NATO Meritorious Service Medal

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Description:

1. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Meritorious Service Medal was approved by the North Atlantic Council, and is awarded to military and civilian personnel who have been commended for providing exceptional or remarkable service to NATO. The Secretary of Defense has approved the acceptance and wear of the NATO MSM for U.S. military and civilian personnel.
2. Eligible personnel are individuals serving permanently or temporarily within NATO's operational chain of command or in those forces under NATO command or control, or in a NATO Body, who are commended personally by a Commander or a Head of a NATO Body for:
   • Performing acts of courage in difficult or dangerous circumstances
   • Showing exceptional leadership or personal example<
   • Making an outstanding individual contribution in any activity or program
   • Enduring particular hardship or deprivation in the interest of NATO

Background:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. The medal is silver, 1 3/8 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.
7. The medal 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.
8. The ribbon is NATO Blue with white edges, with silver and gold threads centered on the white.

   The Office of the Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness maintains a list of "Approved Military Decorations and Awards" which is a roster of the approved Joint DoD awards and/or operations for which the medal is authorized.
   This is the DoD Approved NATO Medals for Acceptance and Wear approved award/operations. as of the date shown in the document. You may want to verify if it has been updated at The Office of the Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness (linked above)