Kosovo Campaign Medal
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The Kosovo Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was established by Presidential Order of William J. Clinton on May 3, 2000. The decoration recognizes military service performed in the Serbian province of Kosovo from the year 1999 to the present.
To be awarded the Kosovo Campaign Medal, a service member must have been assigned to a military unit for thirty days, or sixty cumulative days, in support of one of the following operations.
- Operation Allied Force: March 24, 1999 through June 10, 1999
- Operation Allied Harbor: April 4, 1999 through September 1, 1999;
- Operation Shining Hope: April 4, 1999 through July 10, 1999; and,
- Operation Noble Anvil: March 24, 1999 through July 20, 1999;
- Operation Joint Guardian: June 11, 1999 to a date to be determined;
The medal is also awarded for membership in one of the following task forces, provided that service was performed within the 30-60 days time requirement.
- Task Force Hawk: April 5, 1999 through June 24, 1999
- Task Force Saber: March 31, 1999 through July 8, 1999
- Task Force Falcon: June 11, 1999 through November 1, 1999
- Task Force Hunter: April 1 through November 1, 1999
The above operations and task forces, as well as associated peacekeeping actions not identified by a specific campaign, are grouped into two “blanket” campaigns which encompass all United States military operations in Kosovo. Known as the Kosovo Air Campaign and the Kosovo Defense Campaign, these two campaigns began in June 1999 and are active until a date to be determined.
The Air Campaign refers to any flight operations which are performed in the land area and air space of Serbia (including Kosovo), Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, and Slovenia, as well as the waters and air space of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea, provided such flight operations are in direct support of Kosovo peacekeeping actions. The Kosovo Defense Campaign refers to any ground operations, in support of Kosovo peacekeeping efforts, which take place in Serbia (including Kosovo), Montenegro, Albania, and Macedonia. Naval actions in the Adriatic Sea also qualify for the Kosovo Ground Campaign.
Service stars are awarded for participation in either the Air Campaign or the Defense Campaign. Two service stars may be awarded provided that two separate tours, exceeding the 30/60 day requirement, were performed in both the Defense and Air Campaigns. The Kosovo Campaign Medal is always awarded with at least one service star. The Fleet Marine Force combat operation insignia is also authorized for certain sailors.
In addition to the Kosovo Campaign Medal, United States military members are also authorized to receive the NATO Medal for peacekeeping services rendered in Kosovo.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) began operations on Mar. 26, 1999, with CVW-8 where they were called to duty in the Ionian Sea to support NATO's Operation Allied Force and Noble Anvil. The aircraft of CVW-8 conducted air strikes for two months over Kosovo against the Serbians, expending more than 800 tons of ordnance. The ship was subsequently awarded the Kosovo Campaign Medal and the NATO Medal.
