In 2007, the Commander International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) General Dan K McNeill, offered the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ISAF to the Australian Government.
Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston announced the acceptance of the medal for wear by Australian Defence Force (ADF) members for their service in support of the ISAF in Afghanistan. Defence civilians working with ISAF were also eligible for the award.
The award is officially known as the Non-article 5 NATO Medal for Service on NATO-led ISAF Operations.
The medal was supplied by NATO for presentation to eligible personnel. It was not inscribed with an individual’s service details and it does not come with a miniature.
Personnel deploying from 1 January 2011 who were eligible to receive the ISAF clasp also received a small clasp to be worn on the ribbon bar.
Eligibility
The medal was awarded for participation in NATO-led operations conducted in Afghanistan. ADF members must have completed 30 continuous days (or sorties) within a single tour, while force assigned to Operation Slipper and serving in the NATO area of operations (AOO) commencing on or after 28 July 2006.
From 1 January 2011, personnel could accumulate their service, but must have completed 60 days (or sorties) within a 2-year period.
Aircrew accumulated 1 day of service for the first sortie flown of any day in the designated AOO. Additional sorties flown on the same day received no further credit. This requirement existed for support as well as combat aircraft.
The medal was not awarded to any member convicted of serious misconduct or crimes during their period of service within the AOO.
The qualifying period was not required in the event of death in action, missing presumed killed in action or evacuation from the operational area in the event of injury while on duty within the AOO.
Multiple-tour indicator
NATO amended the qualifying criteria for the medal to include the awarding of multiple-tour indicators (MTI) for members returning to the same NATO operation or activity commencing after 1 January 2011. There must have been a break of at least 180 days between deployments before an indicator could be awarded.
Applications
Applications must have been made within two years of the end of the operation. Any applications outside of this will be assessed by NATO as not eligible.
The medal and multiple-tour indicators cannot be mounted or worn until approved for wear and recorded on PMKeyS.
Defence Honours & Awards does not assess for this award and is not the awarding authority. Replacement medals are not issued by Defence. When a foreign award that has been approved for wearing by Defence is lost or stolen, members can obtain a replica from a medals dealer at their own expense.
To apply for approval to accept and wear foreign awards, submit an application with a certified true copy of the award certificate.