§ 578.127 - North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal.

(a) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal is awarded by the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to military and civilian members of the Armed Forces of the United States who participate in NATO operations related to the former Republic of Yugoslavia. The Secretary of Defense authorized acceptance of the NATO Medal on November 14, 1995.

(b) Acceptance. Acceptance of the NATO Medal has been approved for U.S. military personnel who serve under NATO command or operational control in direct support of NATO operations in the former Republic of Yugoslavia, or as designated by the Supreme Allied Command, Europe (SACEUR), from July 1, 1992 to a date to be determined.

(c) Presentation. The NATO Medal will normally be presented by the Allied Command Europe headquarters exercising operational command or control over U.S. military units or individuals prior to their departure from service with NATO.

(d) Medal set. The medal set includes a ribbon clasp denoting the specific operation for which the award was made. U.S. service members are authorized to retain the ribbon clasp presented but may not wear the clasp. Only the basic medal and service ribbon are authorized for wear on the uniform.

(e) Subsequent awards. Subsequent awards (if approved by the Secretary of Defense) for service in a different NATO operation, U.S. military personnel will affix a bronze service star to the NATO Medal suspension ribbon and service ribbon.

(f) Precedence. The NATO Medal shall 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 medals.

(g) Description. The medal is bronze, 13/8 inches in diameter, bearing on the obverse the NATO emblem (a four pointed star emitting a ray from each point superimposed on an annulet) enclosed in base by a wreath of olive. The reverse side has a band inscribed “NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION” at top and “ORGANISATION DU TRAITE DE L'ATLANTIQUE NORD” at the bottom. In the center is a sprig of olive between the inscription “IN SERVICE OF PEACE AND FREEDOM” above and “AU SERVICE DE LA PAIX ET DE LA LIBERTE” below. The ribbon is 13/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 5/32 inch Yale Blue 67176; 1/8 inch White 67101; 13/16 inch Yale Blue; 1/8 inch White; and 5/32 inch Yale Blue.