United Nations Medal

The term United Nations Medal refers to one of several international decoration

International decoration

An international decoration is a military award which is not bestowed by a particular country, but rather by an international organization such as the United Nations or NATO...

s which are issued by the United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

(U.N.) to the various militaries of the world for participation in joint international military and police operations such as peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts, and disaster relief. A United Nations Medal is ranked in most militaries and police forces as a service medal, meaning that it is not issued for a specific heroic or meritorious act, but rather for general participation in a broad operation.

The most common United Nations Medal is the standard U.N. decoration known simply as the United Nations Medal. Most countries bestow this award for any action in which a member of the military participated in a joint U.N. activity. In situations where a service member participated in multiple U.N. operations, service star

Service star

A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service...

s or campaign clasps are authorized as attachments to the United Nations Medal.

United Nations Korea Medal

The first United Nations Medal to be created was the United Nations Service Medal

United Nations Service Medal

The United Nations Service Medal for Korea is an international military decoration which was established by the United Nations on December 12, 1950...

, also known as the UNITED NATIONS SERVICE MEDAL KOREA, which was awarded by the United Nations to all countries which aided South Korea

South Korea

The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...

during the years of the Korean War

Korean War

The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...

. Since 1955, over two dozen additional United Nations Medals have been created by the U.N. and awarded for participation in various United Nations actions around the world. The United Nations Headquarters Medal is normally issued for service of at least 90 days at the New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

Headquarters.

United Nations Campaign Ribbons

The United Nations also issues an entire series of campaign specific United Nations Medals, each for a different activity or operation. In most nations, the standard United Nations Medal is awarded in lieu of a campaign specific medal.

UNAMET, UNTAET, UNMISET, UNOTIL and UNMIT

In some countries where the UN Security Council determines a mission in the same geographic region, but changes the mission mandate by way of Security Council Resolution, there may be a number of Missions which have identical campaign ribbons and then later will change the ribbon to reflect the changing environment.

For example in East Timor, UNAMET

United Nations Mission in East Timor

The United Nations Mission in East Timor was established by Security Council Resolution 1246 on 11 June 1999 for a period up to 31 August 1999...

, UNTAET

United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor

The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor provided an interim civil administration and a peacekeeping mission in the territory of East Timor, from its establishment on October 25, 1999 until its independence on May 20, 2002 following the outcome of the East Timor Special...

and UNMISET

United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor

The United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor was established on 20 May 2002, the same day which East Timor became an internationally recognized independent state and the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor came to an end.Military and police forces from contributing...

all carry the same ribbon bar, whilst UNOTIL

United Nations Office in Timor Leste

United Nations Office in East Timor supported the capacity development of critical state institutions, including the East Timor National Police in order to strengthen democratic governance and to help further build to peace in East Timor...

and UNMIT

United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste

The United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor was established on August 25, 2006 by UN Security Council Resolution 1704. Its objectives are "to support the Government in consolidating stability, enhancing a culture of democratic governance, and facilitating political dialogue among Timorese...

have a UN Special Services campaign with clasp denoting area of prescribed service.

United Nations Special Service Medal

For 90 days of service with a United Nations Mission or organization where there is no specific approved United Nations Medal, personnel may be eligible for the United Nations Special Service Medal

United Nations Special Service Medal

The United Nations Special Service Medal is presented to personnel with 90 days of service with a United Nations mission not covered by a specific United Nations Medal...

(UNSSM). Some examples of qualifying service are the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq, or the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs Accelerated De-Mining Programme (MADP) in Mozambique.

France, Australia & New Zealand

Some nations, such as France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand permit members of the military and police to receive and display multiple United Nations Medals as separate decorations.

United Kingdom

Other countries, in particular the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, permit a service member to receive the relevant United Nations Medal and authorization for it to be worn is given by the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office), Numerals may be added to denote multiple tours to one mission, the medals are worn in order of award and take precedence alongside British campaign medals.

United States Armed Forces

In the United States armed forces

United States armed forces

The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...

, Prior to 13 October 1995, all US Military personnel wore the blue and white United Nations Ribbon 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, adding a bronze service star for subsequent awards of the United Nations Medal for service in a different mission. No more than one UN medal or ribbon may be worn at a time.

Ranking

Since the United Nations Medal is an international decoration, it is ranked in most militaries and police forces as a foreign award and displayed after all decorations of a service member’s particular military force.

Other related Awards

Other international awards include the NATO Medal

NATO Medal

The NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization . It is manufactured by Eekelers - Centini, International, of Hemiksem, Belgium...

, the Multinational Force and Observers Medal

Multinational Force and Observers Medal

The Multinational Force and Observers Medal is an international military decoration which was first created on March 24, 1982. The medal was established under the authority of the Director-General of the Multinational Force and Observers which were established to monitor a neutral ceasefire zone,...

, the 2001 International Year of Volunteers Medal, and the Inter-American Defense Board Medal

Inter-American Defense Board Medal

The Inter-American Defense Board Medal is an international military award which was created on December 11, 1945, by the 91st session of the Inter-American Defense Board, a Pan-American defense group devoted to the security of the member countries of the Organization of American States.The...

. Australia has the Australian Active Service Medal

Australian Active Service Medal

The Australian Active Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorised 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in warlike operations...

, the Australian Service Medal

Australian Service Medal

The Australian Service Medal is an Australian military decoration. It was authorized 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in peacekeeping and non-warlike operations. It is awarded with a clasp to denote the prescribed operation and subsequent awards of the medal are made in the form of...

, the Police Overseas Service Medal

Police Overseas Service Medal (Australia)

The Police Overseas Service Medal is an award in the Australian honours system. The award is presented to those members of an Australian Police force who undertake service;* with international peace-keeping organisations, or...

and the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal

Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal

The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal is an award in the Australian honours system. The award is presented to those who perform humanitarian service in a foreign country, in particular those working in dangerous environments or conditions or during a humanitarian crisis...

to complement the United Nations Medal.

External links

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