GSA Merits, Medals and Benefits

Medals

Medals are awarded for exceptional service, usually for completing a deployment or campaign as a leader with minimal loss to those under your command. Other type exist for heroic actions in dire circumstances.

Medal of Sacrifice (awarded after going MIA in combat, regardless of circumstance, placed upon the soldiers memorial)
Universal Glorified Service Medal (for achieving either 2 other medals or 10 merits in a single deployment)
Heroic Honor Medal (awarded for completing successful several missions during deployment due to their own actions)

Merits

Merits are standard awards given to all enlisted and veterans for serving in the GSA. Most soldiers receive at least one during basic training and one during or after a deployment. These exist on the data tablet given to a soldier after they retire. Their entire battle cam and their commander's notes are overviewed and for their actions these are assigned to their file and transferred to the on the tablet. Merits can be earned multiple times per deployment or circumstance. Some are skill based, others are situational, and few can be earned through either.

Sharpshooter Merit (During a mission, making a lethal or critical placement on a target a considerable distance away for their given weapon, or, for scoring 100% accuracy consistently during training or practice)
Tactician Merit (For exceptional strategy execution in non-standard combat environments that lead to a victory)
Fearless Service Merit (For standing their ground during dire circumstances with odd against them, fighting until defeated or victorious)
Savior Merit (Rescue a non-combatant or fellow GSA soldier from being captured or lost)
Leadership Merit (For Tier 7 and above ranks that tactically guide their squad in a critical situation to victory or their goal)

Benefits

Benefits are items a recruit lists that they will received in exchange for their service once they become a veteran and leave the service. Typically, the number of orbits they serve equates to the average exchange value, determined by the records department for all public and private trades. The records team partners with the recruiters and division command of each recruit to inform them of the number of orbits they will serve. If a recruit retires early, they can exchange the amount of time served early for partial benefits or any agreeable substitute. This applies to active duty and reserve, as each recruitment season, active duty divisions switch with reserves unless that division is currently in combat.

The benefits to the soldiers generally vary in range, but due to Hoppist restrictions, requests are typically enforced by timing the handout of each benefit. For instance, if a limited restriction substance in abundance is requested, the limit of receiving it is spaced out for the time period specified. Below is a list of common benefits, as those who do not select them at all or during recruitment season, will have their choice of benefit.

Commonly asked for or commonly offered benefits are:

Above-ground property on Karrots, constructed to their wishes by the Veterans Construction Union (1 orbit of service)
Taking their service weapons, uniform, kit, ribbons and medals home, excluding vehicles (any length of time serving)
A free supply of carrots and water during any visit to the GSAA or related facilities that exist off-world (any length of time serving)
A starship from Royal Ampbersamd (2 or more orbits depending on model)
Release from a minor crime or violation of Self-Restriction (5 orbits of service)
A tour with Hop on his personal vessel, to any world (100 or more orbits of service)