NATO medals.....

[bigjarofwasps]

The NATO medal family seems to be growing....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_Medal

http://www.worldmedals.co.uk/NATO/nato.htm

But just out of interest can anyone tell me why British troops are not allowed to wear the NATO medal for Afghanistan? Are there any other NATO medals, that British troops can`t wear?

Why is that US troops were the NATO medals but not the bars?

[Ed_Haynes]

While often ignored, Britain still maintains a "one service, one medal" ideology, where multiple medals for the same service are not permitted (ignoring, of course, the World Wars). This is the policy behind the witholding of permission to wear for the Kuwaiti and Saudi medals for Gulf War II. As the UK has its own medal for Afghanistan, the NATO medal is seen as a duplication.

As far as the US is concerned, clasps seem to be seen as frivilous European frippery (ignore, please, the WWI Victory Medal, the "Wake Island" clasp, etc.). As the various UN medals are collapsed to a single generic ribbon for the US, NATO clasps are disallowed.

Who ever said "policy" had to make logical sense?

[bigjarofwasps]

While often ignored, Britain still maintains a "one service, one medal" ideology, where multiple medals for the same service are not permitted (ignoring, of course, the World Wars). This is the policy behind the witholding of permission to wear for the Kuwaiti and Saudi medals for Gulf War II. As the UK has its own medal for Afghanistan, the NATO medal is seen as a duplication.

As far as the US is concerned, clasps seem to be seen as frivilous European frippery (ignore, please, the WWI Victory Medal, the "Wake Island" clasp, etc.). As the various UN medals are collapsed to a single generic ribbon for the US, NATO clasps are disallowed.

Who ever said "policy" had to make logical sense?

Cheers Ed. You could also always argue the case of the Bosnia UN/NATO tour that the guys got two gongs for the same tour?!!...(1995 or there abouts)

Am I reading this right, that the US only have one UN medal ribbon, so once you`ve got it, you don`t get any more?

`Policy`!!! Since when has one been better than two?

[leigh kitchen]

Were'nt the Bosnia UN / NATO medals awarded because the recipients qualified by service in the 2 organisations - not concurrently, which would have been "duplication", but consecutively?

America allows only a generic ribbon for UN medals? I'd never have believed it. It does'nt seem to apply within UN Missions, Americans being awarded the the UN medal with the relevant Mission ribbon & wearing that ribbon on uniforms.

[Ed_Haynes]

Were'nt the Bosnia UN / NATO medals awarded because the recipients qualified by service in the 2 organisations - not concurrently, which would have been "duplication", but consecutively?

America allows only a generic ribbon for UN medals? I'd never have believed it. It does'nt seem to apply within UN Missions, Americans being awarded the the UN medal with the relevant Mission ribbon & wearing that ribbon on uniforms.

The British "duplication" policy is rather sloppily applied. Even the Acculumated Service Campaign Medal seems to challenge this "policy".

Apparently the US policy now is for one UN medal only and then numbers for later tours in any deployment, any force. Since US troops don't serve in peacekeeping missions unless US commanders are in charge, there can't be many. The earlier policy have been to use UNTSO/UNOGIL for everything. (The UN Korea medal was, predictably, the exception.)

[bigjarofwasps]

The British "duplication" policy is rather sloppily applied. Even the Acculumated Service Campaign Medal seems to challenge this "policy".

Apparently the US policy now is for one UN medal only and then numbers for later tours in any deployment, any force. Since US troops don't serve in peacekeeping missions unless US commanders are in charge, there can't be many. The earlier policy have been to use UNTSO/UNOGIL for everything. (The UN Korea medal was, predictably, the exception.)

Ed the ACSM, a classic example I`d forgotten about that one.

[Ulsterman]

??? Isn't the ACSM only for Ulster? Have the regs./application changed?

[Ed_Haynes]

??? Isn't the ACSM only for Ulster? Have the regs./application changed?

By the notification, it is broader than that. In effect, however, it is for Northern Ireland, where one could spend their entire career and have only one medal with a single clasp to show for it. The instituting regulations go out of their way to make it sound like it isn't a double award. Methinks the lady doth protest too mich.

[bigjarofwasps]

I believe that the ACSM, is for holders of the GSM, who have done 1000 days service, with Ireland being the longest running British campaign that the GSM was awarded for it stands to reason that this is the most notable one. I`m sure you`ve all seen the Irish Regiment on parade with GSM & ACSM + 3 or 4 bars!!!! I also believe that in addition to the GSM any service where by the Queen authorises an medal, service also counts towards the ACSM, so by that if you`ve done a 1000 days in Iraq you would qualify, Afghanistan looks like it`ll be set to be a long haul, so I would imgaine that in years to come you`ll see guys with the OSM & ACSM.....

[leigh kitchen]

.................Apparently the US policy now is for one UN medal only and then numbers for later tours in any deployment, any force. Since US troops don't serve in peacekeeping missions unless US commanders are in charge, there can't be many. The earlier policy have been to use UNTSO/UNOGIL for everything. (The UN Korea medal was, predictably, the exception.)

Came across this:

"Wear Policy. Prior to 13 October 1995, all US Military personnel wore the blue and white United Nations Ribbon (UNTSO) regardless of the ribbon awarded. On 13 October 1995, the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) approved a change to the wear policy of the United Nations Medal. Effective on that date, personnel who are awarded the United Nations Medal may wear the first medal and ribbon for which they qualify. Subsequent awards of the United Nations Medal for service in a different mission will be denoted by a bronze service star. Not more than one ribbon may be worn at any time".

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/U...tionsMedals.htm

[Ed_Haynes]

Came across this:

"Wear Policy. Prior to 13 October 1995, all US Military personnel wore the blue and white United Nations Ribbon (UNTSO) regardless of the ribbon awarded. On 13 October 1995, the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) approved a change to the wear policy of the United Nations Medal. Effective on that date, personnel who are awarded the United Nations Medal may wear the first medal and ribbon for which they qualify. Subsequent awards of the United Nations Medal for service in a different mission will be denoted by a bronze service star. Not more than one ribbon may be worn at any time".

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/U...tionsMedals.htm

Thanks.