Service Honours Alignment

Progress update 2  - 23rd October 2020

In our last update we talked about the protocols FRFANZ and UFBA agreed to guide the alignment and transition of their awards.

This update outlines the different year-values of the awards, how the difference may be aligned to UFBA awards, and how in future both FRFANZ and UFBA awards might be worn together.

Present Awards: differences in bold italics

UFBA 3 year certificate   FRFANZ no 3 year certificate 

UFBA 5 Year silver medal    FRFANZ 3 Year silver medal

UFBA 2 Year silver bar    FRFANZ 3 Year silver bar

UFBA 25 Year gold star    FRFANZ 25 Year gold medal

UFBA 2 Year gold bar    FRFANZ 3 Year gold bar

UFBA 50 Year gold star    FRFANZ 50 Year gold medal

UFBA 2 Year gold bar    FRFANZ 3 Year gold bar      

Equalising the Year-Values

The year-values of the two sets of awards differ. To successfully transition service awards, both UFBA and FRFANZ awards need to align so that all members can be on the same footing. This will enable a level playing field from here on.

We believe the best way to achieve alignment is to add a special one-year FRFANZ bar in both silver and gold, to bridge the gap.

The issue of one or two of these FRFANZ 1-year bars to an individual will synchronise the year-values of the medals.

Suggested immediate alignment:

Options for former FRFANZ members

Once this alignment is achieved those with FRFANZ awards will have the flexibility to:

• Continue, if they wish, with FRFANZ awards for the rest of their service*
• Choose UFBA awards from the start of their awards, i.e. with the 3-year certificate
• Decide to switch awards to UFBA awards at any time in their service and wear these awards from now on (there will be a cost for medals)
• Continue wearing FRFANZ awards but start receiving UFBA awards wearing them alongside FRANZ awards. Medals can be worn in continuity with no duplication: the combined awards must add to total years served.
• Or take off FRFANZ bars in a countback to equalise with the UFBA awards  

FRFANZ 1-year bars can now be ordered servicehonours@ufba.org.nz

Options for you to think about

Exchanging at any time, with a wait for the “Catch up year” 

FRFANZ 3 YEAR MEDAL AND 1 X 3 YEAR FRFANZ BARS - TOTAL 6 YEARS
UFBA 5-year medal, next UFBA 2-year bar in one year

FRFANZ 3 YEAR MEDAL AND 2 X 3 YEAR FRFANZ BARS - TOTAL 9 YEARS
UFBA 5-year medal and two 2-year UFBA bars

FRFANZ 3 YEAR MEDAL AND 3 X 3 YEAR FRFANZ BARS - TOTAL 12 YEARS
UFBA 5-year medal and three 2-year UFBA bars, next UFBA bar in one year

FRFANZ 3 YEAR MEDAL AND 4 X 3 YEAR FRFANZ BARS - TOTAL 15 YEARS
UFBA 5-year medal and four 2-year UFBA bars

FRFANZ 3 YEAR MEDAL AND 5 X 3 YEAR FRFANZ BARS - TOTAL 18 YEARS
UFBA 5-year medal and six 2-year UFBA bars, next UFBA bar in one year

FRFANZ 3 YEAR MEDAL AND 6 X 3 YEAR FRFANZ BARS - TOTAL 21 YEARS
UFBA 5-year medal and eight 2-year UFBA bars

FRFANZ 3 YEAR MEDAL AND 7 X 3 YEAR FRFANZ BARS - TOTAL 24 YEARS
UFBA 5-year medal and nine 2 year UFBA bars. Gold Star in one year
Exchanging like years for like years:
FRFANZ 3 YEAR MEDAL AND 1 X 3 YEAR FRFANZ BARS AND 1 YEAR FRFANZ BAR - TOTAL 7 YEARS
UFBA 5-year silver medal and one 2-year bar

FRFANZ 3 YEAR MEDAL AND 2 X 3 YEAR FRFANZ BARS - TOTAL 9 YEARS
UFBA 5-year silver medal and two 2-year bars

FRFANZ 3 YEAR MEDAL AND 3 X 3 YEAR FRFANZ BARS AND 1 YEAR FRFANZ BAR - TOTAL 13 YEARS
UFBA 5-year silver medal and four 2-year bars

FRFANZ 3 YEAR MEDAL AND 4 X 3 YEAR FRFANZ BARS - TOTAL 15 YEARS
UFBA 5-year silver medal and five 2-year bars

FRFANZ 3 YEAR MEDAL AND 5 X 3 YEAR FRFANZ BARS AND 1 YEAR BAR - TOTAL 19 YEARS
UFBA 5-year silver medal and six 2-year bars

FRFANZ 3 YEAR MEDAL AND 6 X 3 YEAR FRFANZ BARS - TOTAL 21 YEARS
UFBA 5-year silver bar and eight 2-year bars

FRFANZ 3 YEAR MEDAL AND 7 X 3 YEAR FRFANZ BARS AND 1 YEAR FRFANZ BAR - TOTAL 25 YEARS
UFBA Gold Star

Progress update 1 - 1st October 2020

Central to a firefighter’s uniform are the personal awards worn with pride to show the individual’s years of service to the community. United Fire Brigade Association (UFBA) service awards were instigated in 1881. Forest and Rural Fire Association of New Zealand (FRFANZ) service awards have been issued for decades.

With the merge of the two organisations nearly complete, it’s timely to arrange for the transition towards one set of service awards for all members: UFBA awards have been chosen.

Graeme McIntyre, Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer and FRFANZ Awards Coordinator, and Ric Carlyon, LHM and Chair of the UFBA’s Service and Ceremonial Committee have been working with the Membership Services Team to consider how an alignment and transition should happen. Together we have established a process that has been approved by both associations and we believe will continue to celebrate both sets of awards during the transition process.

We have agreed protocols to guide our work:

• A mechanism is found which allows the year values of the two sets of awards to be aligned
• Members’ awards are kept up to date so that no one loses recognition of service
• Awards are approved and dispatched by the UFBA in a timely fashion
• All awards are presented at appropriate functions, at least annually, without undue delay
• Those recruits who join ex-Rural Brigades will receive only UFBA Awards
• There will be an expiry date by which time only UFBA awards will be worn
• Those who wish to switch from FRFANZ to solely UFBA awards can do so
• Those who wish to wear a combination of FRFANZ awards and UFBA awards can do so Combination of FRFANZ and UFBA awards may be worn on the same uniform: National Commander’s decision, 9th February 2010 – FRFANZ Policy, revised 3rd May 2019

We believe the transition to one set of awards could take up to 25 years.

In our next update, we’ll discuss the different year-values of the awards and how the difference may be aligned. We’ll outline how in future, both FRFANZ and UFBA awards might be worn together and note a timeframe for this.