On 14 December 1995, the North Atlantic Council launched Operation JOINT
ENDEAVOUR, the largest military operation ever undertaken by the Alliance.
Based on UN Security Council Resolution 1031, NATO was given the mandate
to implement the military aspects of the Peace Agreement. A NATO-led
multinational force, called the Implementation Force (IFOR), started its
mission on 20 December 1995. IFOR was given a one-year mandate. The
medal is always issued with a bar. Medals issued until 31 December 2010 had a bar inscribed NON ARTICLE 5 while those issued from 1 January 2011
onwards have a bar inscribed BALKANS.