Inter-American Defense Board Medal

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Inter-American Defense Board Medal

Inter America Defence Board Medal.jpg

The Inter-American Defense Board Medal
Awarded by the Organization of American States
Type International Military Award
Eligibility Any soldier of a member nation's uniformed services who serves a tour of duty with the Inter-American Defense Board
Awarded for Serving a tour of duty or serve on staff or as an instructor at the Inter-American Defense College
Status Active
Statistics
Established December 11, 1945
Inter-american defense board medal ribbon.svg
Inter-American Defense Board Ribbon

The Inter-American Defense Board Medal is an international military award which was created on December 11, 1945, by the 91st session of the Inter-American Defense Board, a Pan-American defense group devoted to the security of the member countries of the Organization of American States.

An international decoration is a military award which is not bestowed by a particular country, but rather by an international organization such as the United Nations or NATO. Such awards are normally issued as service medals, for participation in various international military operations, and not for specific acts of heroism or bravery.

Inter-American Defense Board

The Inter-American Defense Board (IADB) is an international committee of nationally appointed defense officials who develop collaborative approaches on common defense and security issues facing countries in North, Central, and South America. The IADB provides technical advice and services to the Organization of American States (OAS).

Pan-Americanism is a movement that seeks to create, encourage, and organize relationships, associations and cooperation among the states of the Americas, through diplomatic, political, economic, and social means.

Contents

The Inter-American Defense Board Medal is awarded to any military officer, serving in a member nation of the Organization of American States, who completes a tour of service with the Inter-American Defense Board. The award is also presented to military personnel who serve on the staff of the IADB Chairman, Secretariat, or for those who complete instructor tours at the Inter-American Defense College.

Inter-American Defense College

The Inter-American Defense College is the educational entity of the Inter-American Defense Board, an independent entity of the Organization of American States. The IADC is unique in the Western Hemisphere in that the faculty, staff and student body are international. Broad international participation provides an exceptional opportunity for the free exchange of ideas and forms a foundation for better inter-American understanding.

The Inter-American Defense Board Medal is a one-time decoration but may be upgraded with ​3⁄16 inch silver and gold stars depending on the length of time an individual serves with the Inter-American Defense Board. A silver service star or bar is awarded for one year of service; a gold service star or bar for two; two gold stars or bars for between three years and five; and three gold stars or bars for more than five years service. U.S. military personnel who have been awarded the Inter-American Defense Board Medal and ribbon may wear them when attending meetings, ceremonies, or other functions where Latin American members of the Board are present. [1]

Service star

A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star ​3⁄16 inch in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the seven uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or service period. The service star may also be referred to as a campaign star or battle star depending on which award is authorized the star and the manner in which the device is used for the award.

Usage with national military regalia of the member states

United States

In the United States, the Inter-American Defense Board Medal was only recognized as a military award on May 12, 1981. Since that time, the Inter-American Defense Board Medal had been approved for wear on United States military uniforms and will follow U.S. Military decorations and before military awards of individual foreign countries.

United States Federal republic in North America

The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States or America, is a country composed of 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions. At 3.8 million square miles, the United States is the world's third or fourth largest country by total area and is slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe's 3.9 million square miles. With a population of over 327 million people, the U.S. is the third most populous country. The capital is Washington, D.C., and the largest city by population is New York City. Forty-eight states and the capital's federal district are contiguous in North America between Canada and Mexico. The State of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east and across the Bering Strait from Russia to the west. The State of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U.S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, stretching across nine official time zones. The extremely diverse geography, climate, and wildlife of the United States make it one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries.

Other similar awards

Similar international military awards include the NATO Medal, United Nations Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the Multinational Force and Observers Medal.

The NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It is manufactured by Eekelers-Centini Intl, of Hemiksem, Belgium. There are currently fourteen versions of the NATO Medal in existence, for service in the former Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Macedonia, two for service during Article 5 operations, and eight for Non-Article 5 NATO operations. In addition, there are corresponding clasps for operations such as ISAF, Kosovo, the former Yugoslavia, NTM-I, and clasps designating Article 5, and Non-Article 5 designations. There is also a NATO Meritorious Service Medal, with a "Meritorious Service" clasp as well. However, U.S. military personnel do not wear the clasps on the NATO Medals, since the U.S. has its own devices that are used instead.

United Nations Medal

A United Nations Medal is an international decoration awarded by the United Nations (UN) to the various world countries militaries for participation in joint international military and police operations such as peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts, and disaster relief. The medal is ranked in militaries and police forces as a service medal. The United Nations awarded its first medal during the Korean War (1950-53). Since 1955, many additional United Nations medals have been created and awarded for participation in various United Nations missions and actions around the world.

Multinational Force and Observers Medal

The Multinational Force and Observers Medal is an international military decoration which was first created on March 24, 1982. The medal was established under the authority of the Director-General of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) which were established to monitor a neutral ceasefire zone, between Egypt and Israel, as the result of the Yom Kippur War of 1973.

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References

  1. ↑ 578.122 Inter-American Defense Board Medal
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