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United Nations Medal

 The United Nations Medal (UNM) is authorized by the Secretary General of the UN for specific UN missions and actions. Executive Order 11139 authorizes the Secretary of Defense to approve acceptance and wear by U.S. Service members who meet criteria specified by the Secretary General of the United Nations

 UNM is an all encompassing term used to describe the basic bronze medallion, with the UN emblem and the letters UN on the obverse, suspended from a ribbon. Each UN mission or action for which a 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 the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), yielding the UNPROFOR Medal.

The following United Nations missions/operations have been approved for acceptance and wear;

  1. United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon (UNOGIL).
  2. United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine (UNTSO).
  3. United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
  4. United Nations Security Forces, Hollandia (UNSFH).
  5. United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).
  6. United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC).
  7. United Nations Protection Force in Yugoslavia (UNPROFOR).
  8. United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).
  9. United Nations Iraq/Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM).
  10. United Nations Operations in Somalia (to include U.S. Quick Reaction Force members) (UNOSOM).
  11. United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH).
  12. United Nations Medal Special Service (UNMSS).

Category of Award: Foreign Service Award.

Beginning Date: Varies with Operation

Ending Date: Varies with Operation

Device(s): Bronze Service Star denotes subsequent awards of the UNM for service in a different United Nations mission.

References:
AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program, Pages 196 to 199
AR 600-8-22, Army Regulation, Military Awards, Pages 125 and 126
DoD Manual 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Pages 70 and 71

Page updated June 9, 2017

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