The conflict in the Kosovo province of the Yugoslav Federal Republic started
at the beginning of 1998 with the armed incidents between the Kosovo
Liberation Army (KLA) and the Yugoslav military and police force. The armed
conflict caused a humanitarian catastrophe which had to be urgently
addressed by a consorted action of the broad international community. From
the very beginning NATO took an active part in the peace campaign as well
as contributing to Kosovo reconstruction process after the conflict has been
terminated with the help of the international community. Awarded for :
Thirty days continuous or accumulated service from 18 October 1998 to
31 December 2002 on the land, at sea or in the air space of Kosovo and
other territories of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Albania, the
Former Republic of Macedonia, and the Adriatic and Ionian Seas (the
theatre of operations); or
Ninety days continuous or accumulated service from 18 October 1998 to
31 December 2002, in the territories of Italy, Greece, and Hungary, in
direct support of the NATO operations in Kosovo (the adjacent area); or
Aircrew who participated in Operation ALLIED FORCE between 24
March and 10 June 99 will be deemed to have qualified after flying 15
sorties during the operation in the airspace of Kosovo and the other
territories of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Aircrew who
completed less than 15 sorties under this criteria will be allowed to aggregate the number of sorties completed with other qualifying
service.
This medal was replaced by the Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Operations in
the Balkans on 1 January 2003. Personnel arriving in theatre before 3
December 2002 count their time towards this medal and its associated tour
numerals until the end of the deployment. Personnel arriving in-theatre on or
after 3 December 2002 count their time towards the Non-Article 5 NATO
Medal for Operations in the Balkans. No personnel can receive the two
medals for the same deployment regardless of its duration.