Kosovo Campaign Medal

Kosovo Campaign Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Awarded by United States Department of Defense
Type	Campaign Medal
Eligibility	March 24, 1999–present
Status	Active
Statistics
Established	EO 13154, May 3, 2000. Amended by EO 13286, February 28, 2003.
Precedence
Next (higher)	Southwest Asia Service Medal
Next (lower)	Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Related	NATO Medal
Ribbon & Streamer

The Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM) 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.

Criteria

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 Force: March 24, 1999 through June 10, 1999
• Operation Allied Harbor: April 4, 1999 through September 1, 1999
• Operation Shining Hope: 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 (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.

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 for service from 13 October 1998 to 2 December 2002.

Appearance

The Kosovo Campaign Medal is circular, 32 millimetres (1.3 in) in diameter, made of bronze metal. On the obverse at the bottom is a stylized agricultural wreath. The central design depicts two rocky mountain peaks, with a pass between in references to the Dinaric Alps, the campaign's area of operations. Rising between the peaks is the sun, with stylized rays projecting upward. Superimposed over the sun's rays are the words KOSOVO CAMPAIGN. The reverse bears the outline of Kosovo, below the outline is the NATO star, with highlights of the cardinal points, depicted by the compass like design of the star. Around the outside edge is the inscription IN DEFENSE OF HUMANITY. The medal is suspended from a ribbon 35 millimetres (1.4 in) wide. The ribbon is half blue and half red with equal stripes of red, white, and blue in the center.