UNCLASSIFIED
231536Z JAN 96
CDRPERSCOM ALEXANDRIA VA//TAPC-PDA//
MILPER MESSAGE NR 96-068
NATO MEDAL
A. HQ, PERSCOM MESSAGE, DTG 081020Z DEC 95, SAB.
1. THIS MESSAGE WILL EXPIRE 31 JAN 98.
2. AS ANNOUNCED IN REF A, THE SECDEF APPROVED THE OFFER OF THE NATO MEDAL MADE BY THE NATO SECRETARY GENERAL FOR OPERATIONS RELATING TO THE REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA. ACCEPTANCE AND WEAR BY ELIGIBLE US MILITARY PERSONNEL IS AUTHORIZED.
3. ELIGIBILITY. TO QUALIFY FOR AWARD OF THE NATO MEDAL, US MILITARY PERSONNEL MUST COMPLETE THE QUALIFYING PERIOD OF SERVICE AND MEET THE SERVING STATUS CRITERIA DESCRIBED IN THIS PARAGRAPH.
A. QUALIFYING PERIODS OF SERVICE. QUALIFYING PERIODS OF SERVICE FOR THE NATO MEDAL ARE EITHER 30 DAYS (CONTINUOUS OR ACCUMULATED) IN THE TERRITORY AND AIRSPACE OF THE FORMER REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA AND THE ADRIATIC SEA, OR 90 DAYS (CONTINUOUS OR ACCUMULATED) IN THE AREA OR OPERATIONS OUTSIDE THE FORMER REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA AND ADRIATIC SEA, BETWEEN 1 JUL 92 AND A FUTURE DATE TO BE DETERMINED.
B. SERVING STATUS. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AWARD OF THE NATO MEDAL, US MILITARY PERSONNEL MUST SERVE OR HAVE SERVED UNDER ONE OF THE FOLLOWING COMMAND STRUCTURES:
(1) UNDER DIRECT NATO COMMAND IN HEADQUARTERS AFSOUTH, HQ NAVSOUTH, HQ AIRSOUTH, OR HQ SATAF, AND IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF NATO OPERATIONS IN THE FORMER REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA.
(2) UNDER DIRECT NATO COMMAND IN OTHER INSTALLATIONS, WITHIN THE AREA OF OPERATIONS AND IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF NATO OPERATIONS, AS DESIGNATED BY SACEUR.
(3) UNDER DIRECT NATO OPERATIONAL COMMAND IN THE NATO AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING FORCE, OR IN SHIPS ASSIGNED TO OPERATIONS MARITIME MONITOR, MARITIME GUARD OR SHARP GUARD.
(4) UNDER DIRECT NATO OPERATIONAL CONTROL IN OPERATION DENY FLIGHT, IN SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT ASSIGNED TO OPERATIONS MARITIME MONITOR, MARITIME GUARD OR SHARP GUARD, OR AS NATO LIAISON OFFICERS. 4. BECAUSE THE COMMENCEMENT DATE OF NATO MEDAL ELIGIBILITY FOR OPERATIONS CONCERNING THE FORMER REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA IS 1 JUL 92, NATO HAS DEVELOPED TWO DISTINCT SETS OF INSTRUCTIONS FOR IDENTIFYING ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS--TRANSITORY INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PERIOD 1 JUL 92 THROUGH 30 NOV 95, AND PERMANENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 DEC 95 THROUGH THE TERMINATION DATE OF THE AWARD.
A. NATO HAS TASKED CERTAIN NATO COMMANDS TO SUBMIT LISTS OF ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS FROM SUBORDINATE NATO UNITS FOR BOTH PERIODS.
B. US RESPONSIBILITY FOR IDENTIFYING ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS FOR EACH PERIOD IS AS FOLLOWS:
(1) TRANSITORY PERIOD - 1 JUL 92 THROUGH 30 NOV 95. THE US MUST SUBMIT TO NATO A LIST OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MEET THE NATO MEDAL REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED IN PARA 3 ABOVE FOR PERSONNEL ASSIGNED IN PARTICIPATING UNITS AND SHIPS, AND INDIVIDUALS PROVIDED TO ALLIED COMMAND EUROPE (ACE) HQ. AFTER THE LIST IS RECEIVED BY NATO, NATO WILL PROVIDE THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF MEDALS TO THE US FOR PRESENTATION.
(2) PERMANENT INSTRUCTION - 1 DEC 95 THROUGH A DATE TO BE DETERMINED. THE US IS RESPONSIBLE ONLY FOR US UNITS AND SHIPS. WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER ARRIVAL IN THE AREA OF OPERATIONS, A LIST OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL MEET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE LOCAL ACE COMMANDER. INFORMATION REQUIRED INCLUDES UNIT NAME, ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF SERVICE IN THEATER, ANTICIPATED DATE OF DEPARTURE FROM THE THEATER, NAME AND RANK OF ALL ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS (TO BE SUPPLEMENTED WHEN THERE IS A RELIEF OF PERSONNEL). PRIOR TO 15 DAYS BEFORE THE UNIT IS SCHEDULED TO DEPART THE THEATER, THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF MEDALS WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE ACE HQ IN OPERATIONAL COMMAND FOR DELIVERY TO THE UNIT.
5. REQUIRED ACTION. MACOMS ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT TO HQ, PERSCOM BY 29 FEB 96 LISTS OF US MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO MEET THE NATO MEDAL CRITERIA DESCRIBED IN PARA 3 ABOVE FOR THE TRANSITORY PERIOD (1 JUL 92 THROUGH 30 NOV 95).
A. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS REQUESTED FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL: FULL NAME, SSN, RANK, UNIT ASSIGNED AT THE TIME OF QUALIFYING SERVICE, LOCATION OF QUALIFYING SERVICE (E.G., ADRIATIC SEA, BOSNIA, ETC.) , PERIOD OF QUALIFYING SERVICE (START AND END DATES)
B. REQUEST THAT LISTS BE SUBCATEGORIZED AS FOLLOWS:
(1) BY ACE HQ WHICH RECEIVED AUGMENTEES (IF APPLICABLE).
(2) BY UNIT.
(3) BY YEAR.
C. TO ASSIST IN THIS EFFORT, THE ARMY DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR OPERATIONS HAS PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT THERE ARE MAINLY TWO DIVISIONS THAT HAVE SERVED UNDER THE COMMAND AND CONTROL OF NATO SINCE JUL 92, 1ST ARMORED DIVISION AND 10TH SPECIAL FORCES. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF OTHER SEPARATE UNITS THAT ALSO SERVED UNDER NATO THAT MAY HAVE SOLDIERS WHO MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. 6. THE JOINT STAFF WILL CONSOLIDATE SERVICE INPUTS AND FORWARD TO NATO, AND WILL COORDINATE DISTRIBUTION OF MEDALS TO THE SERVICES ONCE THE LIST IS APPROVED BY NATO. HQ, PERSCOM WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE NATO MEDAL IN A FORTHCOMING MESSAGE.
7. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OUTLINES INSTRUCTIONS FOR WEAR, ORDER OF PRECEDENCE, RIBBON CLASP, AND SUBSEQUENT AWARDS.
A. PRECEDENCE. THE NATO MEDAL WILL HAVE THE SAME PRECEDENCE AS THE UNITED NATIONS MEDAL, BUT WILL RANK IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE UNITED NATIONS MEDAL WHEN THE WEARER HAS BEEN AWARDED BOTH DECORATIONS.
B. RIBBON CLASP. THE NATO MEDAL PRESENTATION SET MAY INCLUDE A RIBBON 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 THE RIBBON CLASP WITH THE NATO MEDAL OR SERVICE RIBBON IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR US SERVICE MEMBERS. US SERVICE MEMBERS MAY WEAR ONLY THE BASIC MEDAL OR SERVICE RIBBON.
C. SUBSEQUENT AWARDS. TO RECOGNIZE SUBSEQUENT AWARDS (IF APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE) FOR SERVICE IN A DIFFERENT NATO OPERATION, US SERVICE MEMBERS WILL AFFIX A BRONZE SERVICE STAR TO THE NATO MEDAL SUSPENSION RIBBON AND SERVICE RIBBON.
8. THE NATO MEDAL IS CATEGORIZED AS A FOREIGN/INTERNATIONAL SERVICE MEDAL. PERMANENT ORDERS ARE NOT, REPEAT, ARE NOT REQUIRED. MILITARY PERSONNEL DIVISIONS/PERSONNEL SERVICE BATTALIONS MAY UPDATE PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION RECORDS USING THIS MESSAGE AS AUTHORITY. THE AUTHORIZED ABBREVIATION TO ANNOTATE SECTION VIII OF THE ORB AND ITEM 9 OF THE DA FORM 2-1, AND THE SIDPERS SUBMISSION CODE TO UPDATE THE OMF ARE AS FOLLOWS:
ITEM 9, 2-1 AND ORB SIDPERS CODE FOR OMF
ABBREV: NATO MDL DATA CODE: NT
9. THIS MESSAGE CONSTITUTES HQ, PERSCOM APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR ELIGIBLE SOLDIERS TO ACCEPT AND WEAR THE NATO MEDAL IAW PARA 9-8, AR 600-8-22.
10. ONLY MACOMS AND PRINCIPAL HQDA AGENCIES MAY CONTACT HQ, PERSCOM FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE. POINTS OF CONTACT ARE CW4 WENDLAND AND MRS. WHITE, DSN 221-8700, COMM (703) 325-8700. INSTALLATIONS/FIELD AGENCIES AND SOLDIERS MUST CONTACT THEIR RESPECTIVE MACOMS OR PERSONNEL SERVICE BATTALIONS FOR ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS.