DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
U.S. TOTAL ARMY PERSONNEL COMMAND
ALEXANDRIA, VA
22332-9471

TAPC-PDO-PA 31 December 1997

MEMORANDUM FOR SEE DISTRIBUTION

SUBJECT: Approved United Nations Medal for Special Service (UNMSS)

1. On 6 Oct 97, the Secretary of Defense approved acceptance of the United Nations Medal for Special Service (UNMSS) for members of the Armed Forces of the United States. The medal was established by the Secretary General of the United Nations for award to civilian and military personnel serving with the United Nations in capacities other than established peacekeeping missions and the United Nations headquarters.

2. Department of the Army Military Police personnel serving in these capacities will be eligible to receive the UNMSS after serving with the United Nations for 90 consecutive days.

3. The United Nations issued "Special Orders" for each mission the UNMSS was awarded. Each of these Special orders includes a list of eligible US military personnel.

4. The missions and activities for which the UNMSS is authorized include the following:

a. Air Operations Cell of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva, Switzerland;

b. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' Special Operation in the former Republic of Yugoslavia;

c. The United Nations Special Commission; and

d. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan Mine Clearance Program.

5. The authorized abbreviation to annotate section VIII of the ORB and Item 9 of the DA Form 2-1 and SIDPERS submission code to update the OMF are as follows:

SIDPERS CODE: UN ITEM 9/DA FORM 2-1: UN-MDL

6. Wear policy.

a. Each United Nations mission for which a United Nations Medal is awarded is commemorated by a suspension and service ribbon of unique color and design. The ribbon and medallion combination take on the name of the specific operation for which the combination was created. The color combination for the ribbon for the United Nations Medal for Special Service medal and bar is a central wide band of United Nations blue flanked by two bands of white.

b. Soldiers who are awarded a United Nations Medal may wear the first United Nations Medal with unique suspension and service ribbon for which they qualify. Subsequent awards of the United Nations Medal for service in a different United Nations mission will be denoted by a bronze service star. For example, a soldier who served with the United Nations and qualified for the United Nations Medal in Somalia, Haiti, the Former Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), and is eligible for the UNMSS, will wear the unique ribbon authorized for Somalia and will wear three bronze service stars representing Haiti, FRY and UNMSS.

7. Supply. The United Nations Medal is not issued or sold by the Department of the Army. The medals must be purchased through commercial sources.

8. POC for this action is Mr. Robertson, DSN 221-8700, Commercial 325-8700.

FOR THE COMMANDER:

/s/
DANIEL B. GIBSON
MAJ, GS
Chief, Military Awards Branch