Context

In the spring of 2011, a multi-state coalition began a military intervention in Libya in response to events during the Libyan civil war. The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 was implemented to create a Libyan no-fly zone and to take all necessary measures to prevent attacks on civilians by the government forces of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The NATO Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR formally began on 23 March 2011 and ended on 31 October 2011.

Eligibility and Criteria

Awarded for thirty consecutive or 60 cumulative days of honourable service under NATO Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR commencing on 23 March 2011 and ending on 31 October 2011. Service as part of or in direct support of OUP within the political boundaries, territorial waters and airspace of Libya is eligible as well as service in or over the central southern Mediterranean Sea between 10 degrees East and 28 degrees East and South of 41 degrees North, service at the support Bases of Trapani and Sigonella and at NATO and Canadian Supporting Headquarters in Naples and Poggio Renatico (Italy).

Aircrew flying from a location other than those listed above will accumulate one day's service for the first sortie flown into the theatre on any day. Additional sorties flown on the same day receive no further credit.

Description

The Medal is circular in form and made of bronze, and bearing:

On the obverse, the NATO star set in a wreath of olive leaves; and

On the reverse, the title "North Atlantic Treaty Organization" and the words "In the service of peace and freedom" in English and French.

A 12mm bronze ring, which holds the ribbon, passes through a small hollow ball at the top of a claw joined to the top of the medal.

The ribbon is NATO-blue ribbon with two white stripes centred on the two outer thirds of the ribbon, with a silver stripe in the centre of each white stripe. The white represents peace and the silver signifies that the operation was ordered in accordance with another article than the Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

Bars

The medal is always issued with a bar inscribed "OUP-LIBYA/LIBYE".

Wearing

The medal shall be worn on the left breast, suspended from the ribbon described above, after the Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for North Atlantic Council Approved Operations and Activities in Relation to Africa and before the International Commission for Supervision and Control Indo-China (ICSC) Medal.

The bar is worn centered on the ribbon.

Postnomials

The use of a post-nominal is not authorized for this medal.

Historical Notes

The medal is accompanied by a certificate.