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The North Atlantic Treaty OrganisationMedal for the Former Yugoslavia Obverse The North Atlantic Treaty OrganisationMedal for the Former Yugoslavia Reverse

The NATO Medal for the Former Yugoslavia

Overview

Between 1996 and 2004, New Zealand contributed military personnel to serve with the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) and the NATO Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in the Former Yugoslavia.

The NATO Medal for the Former Yugoslavia was awarded to forces under NATO command or in direct support of its operations in the Former Yugoslavia until 31 December 2002. The NATO Medal for Non-Article 5 Operations in the Balkans recognises service from 1 January 2003. On 2 December 2004, NATO SFOR was replaced by the European Union Force (EUFOR). New Zealand has continued to deploy military personnel to serve in Bosnia with EUFOR. Service with the EURFOR OPERATION ALTHEA between 2 December 2004 and 30 June 2007 is recognised by the European Security and Defence Policy Service Medal.

Description

The NATO Medal for the Former Yugoslavia is bronze and circular. The obverse features the NATO star set in a wreath of olive leaves, and the reverse bears the inscription "IN THE SERVICE OF PEACE AND FREEDOM" in English and French, separated by an olive sprig.  The inscription is encircled by the words 'NORTH ATLANTIC TREAT ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION DU TRAITE DE L'ATLANTIQUE NORD".

The ribbon is blue with two narrow white stripes. The clasp "FORMER YUGOSLAVIA" is worn on the medal ribbon.  

Tour numerals are awarded for completion of an additional 180 days of service in the theatre of operations or an additional 540 days of service in the adjacent area.

The Sovereign has approved the wearing of this medal by eligible New Zealand Defence Force personnel. 

Royal Approval has also been given for New Zealand personnel who served on the strength of the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) to wear the NATO Medal with clasp "KOSOVO."  This permission does not apply to those who served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and who have received the KFOR medal as a memento only.

Eligibility

  • Thirty days continuous or accumulated service in direct support of NATO operations, on land, at sea or in the air spaces of the Former Yugoslavia, Albania, the Former Republic of Macedonia, and the Adriatic Sea (the theatre of operations) commencing 1 July 1992 and ending 31 December 2002; or
  • Ninety days continuous or accumulated service commencing 1 July 1992 and ending 31 December 2002, in the territories of Italy, Greece, Hungary and Austria, in direct support of the NATO operations in the Former Yugoslavia (the adjacent area).

Queries & requests

  • Wearing this medal

    The NATO Medal for the Former Yugoslavia is worn as a campaign medal in the New Zealand Order of Wear.  Campaign medals are worn in order of date of participation in the campaign, operation, or peacekeeping mission for which the medal was awarded.  This includes United Nations, NATO mission, and European Union mission medals.  As a result, different individuals may mount their medals in different orders depending on the time served in theatre.

    For more information on how to wear and care for honours, medals, and awards:

  • Checking eligibility and applying for this medal

    NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals (PAM) does not approve or issue NATO Medals.

  • Checking if this medal was issued

    Honours, medals, and awards bestowed on an individual for service in the New Zealand Armed Forces are recorded in their individual service record.  NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals holds a collection of about 1.5 million service records relating to 420,000 New Zealand service personnel who served in New Zealand’s Military Forces after the First World War.

    Service records are not currently digitised, but we can locate it and find the information you might be looking for or help you book a time for you to see the records in Trentham by completing the form on the Service Record page. 

    Request a service record