NATO Meritorious Service Medal

NATO Medal
From left to right: The Article 5 NATO Medal (U.S.-spec), the Non-Article 5 NATO Medal (U.S.-spec), and the NATO Meritorious Service Medal (U.S.-spec).
Awarded by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Eligibility	Military service members and NATO civilian employees (NATO Meritorious Service Medal)
Awarded for	30 days of either cumulative or consecutive service in Afghanistan as a NATO military service member (ISAF)
Status	Currently awarded (Operation Active Endeavour, Balkans, Africa, Resolute Support Mission, NATO Meritorious Service Medal)
Statistics
Established	January 2015 (Resolute Support Mission) July 2012 (Libya and Africa) July 2006 (ISAF) 2003 (Meritorious Service Medal) July 1996 (U.S.)
First awarded	Retroactive to January 2003 (Balkans) Retroactive to June 2003 (ISAF)
Precedence
Next (higher)	United Nations Medal (U.S.)
Next (lower)	Multinational Force and Observers Medal (U.S.)
Related	Afghanistan Campaign Medal (U.S.)
U.S.-spec Article 5 ribbon bar (left) and U.S.-spec Non-Article 5 ribbon bar (right)

The NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It is manufactured by Eekelers-Centini Intl, of Hemiksem, Belgium. There are currently fourteen versions of the NATO Medal in existence, for service in Yugoslavia, Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia, two for service during Article 5 operations (Eagle Assist, Active Endeavour), and eight for Non-Article 5 NATO operations (ISAF, Resolute Support, Balkans, NTM-Iraq, Africa, AMIS, OUP-Libya, and Pakistan). In addition, there are corresponding clasps for operations such as ISAF, Kosovo, Yugoslavia, NTM-Iraq and clasps designating Article 5, and Non-Article 5 designations. There is also a NATO Meritorious Service Medal, with a "Meritorious Service" clasp as well. However, U.S. military personnel do not wear the clasps on the NATO Medals, since the U.S. has its own devices used instead.

For U.S. forces, eligibility for the Non-Article 5 Medal for the Balkans remains the same as those previous NATO medals with the exception of the dates of service. Those members entering the Balkan theatre on or after 1 January 2003 will be eligible for the Non-Article 5 medal. The service must be 30 days either continuous or accumulated. Aircrew members will accumulate one days of service for the first sortie during any day of the operation. Additional sorties on the same day will receive no further credit. The Balkans area is delineated as the political boundaries and airspace of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Yugoslavia (including Kosovo), the Republic of Macedonia, and Albania, based on the detailed description contained in the SFOR, KFOR, and Task Force Fox Operational Plans. Service members who are entitled to more than one NATO medal during the same period will only be awarded one NATO Medal. The NATO chain of command will deem which medal is appropriate. This medal may also be awarded with the "ISAF" clasp for service in Afghanistan, as well as the "NTM-I" clasp for service in Iraq with NATO forces.