APPENDIX 1 TO ANNEX 8B VRSM TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR RNR PERSONNEL SERVING ON 1 APRIL 1999 1. Detailed transitional arrangements have been agreed for RNR personnel serving on the 1 April 1999, to ensure that all are treated equally and fairly. These include a concession under which officers that have already completed half the qualifying service towards the RD will be able to continue to receive that award if they so wish. No such concession is available to ratings who had not qualified for the award of the RNR LS & GC by 1 April 99 they will only be eligible for the award of the VRSM under new regulations. Details of the transitional arrangements, including decisions to be made by the applicant and action to be taken by units are listed below. 2. RNR personnel (other than officers covered by Para 7 and Para 8 below) serving on 1 April 99 who have not yet qualified for the RD or RNR LS & GC and who, as at 1 April 99 had not yet completed 10 years reckonable qualifying service towards these old awards RNR personnel are to be awarded the VRSM on completion of 10 years reckonable qualifying service in accordance with the regulations above. 3. RNR personnel (other than officers covered by Para 7 and Para 8 below) serving on 1 April 99 who have not yet qualified for the RD or RNR LS & GC and who, as at 1 April 99 had completed 10 years reckonable qualifying service towards these old awards RNR personnel are eligible to be awarded the VRSM with effect from the 1 April 99 (no earlier) and the first clasp on completion of a total of 15 years; reckonable qualifying service. Units are to take the following action: a. Confirm personnel have completed 10 or more years reckonable qualifying service towards the RD or RNR LS & GC. b. Confirm personnel meet all other qualifying criteria. c. Apply for the medal via JPA. d. Note the date the first Clasp to the VRSM is due. e. Update RNR database when VRSM is awarded. 4. RNR personnel serving on 1 April 99 who hold the RD or RNR LS & GC without Clasp(s) RNR personnel are to be awarded the VRSM on completion of 10 years reckonable qualifying service (counted from the date the RD or RNR LS & GC was awarded. 5. RNR personnel serving on 1 April 99 who hold the RD or RNR LS & GC without Clasp(s) and who, as at 1 April 99, had completed 5 or more year s reckonable qualifying service towards the next clasp RNR personnel are to rescind the last clasp with effect from 1 April 1999. They will qualify for the next VRSM as follows: App 1/8B-1
a. Held first clasp to RD or RNR LS & GC only on 1 April 99. On completion of 20 years reckonable qualifying service counted from the date the RD or RNR LS & GC was awarded. b. Held more than one clasp to RD or RNR LS & GC on 1 April 99. Units with personnel holding more than one clasp to the RD or RNR LS & GC on 1 April 99 are to contact NPT(Res) for advice as to when the next VRSM clasp is due. 6. Units are to take the following action: a. Confirm personnel hold at least one clasp to the RD or RNR LS & GC and that they have completed 5 or more years reckonable qualifying service towards the next clasp. b. Apply for the VRSM via JPA. c. Note the date next to the clasp to the VRSM is due. d. Once VRSM and the first clasp is received and awarded: (1) Instruct personnel to remove the clasp and rosette to the RD or RNR LS & GC. (2) Update the RNR database to remove the last clasp to the RD or RNR LS & GC and when the VRSM and the first clasp awarded. (3) Inform NPT(Res) in writing that the above action has been taken (so that Directorate records can be updated and the editor of the Navy List informed). The Clasp(s) and Rosette(s) must be enclosed with the letter sent to the NPT(Res). 7. RNR personnel serving on 1 April 99 and who hold the RD or RNR LS & GC with one or more clasps and who, as at 1 April 99 have not completed 5 years reckonable qualifying service towards the next clasp When such RNR personnel reach the date when they have completed 5 years reckonable service towards the award of the next clasp to the RD or RNR LS & GC (5 year point), they will be required to rescind the last clasp awarded and will be eligible for the award of the VRSM and First clasp. The action to be taken is exactly the same as that explained in Para 5 and Para 6 above, except the effective date of rescinding their last RD or RNR LS & GC clasp and being awarded the VRSM and the First clasp will be the date they reached the 5 year point as described above. Units are to take no action until the 5 year point has been reached. 8. Commissioned officers serving on 1 April 99 who have not yet qualified for the RD but who had, as at 1 April 99, completed 7½ or more years reckonable qualifying service towards the award of RD a. These officers have a choice. They may either: (1) Option one. Opt to receive the VRSM as in Para 2 or Para 3 above or; (2) Option two. Opt to continue to complete 15 years reckonable qualifying service and to receive the RD on completion. In this case they will not be eligible for any further clasps to the RD and would be awarded the VRSM on completion of a further 10 years reckonable qualifying service, counting from the date of the award. App 1/8B-2
b. Once the officer has decided which option they wish to take, they are to complete and sign the relevant option 1 or 2 on the following pages. The original letter is to be retained in the officer s personal file, with copies sent to both NPT(Res) and the officer concerned. c. If the officer has opted for option one, apply for the VRSM In accordance with Para 2 or above, depending on how many years reckonable qualifying service they had completed towards the RD at 1 April 99. d. If the officer has opted for option two, note when the RD is due and apply for the medal in normal course. Thereafter, apply for the VRSM in normal course. App 1/8B-3
OPTION 1 - CLAIM FOR THE VRSM BY AN RNR OFFICER WHO HAD AT 1 APRIL 99 COMPLETED MORE THAN HALF THE QUALIFYING SERVICE REQUIRED FOR THE AWARD OF THE RD I,.. (Insert rank, initials, surname and service number) Being an officer in the RNR who at 1 April 99 had completed more than half the qualifying service towards the RD, have had my attention drawn to the transitional arrangements for the award of the RD and the VRSM. I acknowledge that in applying for the VRSM with qualifying service ending on... (date due VRSM) I become ineligible for the award of the RD even though I may at a later date complete the necessary period of qualifying service. Signed Date.... App 1/8B-4
OPTION 2 TRANSITIONAL AWARD OF THE RD I, (Insert rank, initials, surname and service number) Being an officer in the RNR who at 1 April 99 had completed more than half the qualifying service towards the RD, have had my attention drawn to the transitional arrangements for the award of RD and the VRSM. I understand that on applying for a transitional RD on completion of 15 years qualifying service as at... (date due RD) I may be awarded the RD but will not be eligible for any Clasps to this award. Signature Date.. App 1/8B-5