Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for North Atlantic Council Approved NATO operations and activities in relation to Africa

Context

NATO deployed troops to approved NATO operations and activities in relation to Africa.

Eligibility and criteria

Awarded for 30 days continuous or 60 days cumulative service under NATO command or control for all North Atlantic Council (NAC) approved NATO support activities in relation to the African Union (AU), starting 1 January 2008. Includes Staff Capacity Building within the AU, strategic airlift support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Op ALLIED PROVIDER between 25 October 2008 and 12 December 2008, Op ALLIED PROTECTOR between 24 March 2009 and 23 April 2009 (Phase 1) or 1 May 2009 and 16 August 2009 (Phase 2), and Op OCEAN SHIELD starting 17 August 2009.

Aircrew will accumulate one day's service for the first sortie flown of any day in the Area of Operation; additional sorties flown on the same day receive no further credit. This requirement exists for support as well as combat aircraft, and support aircraft including tanker, airlift, and surveillance platforms.

NATO strictly applies their medals policy and will not consider requests for initial issue of NATO medals that are submitted more than two years after repatriation from mission area.

NATO Regulations state that any person who dies or is evacuated because of injuries of medical reasons directly attributable to service is deemed to have satisfied the time criteria.

Description

The Medal is circular in form and made of bronze, and bearing:

• On the obverse, the NATO star set in a wreath of olive leaves; and
• On the reverse, the title "NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION" and the words "IN SERVICE OF PEACE AND FREEDOM" in English and French.

A 12mm bronze ring, which holds the ribbon, passes through a small hollow ball at the top of a claw joined to the top of the medal.

The ribbon is NATO-blue ribbon with two white stripes centred on the two outer thirds of the ribbon, with a silver stripe in the centre of each white stripe. The white represents peace and the silver signifies that the operation was ordered in accordance with another article than Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

Bar(s)

The medal is always issued with a bar, inscribed "AFRICA".

Wearing

The medal shall be worn on the left breast, suspended from the ribbon described above, after the Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for NATO Logistical Support to the African Union Mission in Sudan (NATO-AMIS) and before the Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Service on NATO Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR – LIBYA in the sequence prescribed by the Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals Directive.

The bar is worn centered on the ribbon.

Post-nominals

The use of a post-nominal is not authorized for this medal.

Historical notes

The medal is accompanied by a certificate.