KOSOVO CAMPAIGN MEDAL
                        

ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY

The Kosovo Campaign Medal was established by Executive Order 13154 signed by President William J. Clinton on May 3, 2000, and published in the Federal Register on May 5, 2000.

EFFECTIVE DATES

The Kosovo Campaign Medal may be awarded to United States military personnel for participating in the operations and campaigns listed below:

  • Allied Force - March 24, 1999 through June 10, 1999;

  • Joint Guardian - June 11, 1999 to December 31, 2013;

  • Allied Harbour - April 4, 1999 through September 1, 1999;

  • Sustain Hope / Shining Hope - April 4, 1999 through July 10, 1999; and,

  • Noble Anvil - March 24, 1999 through July 20, 1999;
Kosovo Task Forces

  • Hawk - April 5, 1999 through June 24, 1999;

  • Saber - March 31, 1999 through July 8, 1999; and,

  • Falcon - June 11, 1999 through November 1, 1999; and

  • Hunter - April 1 through November 1, 1999
Kosovo Air Campaign

March 24, 1999 through June 10, 1999 (the area of operations for this campaign included the total land area and air space of Serbia (including Kosovo), Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, and Slovenia; and the waters and air space of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea north of the 39th North Latitude. Note: Secretary of Defense Richard Cohen approved award of the Kosovo Campaign Medal to the following Navy vessels for participation in this campaign as an exception to the 30 consecutive day rule described below: USS Norfolk; USS Miami, USS Bose; USS Albuquerque, USS Nicholson, USS Philippine Sea, and the USS Gonzalez.

Kosovo Defense Campaign

June 11, 1999 to a date to be determined. The area of operations includes the total land area and air space of Serbia (including Kosovo), Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, and the waters and air space of the Adriatic Sea within 12 nautical miles of the Montenegro, Albania, and Croatia coastlines south of 42 degrees and 52 minutes North Latitude.

CRITERIA

Service members must be bona fide members of a unit participating in, or be engaged indirect support of, the operation for 30 consecutive days in the area of operations or for 60 non-consecutive days provided this support involves entering the area of operations or meets one of the following criteria:
  • Be engaged in actual combat, or duty that is equally as hazardous as combat duty, during the operation with armed opposition, regardless of time in the area of operations;


  • While participating in the operation, regardless of time, is wounded or injured and requires medical evacuation from the area of operations;


  • While participating as a regularly assigned aircrew member flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area of operations in direct support of the military operations.
ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

The Kosovo Campaign Medal is worn after the Southwest Asia Service Medal and before the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

DEVICES

Two bronze service stars are authorized for the The Kosovo Campaign Medal, and the medal is not awarded without a bronze service star. One bronze service star is authorized for qualifying participation in either the Kosovo Air Campaign or the Kosovo Defense Campaign. Note, however, that if an individual's 30 or 60 days began in one campaign and carried over into another, that person would only qualify for the medal with one service star.

DESIGNER

The Kosovo Campaign Medal was designed by Nadine Russell of the Army's Institute of Heraldry.

DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM

Obverse

In the center of a bronze medallion, two mountains with a pass between them rest in front of a fertile valley and atop a wreath composed of two stylized sheaves of wheat. Behind the mountains a rising sun, and superimposed over the sun's rays are the words, in two lines, KOSOVO CAMPAIGN. The stylized wreath of grain reflects the agricultural character of the area and its economy and symbolizes basic human rights while high-lighting the desire of all for peace, safety and prosperity. The rocky terrain, fertile valley, and mountain pass refer to the Dinartic Alps and the campaign's theater of operations. The sunrise denotes the dawning of a new age of unity and hope, the right to forge a future of freedom, progress, and harmony; thus fulfilling the goal of the Alliance.

Reverse

In the center of a bronze medallion, the outline of a map of the Yugoslavian Province of Kosovo. Beneath the map is a three-pointed star. In a circle surrounding the map and star are the words IN DEFENSE OF HUMANITY. The outline of the Province of Kosovo denotes the area of conflict, and is combined with the NATO star, the highlighted cardinal points of the compass, signifying the Alliance participants who stabilized the region and provided massive relief. The inscription reinforces the objective of the military action conducted during the campaign.

Ribbon



The ribbon consists of red, white, and blue pinstripes of equal width in the center; the ribbon to the wearer's right is dark blue and abuts to the red pinstripe; the ribbon to the wearer's left is red, and abuts to the blue pinstripe. The red, white, and blue were suggested by the NATO Alliance's colors, and the red, white, and blue pinstripes represent the colors of the United States flag.





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