Posted on Nov 8, 2017
What is the proper Army use/wear of the NATO Meritorious Service Medal?
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Responses: 10
Check AR 600-8-22 pg 126.
9–12. North Atlantic Treaty Organization Meritorious Service Medal
a. The NATO MSM is awarded to military and civilian personnel who have been commended for providing
exceptional or remarkable service to NATO.
b. The eligibility criteria for award of the NATO MSM includes: military and civilian personnel must not have been
convicted of serious misconduct or crimes during the period of assignment under NATO command and control; must
be serving permanently or temporarily within NATO’s operational chain of command or in those forces under NATO
command or control or in a NATO body; must be commended personally by a commander or a head of a NATO body
for one of the following:
(1) Performing acts of courage in difficult or dangerous circumstances.
(2) Showing exceptional leadership or personal example.
(3) Making an outstanding individual contribution in any activity or program.
(4) Enduring particular hardship or deprivation in the interest of NATO.
c. A period of qualifying service is not required. There is no limit to the number of times an individual may be
recommended for the NATO MSM.
d. Where individuals by nature of their duties or location qualify for an operational award, such individuals may
also be considered for the award of the NATO MSM in accordance with the criteria detailed above.
e. Award of the NATO MSM to personnel killed, presumed killed, or repatriated, as a result of being wounded or
seriously injured while on assignment may be considered.
f. Order of precedence. The NATO MSM will be worn in the order of their receipt after all U.S. decorations, the
Good Conduct Medal, campaign and service medals, and service and training ribbons.
9–12. North Atlantic Treaty Organization Meritorious Service Medal
a. The NATO MSM is awarded to military and civilian personnel who have been commended for providing
exceptional or remarkable service to NATO.
b. The eligibility criteria for award of the NATO MSM includes: military and civilian personnel must not have been
convicted of serious misconduct or crimes during the period of assignment under NATO command and control; must
be serving permanently or temporarily within NATO’s operational chain of command or in those forces under NATO
command or control or in a NATO body; must be commended personally by a commander or a head of a NATO body
for one of the following:
(1) Performing acts of courage in difficult or dangerous circumstances.
(2) Showing exceptional leadership or personal example.
(3) Making an outstanding individual contribution in any activity or program.
(4) Enduring particular hardship or deprivation in the interest of NATO.
c. A period of qualifying service is not required. There is no limit to the number of times an individual may be
recommended for the NATO MSM.
d. Where individuals by nature of their duties or location qualify for an operational award, such individuals may
also be considered for the award of the NATO MSM in accordance with the criteria detailed above.
e. Award of the NATO MSM to personnel killed, presumed killed, or repatriated, as a result of being wounded or
seriously injured while on assignment may be considered.
f. Order of precedence. The NATO MSM will be worn in the order of their receipt after all U.S. decorations, the
Good Conduct Medal, campaign and service medals, and service and training ribbons.
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The NATO Meritorious Service Medal is a decoration (ie. I did something) as opposed to a service medal (i.e. I was there). It would be worn before all other international and foreign awards but after the lowest award issued by the US Government (in your case probably the Overseas Service Ribbon). I understand that they award only about 150 of them a year and, I would guess, most of those are to officers and senior NCOs. Congratulations!
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You can also use https://www.ezrackbuilder.com gives you an idea of what goes where
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SSG (Join to see)
United States Military Uniform Medal Ribbon Awards Order Precedence Charts with Ribbon Checker and Rack Builder - for all military branches including US Army Ribbon Rack Builder, US Air force Ribbon Rack Builder, US Coast Guard Ribbon Order Checker, US Marine Corps Ribbon Order Checker, and US Navy Ribbon Order Checker
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From what I remember, and I may be wrong, but I believe that you are only authorized to wear one NATO award at any given time. That would be worn in the same location, all the way at the lowest point of precedence, on your rack.
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
CW2 (Join to see) - like I said, I could be wrong. I don't have a NATO medal, but I seem to remember having a discussion with a few other NCOs at one point about this.
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MSG Loren Tomblin
I think it is foreign decoration and SGT Gunderson could be correct. I once made a mistake but I was wrong.
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CPO (Join to see)
Yes, you are correct it is the last one on the stack. Navy would place NATO then if any weapons ribbons. You can have more then two, just need regular NATO Ribbions and stars go on them small bronze. I have two one Afghanistan, and Former Yugoslavia. This just NATO, not MSM.
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Capt (Join to see)
I worked in the HQ RS branch that boarded individuals nominated for the medal. It is considered a foreign decoration distinct from the Non-Article/Article 5 medal. The Non-A is the medal you can only wear one of.
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The NATO MSM is a foreign decoration, while the NATO Medal is Non-U.S. service award, more specifically a NATO campaign and service award. As a result, the NATO MSM is worn in the order of receipt based on any foreign decorations you may also have. Then, foreign unit awards (which are now unlikely, but go on right side when worn), then Non-U.S. service awards in the order of precedence prescribed by PA DAM 670-1. That potentially means that you or others in the Army could and should “separation between the NATO MSM and the NATO Medal”. Here is a potentially common ribbon order of precedence and assumes you are wearing U.S. military decorations. I’m using the French Legion as part of the example and not including Vietnam and Korea War era medals in the mix, then here are all the right combinations:
== Soldier 1 example ==
... NATO Meritorious Service Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent award)
... United Nations Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... NATO Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... Multinational Force and Observers Medal ribbon
== Soldier 2 example ==
... NATO Meritorious Service Medal ribbon (e.g., awarded in 2016)
... Legion of Honor (France) (e.g., awarded in 2017)
... United Nations Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... NATO Medal (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... Multinational Force and Observers Medal
== Soldier 3 example ==
... Legion of Honor (France) ribbon (e.g., awarded in 2016)
... NATO Meritorious Service Medal ribbon (e.g., awarded in 2017)
... United Nations Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... NATO Medal (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... Multinational Force and Observers Medal
For Army and Air Force, multiple UN Medal (mission) ribbons not authorized and are multiple awards are represented by service stars.
...
== Soldier 1 example ==
... NATO Meritorious Service Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent award)
... United Nations Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... NATO Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... Multinational Force and Observers Medal ribbon
== Soldier 2 example ==
... NATO Meritorious Service Medal ribbon (e.g., awarded in 2016)
... Legion of Honor (France) (e.g., awarded in 2017)
... United Nations Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... NATO Medal (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... Multinational Force and Observers Medal
== Soldier 3 example ==
... Legion of Honor (France) ribbon (e.g., awarded in 2016)
... NATO Meritorious Service Medal ribbon (e.g., awarded in 2017)
... United Nations Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... NATO Medal (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... Multinational Force and Observers Medal
For Army and Air Force, multiple UN Medal (mission) ribbons not authorized and are multiple awards are represented by service stars.
...
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Medals of America have it- the precedence is behind the NATO Macedonia Medal
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