Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search

Appendix 2 – North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) Medals

  1. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medals are normally awarded to members in theatre before repatriation. However, when a qualified member is repatriated before the medal can be presented, the member’s home unit makes an application on behalf of the member to DH&R (in accordance with Chapter 4) for onward approval by NATO.
  2. Personnel who die or are evacuated for medical reasons directly attributable to service are deemed to have satisfied the time criteria.
  3. NATO strictly applies their medals policy and will not consider requests for initial issue of NATO medals that are submitted more than two years after repatriation from mission area.
  4. NATO Regulations state that any person who dies or is evacuated because of injuries or medical reasons directly attributable to service is deemed to have satisfied the time criteria. In those cases where the medal is awarded posthumously it shall be treated as part of the member’s estate (refer to Chapter 4, paragraph 38).

Medal

  1. The NATO medal is circular and made of bronze. It bears on the obverse the NATO Star set in a wreath of olive leaves, and on the reverse the title “North Atlantic Treaty Organization” and the words “In service of peace and freedom” and “Au service de la paix et de la liberté.”
  2. The following types of medals have been issued to denote service with the NATO:
    1. NATO medals – for service in the Former Yugoslavia, for Kosovo, and for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (no longer issued). Figure 9R2-1, paragraphs 1, 2, 3, refer respectively;
    2. NATO Article 5 medals – for campaigns or operations conducted in accordance with Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, Figure 9R2-1, paragraphs 4 and 5 refer;
    3. NATO Non-Article 5 medals – for peace support or crisis response operations as authorized by the North Atlantic Council (NAC). Figure 9R2-1, paragraphs 6 to 10 refer; and
    4. NATO Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) – for remarkable service in the interests of the Alliance. The award of this medal lies outside the conditions for the award of NATO medals established specifically for campaigns and operations. It is considered a foreign award and is therefore subject to the rules described in Chapter 6.

Ribbons

  1. Originally, NATO medals had distinct ribbons (as described in Figure 9R2-1, paragraphs 1 to 3).
  2. However, with the first NATO “Article 5” operations in 2001, there was a need to differentiate between “Article 5” and “Non-Article 5”. The initial intent was to have NATO blue ribbon with white stripes bearing a thin gold line for “Article 5” and thin silver line for “Non-Article 5”. An additional white and metallic stripe would be added for each new medal created.
  3. The separate NATO medals awarded for personnel participating in the differing NATO-led operations in the Balkans were amalgamated into one generic “Non-Article 5” NATO medal with effect from 1 January 2003. This had one white and silver stripe.
  4. Similarly, the first “Article 5” medal for EAGLE ASSIST has a single white and gold stripe, while the second medal, for ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR had two stripes.
  5. It was soon found that this would quickly become impractical and it was decided that all medal ribbons would have to be two stripes with a mission-specific bar to differentiate the medals. A-DH-300-000/AG-001
  6. The final ribbon design comprises a 13 mm central stripe in NATO blue, bordered on both sides by 6 mm white stripes, each of which contains either a central 2 mm gold threat (for Article 5 operations) or a 2 mm silver thread (for Non-Article 5 operations). The remaining 6 mm at each end of the ribbon is NATO blue.
  7. These two ribbon designs have been adopted as the standard for all Article 5 and Non-Article 5 NATO operation medals since 1 January 2011 and the medal still on issue at that date (Balkans) had its ribbon changed (for medals awarded from that date) to conform to the new system.

Clasps / Bars

  1. Most NATO medals are issued with a clasp to denote the operational service being recognized.
  2. Initially, the Article 5 and Non-Article 5 Medals had a bar bearing the generic text “ARTICLE 5” or “NON ARTICLE 5”.
  3. Later, each Article 5 and Non-Article 5 medal was given its own specific clasp for the medal as well as a tunic clasp (for the undress ribbon). The medal clasps normally state the name of the NATO operation or the geographic area as described in the qualifying conditions for each separate award.
  4. The tunic clasps mirror the ribbon clasps in design, colour and wording but are scaled down to fit centrally on the undress ribbon. The tunic clasps are also known as a miniature bars.
  5. Those NATO medals on issue at the time of the change (ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR and Balkans) were amended so that the medal (when awarded from 1 January 2011 onwards) bears the text “ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR” or “BALKANS”.

Top of page

Multiple-tour indicators

First type

  1. The use of tour numerals with NATO medals was originally established in 1999 whereby Arabic bronze numerals were attached to the service ribbons to indicate each additional 180 days accumulated service with a NATO mission (after qualification for the medal or last numeral) or after each additional 540 days service in the adjacent area. This only applied for the NATO medals for the Former-Yugoslavia, Kosovo and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
  2. NATO abolished the practice of issuing tour numerals between 1 January 2003 and 1 January 2011.
  3. Since 1 January 2003, NATO no longer recognizes service in support areas such as Italy, Greece, Hungary and Austria as qualifying time towards the “Non-Article Five” medal. A member must serve thirty days in the theatre of operations to qualify for the medal.

Second type

  1. In 2011, NATO reintroduced the award of multiple tour indicators to be worn on certain Article and Non-Article 5 NATO Medals for all return deployments after 1 January 2011 to the same NATO operation or activity.
  2. The new device takes the form of an Arabic numeral on a rimmed quadratic plate. A smaller version of this square plate is provided for the undress ribbon, to be positioned to the right hand side of the clasp as one looks at it.
  3. To be eligible for a multiple tour indicator there must be a break of at least 180 days out of theatre between qualifying periods. Any return to the Area of Operation (AOO) during this break period will be considered to be a continuation of the previous deployment.
  4. Following completion of the tour assignment in which qualification for the NATO medal or for a previous multiple-tour indicator was achieved, and having applied the 180-day break period, a subsequent multiple-tour indicator can only be sought if a minimum qualifying period of 30 days continuous service or 60 days accumulated service has been served in the qualifying AOO for that medal.
  5. Accumulated service for award of multiple-tour indicators must be completed within a 2-year period following the minimum 180-day break of service out of the AOO.
  6. When wearing undress ribbons with a tunic clasp (or miniature bar), the numeral is worn to the right of the bar.
  7. NATO medals are issued with a certificate.
Figure 9R2-1 Table of NATO Medals
- Mission Acronym Mission Name (Medal Name) Start Date End Date Mission Notes OiC/Date of Registration
1 NATO-FY NATO Medal for the Former Yugoslavia 1 July 1992 31 December 2002 *see notes

A NATO-led multinational force, called the Implementation

Force (IFOR), started its mission on 20 December 1995.

The role of IFOR (Operation Joint Endeavour) was to implement the peace. The role of SFOR (Operation Joint Guard / Operation Joint Forge) is to stabilise the peace.

Awarded for 30 days continuous or accumulated service in the theatre of NATO operations defined as the territory of the Former Yugoslavia and the Adriatic including air space above; or 90 days continuous or accumulated service in the area of operations outside of the Former Yugoslavia and Adriatic (i.e., Italy, Greece, Hungary and Austria).Personnel arriving in theatre before 3 December 2002 count their time towards this medal and its associated tour numerals until the end of the deployment.

Personnel arriving in-theatre on or after 3 December 2002 count their time towards the Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Operations in the Balkans. No personnel can receive the two medals for the same deployment regardless of its duration.

Members serving with or in support of OP SHARP GUARD between 15 June 1993 to 19 June 1996, may qualify for the NATO Medal for the Former Yugoslavia, provided they have served 30 days at sea or in the air space above the Adriatic Sea (the theatre of operations). Members serving with or in support of OP DENY FLIGHT between 12 April 1993 to 20 December 1995, may qualify for the NATO Medal for the Former Yugoslavia, provided they have served 30 days in the Area of Operation (AO) or 9 days in the adjacent area in direct support of NATO operations. Aircrew will accumulate one day service for the first sortie flown on any day in the Area of Operation. Additional sorties flown on the same day receive no further credit. This requirement exists for support as well as combat aircraft, support aircraft including tanker, airlift and surveillance platforms.

The medal is always issued with a bar, inscribed “FORMER YUGOSLAVIA” or “EX-YOUGOSLAVIE”. The choice of which to wear is left to the individual. Tour numerals are issued on completion on an additional 180 days service in the theatre of operations; or on completion of an additional 540 days service in the adjacent area. The ribbon is NATO blue with two white strips on either end representing peace. *Effective 1 January 2003, this medal was replaced by the Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Operations in the Balkans

 1995-1484
30 August 1995
2 NATO-K NATO Medal for Kosovo October 1998 31 December 2002
*see notes		 -

Awarded for 30 days continuous or accumulated service from 18 October 1998 to 31 December 2002 on the land, at sea or in the air space of Kosovo and other territories of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Albania, the Former Republic of Macedonia, and the Adriatic and Ionian Seas (the theatre of operations); or for 90 days continuous or accumulated service from 18 October 1998 to 31 December 2001, in the territories of Italy, Greece, and Hungary, in direct support of the NATO operations in Kosovo (the adjacent area).

Aircrew who participated in Operation ALLIED FORCE between 24 Mar and 10 Jun 99 will be deemed to have qualified after flying 15 sorties during the operation in the airspace of Kosovo and the other territories of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Aircrew who completed less than 15 sorties under this criteria will be allowed to aggregate the number of sorties completed with other qualifying service.

Personnel arriving in theatre before 3 December 2002 count their time towards this medal and its associated tour numerals until the end of the deployment.

Personnel arriving in-theatre on or after 3 December 2002 count their time towards the Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Operations in the Balkans. No personnel can receive the two medals for the same deployment regardless of its duration. The medal is always issued with a bar, inscribed “KOSOVO”.

The ribbon is dark NATO blue with, two white strips on either end with a solid white strip running down the centre representing peace.

Tour numerals are issued on completion on an additional 180 days service in the theatre of operations; or on completion of an additional 540 days service in the adjacent area.

*Effective 1 January 2003, this medal was replaced by the Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Operations in the Balkans

 2000-282
2 March 2000
3 NATO-FYROM NATO Medal for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia June 2001 31 December 2002 *see notes -

Awarded for twenty five days continuous or accumulated service on the land, or in the air space of former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for service time that includes dates between:

- 1 June 2001 and 27 August 2001, during the period prior to OP ESSENTIAL HARVEST and between; and

- 27 August 2001 and 27 September 2001, during the period of OP ESSENTIAL HARVEST.

Personnel arriving in theatre before 3 December 2002 count their time towards this medal and its associated tour numerals until the end of the deployment. Personnel arriving in-theatre on or after 3 December 2002 count their time towards the Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Operations in the Balkans. No personnel can receive the two medals for the same deployment regardless of its duration.

There is no bar to this medal. The ribbon is NATO blue with four white strips, two on either end representing peace.

*Effective 1 January 2003, this medal was replaced by the Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Operations in the Balkans

 Unknown
4 Art 5 "Eagle Assist" Article 5 NATO Medal for Operation EAGLE ASSIST 12 October 2001 16 May 2002 -

Awarded to NAEW&C crews that have served 30 days continuous or accumulated service in the air space of United States of America, and the air space of North America as tasked by NORAD between 12 October 2001 and 16 May 2002.

Aircrew will accumulate one day’s service for the first sortie flown of any day in the Area of Operation; additional sorties flown on the same day receive no further credit. This requirement exists for support as well as combat aircraft, support aircraft including tanker, airlift and surveillance platforms.

The medal was always issued with a bar, inscribed “ARTICLE 5”.

The ribbon is NATO blue with a white strip running down the centre of the ribbon with a gold strip running down the centre of the white strip. The white represents peace and the gold strip signifies that the operation was ordered in accordance with Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

A tour numeral is not authorized for this medal.

 -
5 Article 5 “Active Endeavour” Article 5 NATO Medal for Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR 26 October 2001 8 Nov 2016
 -

Awarded for 30 days consecutive or 60 cumulative days service as part of an element of the Standing Naval Force (SNF) operating in the international waters of the Mediterranean Sea and in the air space above it commencing the 26 October 2001 and terminating at date to be determined.

Aircrew will accumulate one day’s service for the first sortie flown of any day in the Area of Operation; additional sorties flown on the same day receive no further credit. This requirement exists for support as well as combat aircraft, support aircraft including tanker, airlift and surveillance platforms.

The medal is always issued with a bar.

Medals issued until 31 December 2010 had a bar inscribed “ARTICLE 5” while those issued from 1 January 2011 onwards have a bar inscribed “ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR”.

The ribbon is the standard NATO Article 5 ribbon described in Annex R, Appendix 2, paragraphs 11 to 13.

Multiple tour indicators may be awarded in accordance with Annex R, Appendix 2, paragraphs 22 to 28.

When the undress ribbon is worn, a miniature version of the “ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR” bar is centred on the ribbon.

 2003-1297 22 August 2003
6 Non-Art 5 (Balkans) Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Operations in the Balkans 1 January 2003 29 March 2010 -

Awarded for 30 days consecutive or 60 days cumulative service on the land or in the air spaces of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslavia (including Kosovo), Albania, and the Former Republic of Macedonia, between 1 January 2003 and 29 March 2010 for service under operation BRONZE.

Service under operation KOBOLD qualifies for this medal from Aug 2008 to the present.

Aircrew will accumulate one day’s service for the first sortie flown of any day in the Area of Operation; additional sorties flown on the same day receive no further credit. This requirement exists for support as well as combat aircraft, support aircraft including tanker, airlift and surveillance platforms.

The medal is always issued with a bar.

Medals issued until 31 December 2010 had a bar inscribed “NON ARTICLE 5” while those issued from 1 January 2011 onwards have a bar inscribed “BALKANS”.

The separate 5 NATO medals awarded for personnel participating in the differing NATO-led operations in the Balkans (Former Yugoslavia, Kosovo and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) were amalgamated into this one general Non-Article 5 medal effective 1 January 2003.

Up until 31 December 2010, the ribbon consisted of the standard NATO blue ribbon with one stripe. However, as described in Annex R, Appendix 2, paragraphs 11 to 13. the original ribbon was replaced with the standard NATO Non-Article 5 ribbon for awards made from 1 January 2011 and onward.

Multiple tour indicators may be awarded in accordance with Annex R, Appendix 2, paragraphs 22 to 28.

 2003-1296
22 August 2003
7 Non-Art 5 (NTM-IRAQ) Non⁠-⁠Article 5 NATO Medal for the NATO Training Implementation Mission and the NATO Training Mission in Iraq 18 August 2004 31 December 2011 Following the US- led campaign in Iraq to topple the regime of dictator Saddam Hussein, NATO has undertaken the task to help train the new Iraqi Armed Forces through its NATO Training Implementation Mission (NTIM-I) and NATO Training Mission (NTM-I) in Iraq. Awarded for 30 days consecutive or 60 days cumulative service under NATO command or control in Iraq or in any neighbouring country of Iraq that hosts elements of the force and provide direct support to NTIM-I and NTM-I.

The medal is always issued with a bar, inscribed “NTM-IRAQ”.

The ribbon is the standard NATO Non⁠-⁠Article 5 ribbon described in Annex R, Appendix 2, paragraph 11 to paragraph 13.

Tour numerals are not authorized for this medal.

 2006-405
29 August 2006
8 Non-Art 5 (AMIS) Non⁠-⁠Article 5 Medal for NATO Logistical Support to the African Union Mission in Sudan 13 July 2005 31 December 2007

NATO deployed troops in Sudan and certain other African countries to provide logistical support to the African Union Mission in Sudan.

Awarded for 30 days consecutive or 60 days cumulative service under NATO command or control in Sudan or in other African countries approved by NATO that host elements of the force providing direct support to the mission.

The medal is always issued with a bar, inscribed “AMIS”.

The ribbon is the standard NATO Non⁠-⁠Article 5 ribbon described in Annex R, Appendix 2, paragraph 11 to  13.

Multiple tour indicators may be awarded in accordance with Annex R, Appendix 2, paragraph 22 to paragraph 28.

 2007-384
22 March 2007
9 Non-Art 5 (Africa) Non-Article 5 Medal for Operations and Activities in Relation to Africa 1 January 2008 Ongoing NATO deployed troops to approved NATO operations and activities in relation to Africa. The medal is always issued with a bar, inscribed “AFRICA”. 2010-1394
9 November 2010
- - - - - Awarded for 30 days consecutive or 60 days cumulative service under NATO command or control for all North Atlantic Council (NAC) approved NATO support activities in relation to the African Union (AU), starting 1 January 2008. Includes Staff Capacity Building within the AU, strategic airlift support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Op ALLIED PROVIDER between 25 October 2008 and 12 December 2008, Op ALLIED PROTECTOR between 24 March 2009 and 23 April 2009 (Phase 1) or 1 May 2009 and 16 August 2009 (Phase 2), and Op OCEAN SHIELD starting 17 August 2009.

The ribbon is the standard NATO Non-Article 5 ribbon described in Annex R, Appendix 2, paragraph 11 to paragraph 13.

Multiple tour indicators may be awarded in accordance with Annex R, Appendix 2, paragraph 22 to paragraph 28.

 -
10 Non-Art 5 (OUP-LYBIA) Non-Article 5 Medal for Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR in Lybia 23 March 2011 31 October 2011 In the spring of 2011, a multi-state coalition began a military intervention in Libya in response to events during the Libyan civil war. The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 was implemented to create a Libyan no-fly zone and to take all necessary measures to prevent attacks on civilians by the government forces of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Awarded for thirty consecutive or 60 cumulative days of honourable service under NATO Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR.

The medal is always issued with a bar, inscribed “OUP-LIBYA/LIBYE”.

The ribbon is the standard NATO Non-Article 5 ribbon described in Annex R, Appendix 2, paragraph 11 to paragraph 13.

 2012-951
28 June 2012
11 OP SEA GUARDIAN Non-article 5 NATO Medal for Operation SEA GUARDIAN 9 Nov 2016 - This medal is awarded in recognition of 30 continuous or 60 cumulative days of honourable service with that operation Service recognized by this medal cannot be counted toward any other service medal. 2018-1309,
22 Oct 2018

Top of page

Page details

Date modified: