South-West Asia Service Medal (Canada)

South-West Asia Service Medal
The South-West Asia Service Medal
Awarded by the Monarch of Canada
Type	Campaign medal
Eligibility	All members of the Canadian Forces.
Awarded for	Campaign service.
Campaign(s)	Various against terrorism in South-West Asia after 11 September 2001
Status	Currently awarded
Clasps	Direct combat for a minimum of 30 days after 11 September 2001
Statistics
Established	6 August 2002
First awarded	20 September 2002
Total awarded	7,497
Precedence
Next (higher)	Somalia Medal
Next (lower)	General Campaign Star
Ribbon of the South West Asia Service Medal

The South-West Asia Service Medal (French: Médaille du service en Asie du Sud-Ouest) is a campaign medal created in 2002 by the Canadian monarch-in-Council to recognize members of the Canadian Forces who had directly participated in efforts to combat terrorism in Southwest Asia following the Al-Qaeda attacks on the United States in 2001. It is, within the Canadian system of honours, the fifth highest of the war and operational service medals.

Designed by Carl Gauthier and Fraser Herald Cathy Bursey-Sabourin, the South-West Asia Service Medal is in the form of a 36-millimetre-diameter (1.4 in) nickel-plated gunmetal disc with, on the obverse, the Latin words ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA (Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, Queen) and, separated by maple leaves, CANADA, all surrounding an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II wearing the George IV State Diadem, symbolizing her roles as both fount of honour and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces. On the reverse is a depiction of the Lernaean Hydra transfixed by a Canadian sword, all circumscribed by the words ADVERSUS MALUM PUGNAMUS (we are fighting evil).