Mentioning Mentions

Most Canadians not intimately involved with the CF aren't aware of a singular recognition that occupies a small niche in the Canadian Honours System: the Mention in Dispatches (MID):

Mentioned in Dispatches shall be awarded for valiant conduct, devotion to duty or other distinguished service.

The MID could reasonably be described as the foremost commendation awarded to an individual CF member (commendations being different than medals). Re-established in Canada on June 3, 1992 retroactively to November 1, 1990, the MID was originally exactly what its name implied: a mention in dispatches from a commander in the field to his higher HQ. In previous conflicts, Canadians have been Mentioned in Dispatches quite a number of times:

During the First World War, 5467 MIDs were awarded to Canadians.

During the Second World War, MID's were awarded as follows: 6432 to the Canadian Army, 2197 to the Royal Canadian Air Force and 1037 to the Royal Canadian Navy for a total of 9666 MID's awarded.

During the Korean conflict, MID's were awarded as follows: 246 to the Canadian Army and 33 to the Royal Canadian Navy for a total 279 MID's awarded.

Although nearly one hundred have been awarded since its reintroduction in 1992 (at least, according to a government website - more about that later), today's award, in its Canadian form, differs somewhat from the historical one:

3. Normally, MID recommendations are restricted to war-like conditions in an active theatre of operations. Exceptions must be clearly and individually justified. Service beyond the normal call of duty that does not qualify for an MID may be considered for the Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation in accordance with 18-4, Recommendations for Canadian Orders, Decorations and Military Honours and 18-17, Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation.
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5. No detailed citation is required if the recommendation is for valour in conditions where all serve bravely and well, but a few are singled out for special mention. The appropriate commander may simply cite "for valour" and then mention the names of those who so distinguished themselves. Short, amplifying remarks may be added if warranted.

6. An MID for devotion to duty or other distinguished service requires a brief citation to explain the honour.

7. In order to maintain the established standard and integrity of this award, recommendations shall not be submitted or accepted if they total more than one for every 100 persons under command in the theatre of operations for a six-month period.

A CF member awarded a Mention in Dispatches is entitled to wear the distinctive bronze oak leaf insignia on the specific mission medal or ribbon associated with the actions that earned him or her the honour (if the actions weren't associated with a particular mission, "the MID shall be worn directly on the tunic, after all other ribbons or below any full size medals, with the stalk of the oak leaf furthest from the left shoulder"). In other words, if you see a SWASM on a soldier's chest, and it has a MID on it, you know that soldier was Mentioned in Dispatches for actions concerning the Afghanistan mission.

How many soldiers have been granted that distinction to date? Well, an inquiry on the Canadian Honours Search Page for MID's awarded from September 11, 2001 to December 18, 2006 shows precisely thirteen recipients, all of whom earned the MID in Afghanistan. Interestingly, five of those thirteen were 3PPCLI snipers for their work in Op Anaconda (Bruce Rolston accurately called this in June of 2002) - work that eventually earned them Bronze Stars with V from the Americans with whom they operated.

Unfortunately, that list is incomplete: at least another twenty-four MID's have been awarded, as evidenced by this press release from October of this year. One wonders why the Governor General's website would host both a database of honours and a press section that contradicts that database - but such is the labyrinthine world of bureaucracy at this country's seat of power.

Still, niggling details aside, kudos to the Government of Canada and the Canadian Forces for recognizing the extraordinary efforts of deserving CF members with this distinction, and even more kudos to those whose efforts have been recognized with a Mention in Dispatches. Bravo Zulu.