Article 5 NATO Medal for Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR

Context

On 12 September 2001, NATO implemented Article 5 of the Washington Treaty following the 11 September attacks against the United States. Following US requests, NATO subsequently agreed to implement 8 specific measures to expand the options available in the campaign against terrorism. These measures included the deployment of elements of NATO’s Standing Naval Forces to the Eastern Mediterranean in order to provide a NATO presence and demonstrate resolve. The NATO Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR formally began on 26 October 2001 when the activation order was issued. However, patrolling in the Eastern Mediterranean had already started on 6 October when the Standing Naval Force Mediterranean was dispatched to conduct maritime presence operations in support of the international campaign against terrorism.

Eligibility and criteria

Awarded for 30 days continuous 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 ending 9 November 2016..

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, and support aircraft including tanker, airlift, and surveillance platforms.

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.

NATO Regulations state that any person who dies or is evacuated because of injuries of medical reasons directly attributable to service is deemed to have satisfied the time criteria.

Description

The Medal is circular in form and made of bronze, and bearing:

• 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" in English and French.
• The ribbon is NATO-blue ribbon with two white stripes on either edge and a gold stripe in the center of each white stripe. The white represents peace and the gold signifies that the operation was ordered in accordance with Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

Bar(s)

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".

Wearing

The medal shall be worn in sequence prescribed in the Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals Directive, and in the following manner:

• on the left breast, suspended from the ribbon described above, after the NATO ARTICLE FIVE medal for OP EAGLE ASSIST medal and before the NATO NON-ARTICLE FIVE medal for BALKANS OPS medal.
• The bar is worn centered on the ribbon.

Post-nominals

The use of a post-nominal is not authorized for this medal.

Historical notes

The medal is accompanied by a certificate.

The Canadian contribution to this operation consisted of the deployment of HMCS Toronto, and all her crew qualify for this medal.