Establishing Authority
The NATO Meritorious Service Medal was approved by the North Atlantic Council, and is awarded to military and civilian personnel who have been commended for providing exceptional or remarkable service to NATO. The Secretary of Defense has approved the acceptance and wear of the NATO MSM for U.S. military and civilian personnel.
Criteria
Eligible personnel are individuals serving permanently or temporarily within NATO's operational chain of command or in those forces under NATO command or control, or in a NATO Body, who are commended personally by a Commander or a Head of a NATO Body for:
- Performing acts of courage in difficult or dangerous circumstances; or
- Showing exceptional leadership or personal example; or
- Making an outstanding individual contribution in any activity or program; or
- Enduring particular hardship or deprivation in the interest of NATO
Designer
The design of the medal was specified by the NATO.
Order of Precedence
The NATO Medal has the same precedence as the UN Medal, but ranks immediately below it when the wearer is entitled to both medals.
Devices
Section II4 of the General Regulations For the NATO Medal states that, "A clasp shall denote the specific theatre, or Area of Operations, or Operation, in respect of which the Medal is being Awarded." However, the rules of acceptance of the medal by American personnel provide that, "the wearing of ribbon clasps with the NATO medal or service ribbon is not authorized for U.S. Service members. U.S. Service members may wear only the basic medal or service ribbon." For United States military personnel, subsequent awards of the NATO Medal are denoted by bronze stars affixed to the ribbon of the medal and to the ribbon bar.
Description and Symbolism
Obverse In the center of a silver medallion, the NATO emblem (a four-pointed star emitting a ray from each point superimposed on an annulet), enclosed in base by a wreath of olive.
Reverse
In a circular band following the contour of the medal, the words NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION in the upper quadrant, and ORGANISATION DU TRAITE DE L'ATLANTIQUE NORD in the lower two-thirds. In the center of the medallion is a sprig of olive between the inscription IN SERVICE OF PEACE AND FREEDOM and SERVICE DE LA PAIX ET DE LA LIBERTE below.