NATO Eagle Assist 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. 

Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States in 2001, NATO provided 7 Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems Aircraft (AWACS) to the United States to help defend its airspace in a counter-terrorist initiative. The mission, called Operation Eagle Assist, began on the 9th of October and was terminated on the 16th May 2002. This was the first time that NATO military assets had been deployed in support of an Article 5 operation and it was a clear demonstration of Allied solidarity.

NATO medals are identical in design, with a bar worn on the ribbon to identify the specific mission. The bar for the Eagle Assist mission would bear the words 'ARTICLE 5' and the ribbon is NATO blue with a central white stripe and a line of gold through the middle of the white stripe.

Qualifying time for the medal is 30 days of service continuous or accumulated in the Area of Operation (the USA and the airspace of North America as tasked by NORAD). 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.