The Operational Service Medal is a service medal awarded by the Government of Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory located in the Atlantic Ocean. The medal was initially announced in November 2024 for members of the Royal Bermuda Regiment, the territory's primary military force, to recognise its service in various operational environments. The award of the medal was to date from the foundation of the Royal Bermuda Regiment, which was formed in September 1965 through the amalgamation of the Bermuda Militia Artillery and the Bermuda Rifles.
A number of qualifying criteria were established for award of the medal, with an established list of operations also published that were eligible for recognition - eligible operations were required to be ones where the regiment was officially mobilised through an order endorsed by the Governor of Bermuda.
Medal The Operational Service Medal is silver and circular in shape. Obverse: the crowned effigy of King Charles III, the Bermudan monarch, with the inscription CHARLES III DEI GRATIA REX FID. DEF. Reverse: the cap badge of the Royal Bermuda Regiment, surrounded by the inscription FOR OPERATIONAL SERVICE Ribbon: a thin sky blue central stripe, flanked by wider stripes of red and navy blue. Clasp: Bermuda clasp awarded to all recipients.
Qualifying criteria The Operational Service Medal is awarded to anyone serving in the Royal Bermuda Regiment that meets the following criteria:
Have seen service in the regiment since 15 September 1965 Minimum 30 days accumulated service in one or more specific types of operation: Disaster relief operations, either in Bermuda or overseas Humanitarian assistance operations, either in Bermuda or overseas Security operations, either in Bermuda or overseas Any other operations, meeting requirements for risk and rigour, that have been recognised as qualifying by the Governor of Bermuda
An initial set of events and operations that were identified as being eligible for award of the medal was published in November 2025:
1965 – BELCO Strike 1968 – Civil Disturbances 1973 – Assassination of the Governor of Bermuda 1977 – Riots following execution of Erskine Durrant "Buck" Burrows and Larry Tacklyn 1981 – General Strike 1987 – Hurricane Emily 1988 – Hurricane Gilbert 1989 – Hurricane Hugo 1990 – Summit meeting between Margaret Thatcher and George H.W. Bush 1991 – Summit meeting between John Major and George H.W. Bush 1992 – Tornado 1995 – Hurricane Felix 1996 – Xing Da incident 1999 – Hurricane Gert 2001 – Hurricane Erin 2001 – September 11 attacks 2003 – Hurricane Fabian 2004 – Hurricane Ivan 2005 – Operation SPICE RELIEF 2006 – Hurricane Florence 2007 – Operation WICKET KEEPER 2008 – Hurricane Ike 2008 – Tropical Storm Fay 2010 – Hurricane Igor 2014 – Hurricane Gonzalo 2015 – Hurricane Joaquin 2016 – Tropical Storm Karl 2016 – Hurricane Nicole 2017 – Operation RUMAN 2019 – Hurricane Humberto 2019 – Hurricane Jerry 2020 – Operation SOTER 2020 – Hurricane Paulette 2020 – Hurricane Teddy 2021 – Operation SOTER 2 2021 – Operation TRANQUILLITAS 2022 – Hurricane Fiona 2024 – Hurricane Ernesto 2025 – Hurricane Imelda
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