NATO Active Endeavour Miniature Medal

The NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. 

In 2001 NATO implemented Article 5 of the Washington Treaty following the 11th September attacks against the United States. The NATO Operation Active Endeavour involved the deployment of NATO’s Standing Naval Forces to the Eastern Mediterranean in order to provide a NATO presence and demonstrate support of the international campaign against terrorism.

NATO medals are identical in design, with a bar worn on the ribbon to identify the specific mission. The Active Endeavour bar would bear the words 'ARTICLE 5' and the ribbon is NATO blue with two white stripes at either side of the medal ribbon with a line of gold through the middle of each white stripe. 

Qualifying time for the medal is 30 days of service continuous or accumulated, as part of the Standing Naval Force (SNF) operating in the international waters of the Mediterranean Sea and in the air space above. Subsequent tours of the same regions would be denoted with a numeral attached to the ribbon.

AWARD miniature medals complement the full-size official medals and are normally worn for formal dinner dress occasions.

All official medals are sent loose on the ribbon unless medal mounting is also purchased on the same order