UN Protection Force in Yugoslavia (UNPROFOR)

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Description:

1. UNPROFOR was established in February 1992 as an interim arrangement to create the conditions
   of peace and security required for the negotiation of an overall settlement of the Yugoslavian
   crisis. The role of the UN troops was to ensure that areas designated as "UN Protected Areas"
   (UNPA) became and remained demilitarized and that all persons residing in these areas were
   protected from fear of armed attack. The role of UN police monitors was to ensure that local police
   forces carried out their duties without discriminating against persons of any nationality or abusing
   any human rights. The force also assisted the humanitarian agencies of the UN in the return of all
   displaced persons who so desired.
2. There were several extensions of the original UNPROFOR covering the following purposes:
   reopening of the Sarajevo airport for humanitarian purposes; establishing a security zone
   encompassing Sarajevo and its airport; protection of convoys of released detainees in Bosnia and
   Herzegovina as requested by the International Committee of the Red Cross; monitoring
   arrangements for the complete withdrawal of the Yugoslavian Army from Croatia; the
   demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula and the removal of heavy weapons from neighbouring
   areas of Croatia and Montenegro (Res 779,1992); monitoring compliance with the ban on military
   flights (Res 781,1992); and the establishment of the United Nations presence in the former
   Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
3. UNPROFOR also monitored the implementation of a cease-fire agreement requested by the
   Bosnian Government and Bosnian-Croat Forces in February 1994. In addition, UNPROFOR
   monitored cease-fire arrangements, negotiated between the Bosnian Government and Bosnian
   Serb forces, which became effective on 1 January 1995.
4. On 31 March 1995, the Security Council decided to restructure UNPROFOR, replacing it with three
   separate but interrelated peacekeeping operations: UNCRO (United Nations Confidence
   Restoration Operation in Croatia), UNPREDEP (United Nations Preventive Deployment Force) under
   the joint theatre headquarters known as UNPF (United Nations Peace Forces) located in Zagreb.
   Eventually, following positive developments in the former Yugoslavia and the establishment of two
   new United Nations Missions in Bosnia -Herzegovina and Croatia, UNPF-HQ was phased out in
   January 1996.
5. Each United Nations mission for which an UNM is awarded is commemorated by a suspension and service ribbon of unique colors and design. The ribbon and medallion combination take on the name of the specific operation for which the combination was created. For example, the operation in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia is the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), yielding the UNPROFOR Medal. Service members who are awarded an UNM may wear the first UNM with unique suspension and service ribbon for which they qualify. A bronze service star will denote subsequent awards of the UNM for service in a different United Nations mission. Only one United Nations ribbon is authorized for wear.

Background:

1. Presentation. The Senior Representative of the Secretary-General who makes the award normally makes presentation of the UNM in the field. Approval authority to accept and wear the UNM to member of the Armed Forces of the United States is the Secretary of Defense. When presentation is not so accomplished, any person who believes he or she is eligible for award may submit to Commander, USA HRC, (see CFR paragraph 578.3(c) for address) and a request for such award with copy of any substantiating documents. Commander, AHRC will forward each such request through the Office of Internal Administration, Office of the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, to the United Nations for consideration.
2. Medal. The medal is bronze, 13/8 inches in diameter, with a top view of the globe enclosed at sides and bottom by a wreath and the letters “UN” at the top of the medal. On the reverse side is the inscription “IN THE SERVICE OF PEACE”. The United Nations Service Medal Korea is the same design, except the obverse does not include the letters “UN” and the medal has a hanger bar with the inscription “KOREA”. On the reverse side of the United Nations Service Medal Korea is the inscription “FOR SERVICE IN DEFENCE OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS”.
3. Ribbon. Each United Nations mission for which a UNM is awarded is commemorated by a suspension and service ribbon of unique colors and design. The ribbon and medallion combination take on the name of the specific operation for which the combination was created. For example, the operation in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia is the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), yielding the UNPROFOR Medal. Service members who are awarded a UNM may wear the first UNM with unique suspension and service ribbon for which they qualify. A bronze service star will be worn to denote subsequent awards of the UNM for service in a different United Nations mission. Only one United Nations ribbon is authorized for wear.

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 U.N. Missions and Actions 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)