Finally, I got off my backside and ordered a set of replica medals. It’s taken me over a decade to decide to get them. And wear them.

Why?

My real ones were presented to me at different times in my life when I was in the Navy in front of others. Usually, the Commanding Officer presents them with a little spiel and then you accept them and you wear them as part of your uniform. You get a set of full medals for parades, ribbons for daily wear and a miniature set for evening formal uniform.

However, I only ever wore the ribbons for my daily uniform and wore my real medals on parade which was rare.

When I left the military and left the Reserves as well, I preferred to attend ANZAC Day Parades as a spectator and didn’t march. Some years later I had my real medals mounted into a glass frame which meant I was unable to wear them and hence march during parades.

Not that I worried too much about this as I always preferred to be a spectator than involved in the parades.

However, 2023 has changed all that as I have had a complete mental overhaul.

I sat at this year’s ANZAC Day Commemoration at my local Returned Services League Club in the crowd and I thought to myself, “I served. I served my country for 21 years. Why am I hiding this fact?”

Part of me just switched my thinking. I guess that’s 2023 for me. A year of Transformational Thinking.

I guess I was tired of feeling guilty for others for my military service. Also others have been on operations overseas, seen conflict and lost their lives in service to their country. After all, I loved and am proud of my time in service, so why should I feel guilty about having made this commitment and oath to serve my country?

Something overcame me that moment and I put my own pride and imposter syndrome aside, and then ordered my replica medals soon after.

They’ve only just arrived in the mail.

These medals to me represent time in service. The first one is the Defence Force Long Service medal with the clasp that denotes 15 years of service, the clasp is an extra 5 years of service. The red one is the Defence Force Service Medal that is given to everyone who has served for more than four years.

I’ll be wearing them with pride from now on.

I won’t be feeling guilty anymore. Frankly, I don’t care what others think anymore.