In the past, the bobbleheads you received for placing in the top three rankings for the seasonal squadron leaderboards in activities such as mining or AX combat were permanent. Your squadron ranked, you got the bobblehead, you got to show it off forever in your cockpit.
At some recent but unknown point, this was changed. (edit: it looks like the point was Vanguards release) The squadron Blackstar Interstellar achieved rank three in mining in a recent season after weeks of effort and tens of billions of credits invested. The squadron was elated to have made the leaderboard after a few past failed attempts.
Just today, we learned that those bobbleheads have been removed. Our squadron leader contacted Frontier support asking if a mistake occurred. We were told, quote, "In order to keep the bobblehead, your squadron need to achieve 3rd place on the leaderboard again this season and future seasons. It is not a permanent unlock."
Quite frankly, we're stunned this change was made without any public announcement that we can find. Imagine earning a medal in the Olympics, then having it taken away when the next Olympics occurs. It feels like a poor attempt by Frontier to force more artificial gameplay and grind to maintain a ranking that didn't exist before.
If you or your squadron plan to top the leaderboards... maybe rethink your plans.