Features – Royal Auxiliary Air Force Medals

Air Efficiency Award

Established in 1942, the Air Efficiency Award was given for ten years of efficient service in the Reserve Air Forces of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and Empire services. All ranks were eligible, although only officers were allowed to use of the post-nominal AE. A clasp to the medal was awarded for every additional ten years of service. The award was discontinued on 1 April 1999, and replaced by the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal (below).

Volunteer Reserves Service Medal

The Volunteer Reserves Service Medal (VRSM) was introduced on 1 April 1999 to replace the separate medals that used to be issued to personnel of the separate Reserve Forces; this included the Air Efficiency Award of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. The VRSM is issued to all ranks after 10 years of qualifying service. A clasp to the medal is awarded for every additional 5 years of qualifying service. Service before 1 April 1999 including that in the regular forces may qualify for the award. Recipients may use the post-nominals ‘VR’ after their name.

King’s Volunteer Reserves Medal

The King’s Volunteer Reserves Medal ( KVRM) – previously the Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal (QVRM) – was introduced on 1 April 1999 and is awarded to Volunteer Reserves of all 3 Armed Services for exemplary and meritorious service.. There are only 13 QVRM awards made in any one year of which the Royal Auxiliary Air Force is allocated 2. The Medal is a Level 3 award and ranks in precedence immediately after the King’s / Queen’s Gallantry Medal and the Royal Victorian Medal, and it is the first award dedicated to Volunteer Reserves that attracts attendance at an Investiture. Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominals KVRM or QVRM depending on who the monarch was when the Medal was awarded.