NATO Balkans Full Size 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. 

The NATO Non-article 5 Balkans medal is presented to service members and civilians who have participated in NATO operations in the Balkan region, which includes countries such as Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Yugoslavia. This medal has been awarded since 2011 for missions supporting the establishment of peace and security in the Balkans.

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

Qualifying time for the medal is 30 days of continous service or 60 days accumulated within 2 years, contributing to NATO-led operations within the Balkans Joint Operations Area (JOA).  Subsequent tours of the same regions would be denoted with a numeral attached to the ribbon.

NATO medals are not engraved.

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