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Service Personnel and UK civilians, who deployed to Afghanistan on Operation PITTING under the tactical command of the UK military commander, are to receive medallic recognition.
Eligible personnel will receive the Operational Service Medal (OSM) Afghanistan with an ‘OPERATION PITTING’ clasp. Those who have already earned the Operational Service Medal will receive the clasp only to be attached to their existing medal.
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To qualify for the medal and/or clasp, individuals must have completed five days’ service (or undertaken three air sorties) in Afghanistan between 14th and 28thAugust 2021. Those eligible include officials from the Ministry of Defence, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and the UK Border Force, who worked alongside members of the Armed Forces in Afghanistan.
Operation PITTING was the largest humanitarian aid operation in over 70 years, evacuating thousands of Afghans and British nationals from Kabul Airport as the Taliban seized control of the country.
Royal Air Force personnel and aircraft played a pivotal role in the operation, working around the clock to fly evacuees to safety in the United Kingdom, where they were welcomed at RAF Brize Norton. The RAF also completed a record-breaking flight, with a passenger number of 439 onboard a C17 Globemaster.
"Over an intense, sustained period last Summer, our people demonstrated bravery, professionalism and overwhelming compassion in the finest traditions of the Royal Air Force. I am delighted their service has been recognised in this way."
Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston
Chief of the Air Staff
Commanded from the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, Operation PITTING began on 13th August 2021 and assisted those eligible for relocation to the UK from Afghanistan under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy.
"I’m delighted that Her Majesty The Queen has given permission for a special medal to be awarded to all those who deployed to Kabul, to honour their heroism in the face of extreme adversity. Operation PITTING will go down as one of the great achievements of our UK Armed Services and their civilian counterparts in the post-war era. The whole country can be immensely proud of their tireless work to bring men, women and children to safety. They represent the very best of us."
Boris Johnson
Prime Minister
During this period of humanitarian crisis, the military provided food and water, clothing, medical supplies and hygiene products for evacuees and policed the airport alongside multiple forces from across the world. 16 Air Assault Brigade put 600 soldiers on the ground to provide force protection and logistical support to the vast operation at Kabul Airport.
"As the security situation worsened by the hour, our service men and women stepped up and delivered the largest British evacuation since the Second World War. They will rightly receive medallic recognition for their efforts."
Ben Wallace
Defence Secretary
The operation ended on 28th August 2021 and resulted in the safe evacuation of more than15,000 people on 100 flights, from at least 38 different nations. This was a key part of a multi-national effort, which ultimately secured the evacuation of over 122,000 people.
