What is the NAVY instruction for use/ wear of the NATO Meritorious Service Medal?

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:36:55 -0500

I am being awarded the NATO meritorious Service Medal. I am inquiring about the instruction for proper wear. The DOD Instruction 134833 VOL 3 ENCL 3 section (7)(e) talks about all other NATO members except the MSM. It states that the NATO MSM is to be processed by the proper Military Department. The issue is I have not found a Navy Instruction and the award was approved for wear in 2003.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 23 at 2016 1:41 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:41:54 -0500

*Deleted, thought you were asking about the DMSM*

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Feb 23 at 2016 1:42 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:42:38 -0500

yes, i looked it up too and SFC Michael Hasbun is correct.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2016 1:52 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:52:47 -0500

It's a tail-ender when it comes to other medals and ribbons. For you, being Navy, it would come before the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, which comes right before the Navy Rifle and Navy Pistol Medals. If you're not "old" enough to have the RVN medal, but have either of the two weapons’ medals, it would go right before them.

kepler.pratt.duke.edu/usnribbons.html

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2016 2:11 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 14:11:50 -0500

It is after your Seaservice and if you have seaservice and overseas it would be after that. I am sure they will give you the medal and ribbon. You need to know that there are a couple of NATO medals they are not all the same. I am assuming that this is from AFG so if you have one from lets say Bosnia they are two different medals and believe it or not you would wear the two, they are not the same.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2016 4:06 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 16:06:27 -0500

And keep in mind this a NATO MSM; completely different than the NATO Service Medal. It is authorized for US wear by DoD Instruction.

Response by PO1 Jack Howell made Aug 21 at 2016 11:59 PM

PO1 Jack Howell — Sun, 21 Aug 2016 23:59:52 -0400

Chief, I mean no disrespect, but as a CPO you should know what the answer is or (at least) where to find it. You should have checked SECNAVINST 1650.1H (Chapter 7) first.

Response by PO2 David Harrity made Jul 15 at 2018 5:35 PM

PO2 David Harrity — Sun, 15 Jul 2018 17:35:47 -0400

The NATO MSM is a foreign decoration, while the NATO Medal is Non-U.S. service award, more specifically a NATO campaign and service award. As a result, the NATO MSM is worn in the order of receipt based on any foreign decorations you may also have. Then, foreign unit awards (which are now unlikely), then Non-U.S. service awards in the order of precedence. That potentially means that you or others in the Navy could and should “separation between the NATO MSM and the NATO Medal”. Here is a potentially common ribbon order of precedence and assumes you are wearing U.S. military decorations. I’m using the French Legion as part of the example and not including Vietnam and Korea War era medals in the mix, then here are all the right combinations:

== Sailor 1 example ==
... NATO Meritorious Service Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent award)
... United Nations Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... NATO Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... Multinational Force and Observers Medal ribbon

== Sailor 2 example ==
... NATO Meritorious Service Medal ribbon (e.g., awarded in 2016)
... Legion of Honor (France) (e.g., awarded in 2017)
... United Nations Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... NATO Medal (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... Multinational Force and Observers Medal

== Sailor 3 example ==
... Legion of Honor (France) ribbon (e.g., awarded in 2016)
... NATO Meritorious Service Medal ribbon (e.g., awarded in 2017)
... United Nations Medal ribbon (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... NATO Medal (with bronze service star for each subsequent mission)
... Multinational Force and Observers Medal

When awarded multiple United Nations or NATO (mission) medals which have different designs, you would return to the standard United Nations or NATO Medal (respectively) and include service star(s) for subsequent awards.