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most of those actually didn't get a mention funnily
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They never do, some (not all) recipients of AFSM's in recent years have devalued the true intent of the award.
An AFSM should be awarded for actions above and beyond what you are employed/elected to do, not because:
- You happen to be a DGO/GO/RO/RC
- Achieve simply 20 years service and do your employed/elected job diligently
- You've got "friends in high places"
- It's your turn
Example 1: A recipient being awarded an AFSM for services and commitment to training when in fact it is well known of their disdain for the RTC and those employed there, to the point of making working relationships hard for those under their command to volunteer time at the "school"
Example 2: A recipient being awarded an AFSM for service and when the recipients service record is truly examined it has revealed they certainly haven't achieved any thing above and beyond what is expected of a person of their elected rank, or for that fact they have achieved less than some of the non rank holding members of their brigade have achieved. But the local MP is an auxiliary member of the brigade and in most contact with the elected person.
Possibly a meritous long service decoration should be awarded leaving the AFSM as the pinnacle of fire service decorations for those that truly earn it.