NATO MEDAL FOR KOSOVO SERVICE

NATO Medal for Kosovo Service Obverse

NATO Medal for Kosovo Service Reverse

OBVERSE

REVERSE

1. Description: A Bronze medal, 1 3/8 inches in diameter, bearing on the obverse the NATO emblem (a four pointed star emitting a ray from each point superimposed on an annulet) enclosed in base by a wreath of olive. The reverse side has a band inscribed "NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION" at top and "ORGANISATION DU TRAITE DE L’ATLANTIQUE NORD" at the bottom. In the center is a sprig of olive between the inscription "IN SERVICE OF PEACE AND FREEDOM" above and "AU SERVICE DE LA PAIX ET DE LA LIBERTE" below.

2. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 3/32 inch White 67101, 15/32 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118, 1/4 inch White, 15/32 inch Ultramarine Blue and 3/32 inch White.

3. Criteria: Authorized by the Secretary General of NATO for specific NATO operations. In accordance with Executive Order 11446, the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, may approve acceptance for operations and authorize the wear by US Service members who meet the criteria specified by the Secretary General of NATO. The acceptance of the NATO Medal has been approved for US Military personnel who serve under NATO Command or operational control in direct support of NATO operations in Kosovo, from 13 October 1998 through a future date to be determined. Qualification for award of the NATO Medal for Kosovo are:

        a. (1) Participation in NATO operations related to Kosovo from 13 October 1998 to a date to be determined for 30 continuous/accumulated days in the area of operations (AOE). The AOE is the land, at sea, or in the air space of Kosovo; other territories of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) (FRY is Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia), Albania, Macedonia, and the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.

           (2) Aircrew Members participating in Operation Allied Force between 24 March 1999 and 10 June 1999, qualify after flying 15 sorties in Kosovo and Fry.

           (3) Aircrew members not qualifying under 2a(2) accumulate one day of qualifying service for the first sortie flown on any day. Added sorties on the same day receive no further credit regardless of aircraft (support/combat). Support are tanker, airlift and surveillance aircraft.

            (4) Individuals wounded or injured and requiring subsequent evacuation from the defined area of eligibility, regardless of time in the AOE, qualify for the award.

        b. (1) Ninety continuous/accumulated days within the territories of Italy, Greece and Hungary in direct support of NATO Operations conducted in the AOE of paragraph 2a(1), provided this support is originated from the territories of Italy Greece and Hungary.

           (2) Direct support includes those functions, which provide substantive contributions to mission accomplishment and would not have been performed in the absence of the NATO Operations in the AOE of paragraph 2a(1).

4. Components: The NATO Medal presentation set, received from a NATO representative, normally includes the regular size medal and ribbon bar. It may include a clasp denoting the specific operation for which the award was made. US Service members are authorized to retain the ribbon clasp if presented; however, the wearing of a ribbon clasp with the NATO Medal or service ribbon is not authorized. A miniature NATO Medal is available from commercial sources.

5. General Information:

        a. Only one NATO medal/ribbon is authorized for wear. Wear by US military of both NATO medals/ribbons is prohibited. Service members will wear the NATO Medal (NM) they were awarded first. Should they become eligible for the another NM, it will be indicated by a bronze service star on the first NATO award. That is: Award of the NM for Yugoslavia and subsequent award of the NM for Kosovo means wear of the NM for Yugoslavia with one bronze star for NM for Kosovo; or NM for Kosovo first and NM for Yugoslavia second, equals wear of NM for Kosovo with one bronze star for Yugoslavia. US Service members regardless of the multiple rotations/tours to either or both NM operations will wear only one NM with a maximum of one bronze star as cited above. US Service members are not authorized the wear of numeric symbols on either NATO Medal.

        b. NATO Headquarter International Military Staff (IMS) is the final approval of award for the NATO Medal. SHAPE Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) ACE Resources/RMM will administer all aspects for award of the NATO Medal for Kosovo.

        c. The NATO Medal shall have the same precedence as the UN Medal, but shall rank immediately below the UN Medal when the wearer has been awarded both decorations.