Important Information Regarding North Atlantic Treaty Organization Awards

As of 8 July 2024

North Atlantic Treaty Organization medals and ribbons are a complicated subject. Authorization, manner of wear and precedence are dependent on the date of the award and the NATO operation or campaign associated with it. Only one NATO ribbon may be worn.

NATO has issued more than a dozen medals and ribbons beginning July 1, 1992; most are differentiated only by their ribbon design or by NATO-issued clasps and devices. They fall into four broad categories:

• Gold stripes: Article 5 medals (a NATO ally was attacked).
• Silver stripes: Non-Article 5 medals (peacekeeping, for example).
• Parallel silver and gold stripes: The NATO Meritorious Service Medal. A personal decoration applicable to both Article 5 and non-Article 5 operations.
• No silver or gold stripes: Certain non-Article 5 Balkans ribbons issued before 2 December 2002.

The U.S. Defense Department authorizes the three current NATO ribbons and certain pre 2 December 2002 ribbons (with the usual service stars for multiple awards), minus any NATO clasps and devices.

The NATO Meritorious Service Medal (shown above) can be awarded to U.S. service members, but has no fixed precedence; queries about precedence and wear should be forwarded up the Auxiliary leadership chain or the USCG chain of command.

Below are the two most common current ribbons. Note the thin silver and gold stripes, which differentiate the medal categories but which have no effect on the ribbon’s precedence or seniority:

The U.S. also authorizes certain other NATO Medal ribbons earned before 2 December 2002, minus any NATO clasps or devices:

The older NATO Medal ribbons below are not authorized for wear on U.S. uniforms because they have devices; instead, wear the corresponding NATO Medal (Article 5 or non-Article 5):

The Army and Defense Department say: “The NATO Medal will have the same precedence as the United Nations Medal, but will rank immediately below the United Nations Medal when the wearer has been awarded both medals.”

However, the U.S. only authorizes one ribbon to be worn:

“Only the basic NATO medal and service ribbon are authorized for wear on the uniform.

…

“The basic NATO medal is defined as the first NATO medal awarded by the Secretary General to a Soldier for meeting eligibility criteria for a specific operation … with unique suspension and service ribbon. A bronze service star will denote subsequent awards of the NATO medal for service in a different NATO operation. Only one NATO Medal ribbon is authorized for wear.”

Because of the possibility of confusion, if in doubt NATO Medal and NATO Meritorious Service Medal holders should consult with the appropriate Coast Guard chain of leadership or command.