Kosovo Campaign Medal
Encyclopedia
The Kosovo Campaign Medal is a military award
of the United States armed forces
established by Executive Order 13154 of President Bill Clinton
on May 3, 2000. The medal recognizes military service performed in Kosovo
from 1999 to the present.
To receive the Kosovo Campaign Medal, a service member must have been assigned to a military unit for thirty days, or sixty cumulative days, in support of one of the following operations.
The medal is also awarded for membership in one of the following task forces, provided that service was performed within the 30–60 days time requirement.
The above operations and task forces, as well as associated peacekeeping actions not identified by a specific campaign, are grouped into two “blanket” campaigns which encompass all United States military operations in Kosovo. Known as the Kosovo Air Campaign (dated from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999) and the Kosovo Defense Campaign (dated from June 11, 1999 to a date to be determined).
The Air Campaign refers to any flight operations which are performed in the land area and air space of Serbia
(including Kosovo), Montenegro
, Albania
, Macedonia
, Bosnia
, Croatia
, Hungary
, Romania
, Greece
, Bulgaria
, Italy
, and Slovenia
, as well as the waters and air space of the Adriatic
and Ionian Sea
, provided such flight operations are in direct support of Kosovo peacekeeping actions. The Kosovo Defense Campaign refers to any ground operations, in support of Kosovo peacekeeping efforts, which take place in Serbia (including Kosovo), Montenegro, Albania, and Macedonia. Naval actions in the Adriatic Sea also qualify for the Kosovo Ground Campaign.
Service stars are awarded for participation in either the Air Campaign or the Defense Campaign. Two service stars may be awarded provided that two separate tours, exceeding the 30/60 day requirement, were performed in both the Defense and Air Campaigns. The Kosovo Campaign Medal is always awarded with at least one service star. The Fleet Marine Force combat operation insignia is also authorized for certain sailors.
In addition to the Kosovo Campaign Medal, United States military members are also authorized to receive the NATO Medal
for peacekeeping services rendered in Kosovo.
Awards and decorations of the United States military
Awards and decorations of the United States Military are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces...
of 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...
established by Executive Order 13154 of President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
on May 3, 2000. The medal recognizes military service performed in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
from 1999 to the present.
To receive the Kosovo Campaign Medal, a service member must have been assigned to a military unit for thirty days, or sixty cumulative days, in support of one of the following operations.
- Operation Allied ForceOperation Allied ForceThe NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was NATO's military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The strikes lasted from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999...
: March 24, 1999 through June 10, 1999 - Operation Allied HarborOperation Allied HarborOperation Allied Harbor was NATO's first humanitarian operation. Normally, such operations are almost exclusively the domain of civilian organisations, both international and non-governmental, but, in the case of the Kosovo crisis, by the end of March 1999 these agencies were unable to cope with...
: April 4, 1999 through September 1, 1999 - Operation Shining HopeOperation Shining HopeJoint Task Force Shining Hope was the United States contribution to Operation Allied Harbour. The mission of JTF Shining Hope was to conduct foreign humanitarian assistance operations in support of US government agencies and non-governmental and international organizations engaged in providing...
: April 4, 1999 through July 10, 1999 - Operation Noble Anvil: March 24, 1999 through July 20, 1999
- Operation Joint Guardian: June 11, 1999 to a date to be determined
The medal is also awarded for membership in one of the following task forces, provided that service was performed within the 30–60 days time requirement.
- Task Force Hawk: April 5, 1999 through June 24, 1999
- Task Force Saber: March 31, 1999 through July 8, 1999
- Task Force Falcon: June 11, 1999 to a date to be determined
- Task Force Hunter: April 1, 1999 through November 1, 1999
The above operations and task forces, as well as associated peacekeeping actions not identified by a specific campaign, are grouped into two “blanket” campaigns which encompass all United States military operations in Kosovo. Known as the Kosovo Air Campaign (dated from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999) and the Kosovo Defense Campaign (dated from June 11, 1999 to a date to be determined).
The Air Campaign refers to any flight operations which are performed in the land area and air space of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
(including Kosovo), Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, as well as the waters and air space of the Adriatic
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
and Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
, provided such flight operations are in direct support of Kosovo peacekeeping actions. The Kosovo Defense Campaign refers to any ground operations, in support of Kosovo peacekeeping efforts, which take place in Serbia (including Kosovo), Montenegro, Albania, and Macedonia. Naval actions in the Adriatic Sea also qualify for the Kosovo Ground Campaign.
Service stars are awarded for participation in either the Air Campaign or the Defense Campaign. Two service stars may be awarded provided that two separate tours, exceeding the 30/60 day requirement, were performed in both the Defense and Air Campaigns. The Kosovo Campaign Medal is always awarded with at least one service star. The Fleet Marine Force combat operation insignia is also authorized for certain sailors.
In addition to the Kosovo Campaign Medal, United States military members are also authorized to receive 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...
for peacekeeping services rendered in Kosovo.