thedrifter
07-04-06, 01:46 PM
July 10, 2006
Pentagon approves NATO Medal for Marines
By Jim Tice
Times staff writer
The Defense Department has authorized qualified U.S. service members and government civilians to accept and wear the NATO Medal for participation in certain North Atlantic Treaty Organization operations that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The qualifying operations are:
• Eagle Assist, the NATO airborne warning and control system operation in the United States and the airspace of North America, as tasked by the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
To qualify, troops must have served in the area of operation for 30 continuous or accumulated days from Oct. 12, 2001, through May 16, 2002.
• Active
Endeavor, the alliance operation in the Mediterranean Sea — and airspace above it involving escort duties — and the maritime surveillance, interception and boarding of suspected terrorist vessels.
The qualifying period in the area of operation is 30 continuous or accumulated days of service from Oct. 26, 2001, to a date yet to be determined.
• International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan operations that began June 1, 2003, and continue today in the joint operations area.
Eligible personnel are members of units and staffs that operated under NATO command or control while in the joint operations area for 30 continuous or accumulated days.
• Balkans — operations in the joint operational area of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Republic of Yugoslavia (including Kosovo), the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania.
The qualifying period is 30 continuous or accumulated days of service since Jan. 1, 2003.
For U.S. service members, the NATO Medal has the same precedence as the United Nations Medal but ranks immediately below the U.N. Medal when the recipient has been awarded both decorations.
Subsequent awards for participation in other qualifying NATO operations will be indicated by a bronze star affixed to the NATO Medal suspension ribbon and service ribbon.
Officials note that the medal presentation set may include a ribbon clasp denoting the qualifying operation.
American service members can accept the clasp but cannot wear it.
Jim Tice covers the Army.
Ellie
Pentagon approves NATO Medal for Marines
By Jim Tice
Times staff writer
The Defense Department has authorized qualified U.S. service members and government civilians to accept and wear the NATO Medal for participation in certain North Atlantic Treaty Organization operations that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The qualifying operations are:
• Eagle Assist, the NATO airborne warning and control system operation in the United States and the airspace of North America, as tasked by the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
To qualify, troops must have served in the area of operation for 30 continuous or accumulated days from Oct. 12, 2001, through May 16, 2002.
• Active
Endeavor, the alliance operation in the Mediterranean Sea — and airspace above it involving escort duties — and the maritime surveillance, interception and boarding of suspected terrorist vessels.
The qualifying period in the area of operation is 30 continuous or accumulated days of service from Oct. 26, 2001, to a date yet to be determined.
• International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan operations that began June 1, 2003, and continue today in the joint operations area.
Eligible personnel are members of units and staffs that operated under NATO command or control while in the joint operations area for 30 continuous or accumulated days.
• Balkans — operations in the joint operational area of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Republic of Yugoslavia (including Kosovo), the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania.
The qualifying period is 30 continuous or accumulated days of service since Jan. 1, 2003.
For U.S. service members, the NATO Medal has the same precedence as the United Nations Medal but ranks immediately below the U.N. Medal when the recipient has been awarded both decorations.
Subsequent awards for participation in other qualifying NATO operations will be indicated by a bronze star affixed to the NATO Medal suspension ribbon and service ribbon.
Officials note that the medal presentation set may include a ribbon clasp denoting the qualifying operation.
American service members can accept the clasp but cannot wear it.
Jim Tice covers the Army.
Ellie