United Nations Medal
United Nations Medal awarded for service with UNMEE
TypeService medal
Awarded forService with a designated United Nations peacekeeping mission
Presented bythe United Nations
Post-nominalsPNBB
StatusCurrently awarded
United Nations Medal ribbon bar
Precedence
Next (lower)NATO Medal (in US precedence)

A United Nations Medal is an international decoration awarded by the United Nations (UN) to the various world countries members for participation in joint international military and police operations such as peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts, and disaster relief.[1] The medal is ranked in militaries and police forces as a service medal. The United Nations awarded its first medal during the Korean War (1950–1953). Since 1955, many additional United Nations medals have been created and awarded for participation in various United Nations missions and actions around the world.

United Nations Medal

The most common United Nations medal is the standard UN decoration known simply as the United Nations Medal. Most countries bestow this award for any action in which a member of the military participated in a joint UN activity.

In situations where a service member participated in multiple UN operations, service stars,[2] campaign clasps,[3] or award numbers are authorized as attachments to the United Nations Medal. These devices vary depending on the regulations of the various armed forces.[4]

The UN has authorised the award of numerals to be attached to the medal ribbon. The qualification for these numerals is not to indicate the number of campaigns served in, but rather the number of qualifying periods of service. Which are counted as 180 days after the initial qualifying period of 90 days if the service is performed as 270 days consecutive. For two or more deployments, each deployment has to be at least 90 consecutive days each.[5]

United Nations Korea Medal

UN Korea Medal

The first United Nations medal to be created was the United Nations Service Medal, also known as the United Nations Service Medal Korea, was awarded to any military service member, of an Armed Force allied with South Korea, who participated in the defense of South Korea from North Korea between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1953. The military forces of the Netherlands are awarded the medal for service to January 1, 1955, while the armed forces of Thailand and Sweden grant the award to July 27, 1955.[6]

United Nations Emergency Force Medal

United Nations Emergency Force Medal (UNEF)

In 1956, to maintain the peace which brought the end of the Suez Crisis the United Nations Emergency Force was established. This was the first Peacekeeping operation of the United Nations.[7] To reward the service of troops from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, India, Norway, Sweden and Yugoslavia those troops who completed ninety days of service with the UNEF were awarded the United Nations Emergency Force Medal. The mission lasted from November 1956 until June 1967.[8] It is unique from other United Nations Medals in that instead of saying UN on the obverse, it says UNEF. Subsequent missions did not use the mission’s abbreviation on its medals.

United Nations Medal ribbons

In most nations, the standard United Nations Medal is awarded in lieu of a campaign-specific medal. Most operations utilize a different ribbon for each mission, though there have been some notable exceptions. In some countries where the UN Security Council determines a mission in the same geographic region, but changes the mission mandate by way of Security Council Resolution, there may be a number of missions which have identical campaign ribbons and then later will change the ribbon to reflect the changing environment.

The United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) was originally established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 867 on 23 September 1993 and lasted until in June 1996. This mission was an effort to end the conflict and instability caused by the 1991 Haitian coup d'état. Subsequent missions to maintain stability and train the Haitian National Police were undertaken under UNSMIH, UNTMIH, MIPONUH, and MICAH. These subsequent missions all used the same ribbon as UNMIH.[9]

In East Timor, the medals awarded for UNAMET, UNTAET and UNMISET all have the same ribbon.[10]

Years Ribbon bar Operation Operation area
1948United Nations Medal 'UNTSOMiddle East
1949United Nations Medal 'UNMOGIPIndia, Pakistan
1958United Nations Medal 'UNOGILLebanon, Syria
1960–1964United Nations Medal 'ONUCCongo
1962–1963United Nations Medal 'UNSFWest-Papua and Indonesia
1963–1964United Nations Medal 'UNYOMYemen
1964United Nations Medal 'UNFICYPCyprus
1965–1966No mission medalDOMREPDominican Republic
1965–1966United Nations Medal 'UNIPOMIndia, Pakistan
1973–1979United Nations Medal 'UNEF IIEgypt, Israel
1974United Nations Medal 'UNDOFGolan Heights
1978United Nations Medal 'UNIFILLebanon
1988–1991United Nations Medal 'UNIIMOGIraq, Iran
1988–1990United Nations Medal 'UNGOMAPAfghanistan, Pakistan
1988–1991United Nations Medal 'UNAVEM IAngola
1989–1990United Nations Medal 'UNTAGNamibia
1989–1992United Nations Medal 'ONUCACentral America
1991–2003United Nations Medal 'UNIKOMKuwait, Iraq
1991United Nations Medal 'MINURSOWestern Sahara
1991–1995United Nations Medal 'UNAVEM IIAngola
1991–1995United Nations Medal 'ONUSALEl Salvador
1991–2003United Nations Medal 'UNGCIIraq
1991–1992United Nations Medal 'UNAMICCambodia
1992–1995United Nations Medal 'UNPROFORCroatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
during the Yugoslav Wars
1992–1993United Nations Medal 'UNTACCambodia
1992–1993United Nations Medal 'UNOSOM ISomalia
1992–1994United Nations Medal 'ONUMOZMozambique
1993–1995United Nations Medal 'UNOSOM IISomalia
1993–1994United Nations Medal 'UNOMURRwanda, Uganda
1993–2009United Nations Medal 'UNOMIGGeorgia
1993–1997United Nations Medal 'UNOMILLiberia
1993–1996United Nations Medal 'UNAMIRRwanda
1993–1996United Nations Medal 'UNMIHHaiti
1994No mission medalUNASOGLibya Chad
1994–2000United Nations Medal 'UNMOTTajikistan during civil war
1995–1997United Nations Medal 'UNAVEM IIIAngola
1995–1999United Nations Medal 'UNPREDEPMacedonia
Years Ribbon bar Operation Operation area
1995–1996United Nations Medal 'UNCROCroatia
1995–2002United Nations Medal 'UNMIBHBosnia-Herzegovina
1996–1998United Nations Medal 'UNTAESCroatia
1996–1997UNSMIHHaiti
1996–2002UNMOPCroatia
1997MINUGUAGuatemala
1997–1999MONUAAngola
1997UNTMIHHaiti
1997–2000MIPONUHHaiti
1998UNPSGCroatia
1998–2000MINURCACentral African Republic
1998–1999UNOMSILSierra Leone
1999UNMIKKosovo
1999UNAMETEast Timor
1999–2005UNAMSILSierra Leone
1999–2002UNTAETEast Timor
1999–2010MONUCDemocratic Republic of the Congo
2000–2001MICAHHaiti
2000–2008UNMEEEritrea, Ethiopia
2002–2005UNMISETEast Timor
2003–2018UNMILLiberia
2003–2004MINUCIIvory Coast
2004–2018UNOCIIvory Coast
2004–2017MINUSTAHHaiti
2004–2006ONUBBurundi
2005–2011UNMISSudan
2006–2012UNMITEast Timor
2007–2020UNAMIDSudan
2007–2010MINURCATCentral African Republic, Chad
2010MONUSCODemocratic Republic of the Congo
2011UNISFASudan
2011UNMISSSouth Sudan
2012UNSMISSyria
2013MINUSMAMali
2014MINUSCACentral African Republic
2017–2019MINUJUSTHHaiti
1974UNHQFor service in the United Nations Headquarters

United Nations Special Service Medal

UNSSM ribbon

For 90 days of service with a United Nations mission or organization where there is no specific approved United Nations medal, personnel may be eligible for the United Nations Special Service Medal (UNSSM). Some examples of qualifying service are the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq, or the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs Accelerated De-Mining Programme (MADP) in Mozambique, work with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and more.

Receipt and wear of UN Medals

France, Australia, Canada and New Zealand

Some nations, such as France, the Commonwealth of Australia, Canada and New Zealand permit members of the military and police to receive and display multiple United Nations Medals as separate decorations.

Ukraine

Personnel of the Armed Forces are allowed to wear United Nations medals if they choose to. Such medals shall be worn after National and Presidential decorations, decorations of the Ministry of Defense, decorations of the General Staff, decorations of other military units, Ministries and departments and before decorations of the European Union and NATO in order of award.[11]

United Kingdom

Other countries, in particular the United Kingdom, permit British citizens to receive the relevant United Nations medal and authorization for it to be worn is given by the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office). Numerals may be added to denote multiple tours to one mission, the medals are worn in order of award and take precedence alongside British campaign medals.

United States

In the United States Armed Forces, prior to 13 October 1995, all US military personnel wore the blue and white United Nations Ribbon regardless of the ribbon awarded. On 13 October 1995, the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) approved a change to the wear policy of the United Nations Medal. Effective on that date, personnel who are awarded the United Nations Medal may wear the first medal and ribbon for which they qualify, adding a bronze service star for subsequent awards of the United Nations Medal for service in a different mission. No more than one UN medal or ribbon may be worn at a time.[12][13] On US uniforms, the UN Medal is worn before the NATO Medal, except for the United Nations Korea Medal, which is worn as a campaign medal just before the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

US military personnel are eligible to wear the medal from one of the following United Nations operations as their one approved medal:[14]

  • UN Truce Supervisory Organization in Palestine (UNTSO)
  • UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
  • UN Observation Group in Lebanon (UNOGIL)
  • UN Security Forces, Hollandia (UNSFH)
  • UN Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA)
  • UN Security Force in West New Guinea [West Irian] (UNSF)
  • UN Iraq/Kuwait Observation Group (UNIKOM)
  • UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
  • UN Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC)
  • UN Protection Force in Yugoslavia (UNPROFOR)
  • UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)
  • UN Operation Somalia (UNOSOM)
  • UN Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ)
  • UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG)
  • UN Mission in Haiti (UNMIH)
  • UN Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP)
  • UN Transitional Administrational Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirium (UNTAES)
  • UN Support Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH)
  • UN Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA)
  • UN Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK)
  • UN Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET)
  • UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET)
  • UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)
  • UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)
  • UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET)
  • UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)
  • UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)
  • African Union / United Nations Hybrid Operation In Darfur (UNAMID)
  • UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT)
  • UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO)
  • UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA)
  • UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA)

Argentina

Members of the Argentinian Armed Forces are allowed to wear the different UN medals as separate decorations. However, authorization for use must be formally requested for every single medal, and is granted on an individual basis. Regulations for the use of either medals or ribbons apply for each uniform. In the Argentinian Army, a national-issued, maroon-and-white bar showing the number of tours of duty may be worn in lieu of (but not together with) the UN-issued ribbons.

Switzerland

Members of the Swiss Armed Forces are allowed to wear one UN ribbon (of their choice between all UN awarded decorations). The ribbon is to be worn before EU (Althea Mission) or NATO ribbons but after the Swiss ribbons. Numbers are allowed on the UN ribbon as well as on other allowed "foreign" ribbons.

See also

References

  1. "UN peacekeeping – Medals: background". United Nations. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  2. "United Nations Medals". The Institute of Heraldry. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  3. "DH&R – Canadian Honours Chart". Cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  4. "Retrospective Awards of the United Nations Medal and Ribbon Numerals" (PDF). Defence Honours and Awards. Government of Australia Department of Defence. p. 2. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  5. "Personnel Archives & Medals".
  6. "Regulations United Nations Service Medal Korea" (PDF). Australian Government, Department of Defence. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  7. "United Nations Emergency Force (Egypt)-UNEF". Veterans Affairs Canada. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  8. "UN Medals – UNEF". United Nations. 16 June 1997. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  9. "UN Medals – UNMIH". United Nations. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  10. "UN Medals – UNAMET/UNTAET". United Nations. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  11. "Про затвердження Правил носіння військової форми одягу та знаків розрізнення військовослужбовцями Збройних Сил України та ліцеїстами військових ліцеїв" [On approval of the Rules of wearing of military uniform and insignia by personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and cadets of military lyceums] (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  12. "United Nations Medals". The Institute of Heraldry. Department of the Army. Archived from the original on 2016-06-17. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  13. "United Nations Medal". Air Force Personnel Center. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  14. "DoD Approved UN Missions and Actions for Acceptance of the UN Medal" (PDF). Manpower and Reserve Affairs The Office of the Assistant Secretary Defense. Department of Defense. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
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