▁bar ▁is ▁the ▁same ▁design ▁as ▁those ▁of ▁the ▁G SM ▁ 1 9 1 8 – 6 2 ▁and ▁G SM ▁ 1 9 6 2 , ▁as ▁are ▁the ▁colours ▁of ▁the ▁▁ ▁wide ▁rib bon , ▁which ▁is ▁dark ▁green ▁with ▁a ▁pur ple ▁stri pe ▁towards ▁each ▁edge . ▁ ▁Cl as ps ▁The ▁clas ps ▁for ▁the ▁medal ▁are ▁named ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁ge ographic ▁region ▁of ▁operations ▁and ▁not ▁for ▁specific ▁named ▁operations . ▁The ▁clas ps ▁and ▁their ▁qual ifying ▁periods ▁of ▁service ▁are ▁as ▁follows : ▁▁ ▁Southern ▁Asia ▁ ▁Operation ▁V ER D IT ER ▁( LE E WA Y ) ▁( P ak istan ), ▁ 1 ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 8 – 6 ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁E OD ▁Short ▁Term ▁Training ▁Team ▁ ▁Arab ian ▁Pen ins ula ▁Operation ▁Q U ANT AM , ▁ 1 ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 9 – 2 1 ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁Operation ▁IC EN I , ▁ 1 ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 2 – 2 ▁December ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁Northern ▁Africa ▁Operation ▁DE F ER EN CE ▁( Lib ya ), ▁ 2 1 ▁February – 2 2 ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁ ▁Operation ▁V OC ATE ▁( Lib ya ), ▁ 1 1 ▁November ▁ 2 0 1 1 – present ▁Western ▁Africa ▁Operation ▁NEW CO MB E ▁( M ali ), ▁ 1 3 ▁January – 2 2 ▁May ▁ 2