Qualifications for Kosovo Campaign Medal

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  • United States Air Forces in Europe New Service
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Servicemembers who participated in or were in direct support of Kosovo operations within established areas of eligibility may be awarded the Kosovo Campaign Medal and campaign streamers for their accomplishments.

The award was established by President Clinton in May 2000. 

Individuals authorized the KCM must have participated in or served in direct support of one or more of the following Kosovo operations or Task Forces within the Kosovo Air Campaign or Kosovo Defense Campaign area of eligibility: Allied Force, Joint Guardian, Allied Harbor, Sustain Hope/Shining Hope, Noble Anvil, Task Force Hawk, Task Force Saber, or Task Force Hunter. 

The Kosovo Air Campaign began March 24, 1999, and ended June 10, 1999. The area of eligibility is the total land area and air space of Serbia (including Kosovo), Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy and Slovenia; and the waters and air space of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea north of 39 degrees North latitude. 

The Kosovo Defense Campaign began June 11, 1999, and will end on a date to be determined. The area of eligibility is the total land area and air space of Serbia (including Kosovo), Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, and the waters and air space of the Adriatic Sea within 12 nautical miles of the Montenegro, Albania, and Croatia coastlines south of 42 degrees and 52 minutes North latitude. 

Servicemembers must have served, or be currently serving in a unit participating in or directly supporting the operation for 30 consecutive days in the area of eligibility, or for 60 non-consecutive days provided this support involves entering the operations area of eligibility or meets one or more of the following criteria: 

- Be engaged in actual combat, or duty that is equally as hazardous as combat duty, during the operation with armed opposition, regardless of time in the area of eligibility; 

- While participating in the operation, regardless of time, is wounded or injured and requires medical evacuation from the area of eligibility; 

- While participating as a regularly assigned aircrew member is flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in direct support of the military operation. 

One bronze star shall be worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the KCM for qualifying participation in each campaign period. A servicemember who qualified as a participant in one campaign would wear the KCM with one bronze star on the medal and service ribbon. 

Airmen who have documentation showing they qualify for the Kosovo Campaign Medal are encouraged to contact their local military personnel flight immediately for update in the military personnel data system.

For more information, contact your local MPF or visit the AFPC website at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/ (courtesy of USAFE News Service).