RFA) who complete 20 years of service. While the RFA services the fleet of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

around the world, RFA crews are civilians and thus not eligible for Royal Navy long service awards and decorations. In 2001, a Royal Warrant was promulgated establishing the medal to recognize the long and efficient service the RFA personnel. The first awards were presented in 2003 with some 400 RFA personnel eligible for award.

Appearance

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service Medal is a silver coloured circular medal made of

cupro-nickel Cupronickel or copper-nickel (CuNi) is an alloy of copper that contains nickel and strengthening elements, such as iron and manganese. The copper content typically varies from 60 to 90 percent. (Monel is a nickel-copper alloy that contains a minimu ...

. The

obverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, ...

bears the right facing portrait head of Queen Elizabeth II wearing the

Imperial State Crown The Imperial State Crown is one of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom and symbolises the sovereignty of the monarch. It has existed in various forms since the 15th century. The current version was made in 1937 and is worn by the monarc ...

. Surrounding the portrait is the legend ''ELIZABETH.II.DEI .GRATIA.REGINA.FID.DEF.'' The reverse depicts the badge of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary: at its centre is a large

fouled anchor Foul is a nautical term meaning to entangle or entwine, and more generally that something is wrong or difficult. The term dates back to usage with wind-driven sailing ships. Foul anchor It is usually applied to the state of an anchor, which has b ...

supported on either side by the two Tritons each bearing a trident. Around the reverse edge is the legend ''ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY'' and ''FOR LONG SERVICE'' separated by a small oak branch with three leaves and an acorn. Designed by Timothy Noad, his initials (TN) are located at the base of the anchor.

References

{{Efficiency and long service decorations and medals Civil awards and decorations of the United Kingdom Awards established in 2001 Long and Meritorious Service Medals of Britain and the Commonwealth 2001 establishments in the United Kingdom