Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Background
This emblem was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States for services culminating in the liberation of the Philippine Islands during the Second World War. The conditions were the same as would be required for award of the Presidential Unit Citation of the United States. The award is made in the name of the President of the Republic of the Philippines. The ribbon is slightly larger for the Army and worn on the right breast; for the other services, the ribbon is the standard size.
Criteria
The citation was first awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States in recognition of participation in the war against the Japanese Empire during the periods 7 December 1941 and 10 May 1942, inclusive, and 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945, inclusive.
The Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation (PRPUC) was also awarded to several U.S. military units for outstanding service to the Republic of the Philippines in 1970 and 1972 during disaster relief operations.
In December 2007, the PRPUC was approved for acceptance and wear by the DoD for units that supported Exercise BALIKATAN 02-1 during the period of 31 January 2002 to 31 July 2002. Please contact your base MPE for a listing of eligible units.
Ribbon Description
The ribbon has three wide stripes of equal width. Starting from the left, a wide stripe of blue, a wide stripe of white and a wide stripe of red. The ribbon is enclosed in a rectangular 1/16 inch gold frame with laurel leaves.
Authorized Device
None
Weighted Airman Promoted System Point Value: 0
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Background
This unit award was presented to units of the United Nations Command for service in Korea under the same conditions as would be required for the award of the Presidential Unit Citation of the United States.
Criteria
It is awarded in the name of the president of the Republic of Korea. It is a ribbon award with accompanying citation.
Ribbon Description
The ribbon has a broad white stripe and in the center is a tae-guk (an ancient Korean symbol), half red and half blue. The broad white center stripe is flanked on either side by thin stripes of green, white, red, white, red, white and a wide stripe of green at the edge. The ribbon is enclosed in a rectangular gold-colored frame with laurel leaf designs.
Authorized Device
None
Weighted Airman Promoted System Point Value: 0
Vietnam Gallantry Cross
A military decoration of South Vietnam established in August 1950. Awarded to any U.S. military personnel who have accomplished deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while fighting an enemy force. The medal is issued in four degrees with the basic medal followed by higher degrees the result of personal citations on an organizational level (also known as having been "mentioned in dispatches"). The degrees are as follows: Gallantry Cross with Palm (Individual Award); Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star (Regiment-level or Brigade-level citation); Gallantry Cross with Silver Star (Division-level citation); Gallantry Cross with Gold Star (Corps-level citation). The devices to the Gallantry Cross are not worn simultaneously but instead are upgradeable to the next higher device which would replace the previous device for wear on the decoration. The most common award is the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross Medal w/Palm – the individual award version.
Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
The Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to all personnel assigned to the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Indo-China, during August and September 1954.
Vietnam Wound Medal
A military decoration of South Vietnam created in 1950. Awarded to U.S. military service members who, while engaged in armed combat with enemies of the Republic of Vietnam, were either killed or wounded in action. Typically U.S. personnel awarded the medal must have been attached to and under the direct command of a Vietnamese unit.
Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal
A decoration of South Vietnam created in 1953. Awarded to members of the United States armed forces having contributed to the formation and organization of the Vietnamese military and who actively participated in cadre training of Vietnamese units. The 1st Class version (1C) is awarded to officers and the 2nd Class version (2C) to NCOs and enlisted.
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Background and Criteria
This ribbon is awarded by the Republic of Vietnam to certain units of the U.S. armed forces for valorous combat achievement during the Vietnam War, March 1, 1961 to March 28, 1973.
Authorized device
None
Weighted Airman Promoted System Point Value: 0
Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citations
The unit citation of the Civil Actions Unit Citation is awarded by the Vietnamese government for meritorious service. The award of the Civil Actions Unit Citation, First Class, is accompanied with oak leaf clusters. The Palm used in the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation is the oak leaf device and is worn with the stem to the wearer’s right.
United Nations Service Medal
Background
This medal was authorized by the United Nations General Assembly on Dec. 12, 1950. The Department of Defense authorized it for the United States armed forces on Nov. 27, 1951.
Criteria
It is awarded to officers and enlisted men of the armed forces of the United States who participated in the action in Korea between June 27, 1950, and July 27, 1954. This medal is awarded for any period of time spent in combat.
Medal Description
The medal, in bronze alloy, was designed within the United Nations, along the lines of British medals. The obverse shows the emblem of the United Nations--a polar projection map of the world taken from the North Pole, encircled by olive branches. The reverse of the medal has the inscription "For Service in Defense of the Principles of the Charter of the United Nations" set in five centered lines. The outer edge is a raised rim. A bar which is permanently attached to the medal, and through which the ribbon passes, has the word "Korea" centered thereon.
Ribbon Description
The ribbon has seventeen equal alternate stripes of pale blue and white with blue at each edge.
Authorized device: none
Weighted Airman Promoted System Point Value: 0
United Nations Medal
Established by the Secretary General of the UN and authorized under EO 11139, 7 January 1964, as amended by EO 13286, 28 February 2003. U.S. Servicemembers who are or have been in the service of the UN in operations designated by the Secretary of Defense may accept the UNM when awarded by the Chief of the UN mission.
Eligibility. The eligibility criteria for award of the UNM requires that an individual serve under the operational or tactical control of the UN and serve a minimum of 90 consecutive days in the service of the UN. Table 9–1 contains an updated list of DOD approved UNMs approved by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense through 30 September 2011.
Department of Defense approved United Nation Medals
- United Nations mission or action
- UN Truce Supervisory Organization in Palestine
- UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan
- UN Service Medal (Korea)
- UN Observation Group in Lebanon
- UN Security Forces, Hollandia
- UN Temporary Executive Authority
- UN Security Force in West New Guinea (West Irian)
- UN Iraq/Kuwait Observation Group
- UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
- UN Advance Mission in Cambodia
- UN Protection Force in Yugoslavia
- UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia
- UN Operation Somalia
- UN Operation in Mozambique
- UN Observation Mission in Georgia
- UN Mission in Haiti (includes U.S. Quick Reaction Force) UN Preventive Deployment Force
- United Nations mission or action
- UN Transitional Administrational Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baran- ja, and Western Sirium
- UN Support Mission in Haiti (includes U.S. Quick Reaction Force) UN Verification Mission in Guatemala
- UN Special Service Medal
- UN Interim Administration in Kosovo
- UN Assistance Mission in East Timor
- UN Transitional Administration in East Timor
- UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
- UN Mission of Support in East Timor
- UN Assistance Mission in Iraq - UN Awards the UN Special Service Medal
- UN Mission in Liberia
- UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti
- African Union/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur
- UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad
- UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Wear. Each UN mission for which an UNM is awarded is commemorated by a suspension and service ribbon of unique colors and design. The ribbon and medallion combination take on the name of the specific operation for which the combination was created. For example, the operation in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia is UN Protection Force in Yugoslavia, yielding the UN Protection Force in Yugoslavia Medal. Servicemembers who are awarded an UNM may wear the first UNM with unique suspension and service ribbon for which they qualify. Only one UN ribbon is authorized for wear. A bronze service star will denote subsequent awards of the UNM for service in a different UN mission.
Presentation. The senior representative of the Secretary General who makes the award normally makes presenta- tion of the UNM in the field. Approval authority to accept and wear the UNM for Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States is the Secretary of Defense. When presentation is not accomplished, any person who believes he or she is eligible for award may submit a request for award with copies of substantiating documents to Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Awards and Decorations Branch (AHRC–PDP–A), 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122–5408. The HRC, ADB will forward each request through the Office of Internal Administration, Office of the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, to the UN for consideration.
NATO Medals
The NATO Medal is awarded by the Secretary General of NATO to military and civilian members of the Armed Forces of the United States who participate in designated NATO operations.
Eligibility. The following missions and/or operations have been approved by the Secretary of Defense, for acceptance and wear:
(1) Operations related to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia (1 July 1992 to 12 October 1998).
(2) Operations related to Kosovo (13 October 1998 to 31 December 2002).
(3) Operation EAGLE ASSIST (12 October 2001 to 16 May 2002).
(4) Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOR (26 October 2001 to a date to be determined).
(5) Operations in the Balkans (1 January 2003 to a date to be determined).
(6) International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (1 June 2003 to a date to be determined).
(7) National Training Implementation Mission-Iraq (18 August 2004 to 31 December 2011).
(8) National Training Mission-Iraq (18 August 2004 to 31 December 2011).
(9) Operations and activities in relation to Africa, Operations ALLIED PROVIDER, ALLIED PROTECTOR, AND OCEAN SHIELD (1 January 2008 to a date to be determined).
Period of qualifying service.
(1) The normal period of service, which will be required as qualifying service, is 30 days, continuous or accumu- lated, in any single tour of duty, which is normally 180 days.
(2) A period of qualifying service will not be required for the posthumous award of the medal or for those missing in action and therefore presumed killed or repatriated consequent to wounding or serious injury while on assignment.
(3) Where personnel, by the nature of their duties or location, are eligible for the award of more than one NATO Medal during the same period, such personnel will only be awarded the medal for one campaign or operation. The medal selection will be decided by the NATO chain of command according to the most appropriate qualifying conditions.
(4) Subject to meeting the specific eligibility criteria, military or civilian personnel who have completed a period of qualifying service during the designated campaign and/or operation will be eligible to receive the medal and appropri- ate ribbon and clasp, provided they have not been convicted of serious misconduct or crimes during the period of their assignment under NATO command or control.
Acceptance. Acceptance of the NATO Medal has been approved for U.S. military personnel who serve under NATO command or operational control in direct support of the above NATO operations.
Presentation. The NATO Medal will normally be presented by the Allied Command Europe headquarters exercising operational command or control over U.S. military units or individuals prior to their departure from service with NATO.
Medal set. The medal set includes a ribbon clasp denoting the specific operation for which the award was made. U.S. Servicemembers are authorized to retain the ribbon clasp presented but may not wear the clasp. Only the basic medal and service ribbon are authorized for wear on the uniform. The basic medal and service ribbon is further defined as the first NATO Medal awarded/presented to a Soldier for that contingency operation.
Subsequent awards. For subsequent awards (if approved by the Secretary of Defense) for service in a different NATO operation, U.S. military personnel will affix a bronze service star to the NATO Medal suspension ribbon and service ribbon.
Change in North Atlantic Treaty Organization policy. Effective 1 January 2011, NATO revised its policy to state that all NATO Medal requests must be submitted within 2 years of leaving the operational area. Request for medals for operations that ended 2 years or more prior to the date of request will not be processed.
Inquiries. All inquiries will be sent via the Service component to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe Joint Personnel Office and the U.S. National Military Representative by email to js.shape.us-mil-el.mbx.usnmr@mail. mil.