BELGIAN MEDAL FOR MISSIONS ABROAD

EDWARD J. EMERING

Since April 13, 1993, Belgium has issued its Medal for Missions Abroad in conjunction with numerous missions in the Former Yugoslavia and elsewhere around the world. The medal is awarded to recognize meritorious service performed outside the Kingdom of Belgium while engaged in peacekeeping actions or humanitarian operations. It is primarily intended for members of the military and accompanying civilians. Barely a fortnight following its establishment, a number of missions and operations for which it could be awarded were announced.

OF OPERATIES - MISSIONS OU OPERATIONS A

L’ETRANGERE (Foreign Mission or Operations Abroad).

The reverse features a blank center surrounded by a wreath

(Figure 2).

Figure 1: Obverse of the Medal for Missions Abroad.

The Medal for Missions Abroad is a combination of a general service and a campaign medal. The obverse (Figure 1) of the 38mm bronze medal features a rampant lion on a shield beneath a crown (based on the coat-of- arms of Belgium). It is surrounded by a bilingual Flemish and French inscription, BUITENLANDSE OPDRACHTEN

Figure 2: Reverse of the Medal for Missions Abroad.

The table below indicates the official bars that have been

issued the Medal for Missions Abroad through August

13, 2004. Such missions include humanitarian missions,

peace-monitoring missions and even warlike operations

in some cases. Unofficial bars have also proliferated.

The official bars measure approximately 35ram by

5ram. Their quality varies considerably depending on

the manufacturer.

A decree published August 13, 2004, indicated that bars will no longer be awarded. Instead an Arabic numeral will be awarded to indicate the number of missions in which a recipient has participated. The numeral will be bronze, 9mm high and 6mm wide. As a result, the more recent of the above bars may never actually be produced, or if produced will only be made in limited numbers.

Thanks to Hendrik Meersscahert for his assistance.

OFFICIAL BARS MISSIONS ABROAD MEDAL

Decree

April 26, 1993 BELBAT I

BELBAT II

Bar Mission

Belgian Army Battalion Belgian Army Battalion

Period of Service

3/13/1992- t0/23/1992 9/30/1992 - 4/141993

3 8 JOMSA

Decree April 26, t 993

May 3, 1993 June 8. 1993

September 23, 1993

February 16, t994

April 8, 1994

September 27, 1995

March 11, 1996

July 10, 1996

November 13, 1996

September 27, 1997

October 29, 1998

November 19, 1999

May 8, 2000

March 14, 2001

November 4, 2003

August 13, 2004

Bar

MOVING STAR l RESTORE HOPE I UNPROFOR I ECMM

UNMO

UNPROFOR

WINTER LODGE

SHARP .VIGILANCE

SHARP FENCE

RESTORE HOPE and UNOSOM ZM BELBAT Iii UNOSOM II MOVING STAR II BELBAT IV MOVING STAR II1 UNOSOM III BOSNIA ROAD I UNAM1R 1 BELBAT V MOVING STAR IV BOSNIA ROAD II UNAMIR I! UNDP BELBAT MOVING STAR BOSNIA ROAD COLUMBUS SHARP

SOUTHERN BREEZE MINURSCO CMAC IFOR

UNTAES

UNSCOM

DENY FLIGHT

SFOR

ALBA JOINT FALCON ALBA LODGE AFOR

KFOR

ALLIED HARVEST

UNFWP

EUMM

ALLIED FORCE

LAOS AMBER/FOX ISAF

CONCORDIA Bars are replaced by numerals for future missions

Mission

Humanitarian Aid- Bosnia Peace Ops Somalia UN Protective Force European Community Monitor Mission - Former Yugoslavia UN Military Observer

UN Protective Force Refugee Camps - Croatia Naval Operations - Adriatic Sea

Follow on to SHARP VIGILANCE Peace Operations Somalia

Belgian Army Battalion UN Peace Ops - Somalia Humanitarian Aid - Bosnia Belgian Army Battalion Humanitarian Aid - Bosnia UN Peace Ops - Somalia Road Repair - Bosnia UN Mission - R~vanda Belgian Army Battalion Humanitarian Aid - Bosnia Road Repair - Bosnia UN Mission - Rwanda

UN Development Program Belgian Army Battalion Humanitarian Aid - Bosnia Road Repair - Bosnia Military, Police Ops - Haiti

Enforcement of Economic Sanctions - Former Yugoslavia Naval Missions - Persian Gulf UN Mission - Western Sahara Mine Clearance - Cambodia Implementation Force - Bosnia and Herzegovina UN Transition Authority - Eastern Slovenia UN Special Commission for Weapons Control Enforcement of N0-FIy Zone - Bosnia & Herzegovina Stabilization Force - Bosnia & Herzegovina Humanitarian Mission - Albania Air Patrol - Kosovo Humanitarian Mission - Albania Operation Allied Harbor - Albania Kosovo Force - Kosovo Naval Ops - Adriatic Sea UN World Food Program Operations - Kenya & Sudan European Union Monitor Mission - Bosnia & Herzegovina Military Ops - Former Yugoslavia

Mine Clearance - Laos NATO Mission - Macedonia International Security Assistance Force - Afghanistan EU Operations - Macedonia

Period of Service

10/29/1992 - 4/2 l/1993

12/l 1/1992 - 4/22/1993

3/t3/1992 - 3/13/1993

9/15/1992 - 12/31/2000

Min 1 mission in ex-Yugoslavia or Cambodia Min 1 mission after 3/13/1992 10/8/1992 - 2/5/1993 9/30/1992 - 11/22/1992 11/22/1992 - 3/22/1993

Min 1 mission after 1/9/1993 - Navy

only

3/17/1993 - 8/17/1993

3/5/1993 - 8/22/1993

4/10/1993 - 8/18/1993

7/2/1993 - 23/12/1993

8/11/1993 - 12/!6/1993

8/4/1993- 1/4/1994

9/15/1993- 1/25/1994

11/18/1993 - 4/4/1994

11/24/1993 - 4/13/1994

12/6/1993 - 4/18/1994

1/18/1994 - 5/18/1994

3/15/1994 - 8/15/t994

In Cambodia from 4/1/1994 onwards

Min 1 mission after 3/t3/1992

Min 1 mission after 10/29/1992

Min 1 mission after 9/15/1993

Min 1 mission after 9/23/1994

Min 1 mission after 9/3/1992

Min 1 mission after 9/411995 Min 1 mission from Sept. 1992 onwards In Cambodia from 4/1/1994 onwards

Min 1 mission from December 15, 1995 onwards Min 1 mission fi’om 1/15/1996 onwards

5/15/1993 - 5/15/1994

Min. 1 mission from 411311993 onwards

Min. 1 mission from December 1996

onwards

6/71 1997 - 7/2711997

Min. 1 mission after 10/10/1996

4/26/1999 - 6/28/1999

Min. 1 mission from 4/17/1999 onwards

Min. 1 mission from 3/06/1999 onwards 6/8/1999 - 8/21 / 1999 12/8/1997 - 4/18/1999

Min. 1 mission from 111/2001 onwards

3/24/1990 - 6/10/1999

Min. 1 mission from 9/1811999 onwards

1015/2001 - 1/2312002

Min. I mission from 1/29/2003 onwards

Min. 1 mission from 311/2003 onwards

Vol. 60, No. 3 (May-June 2009) 39

OMSA 2009 Amway Grand Plaza

Grand Rapids, Michigan August 13-16, 2009

Please join us this year for OMSA 2009 in Grand Rapids, Michigan

¯ Fabulous five-star historic 1913 hotel in downtown

¯ DeVos Place (adjacent) for bourse and exhibits

¯ Important educational seminars by leading experts

¯ U.S., British and Commonwealth research workshops

A special UNSUNG HEROES AWARD will be given for the best exhibit on medals and decorations of the Vietnam War.

A PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD will be given to the best exhibit on medals and decorations as voted by the registered members.

The 2009 OMSA convention registration form is in JOMSA March/ApriL Please call Convention Co-Chairman Tom Kullgren at (989) 835-3908 or e-mail at kullgrent@charter.net for any assistance you may require.

Amway Grand Plaza 187 Monroe Avenue, N.W. Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Reservations: (800) 253-3590 Hotel: (616) 772-2000

Reservations must be made by Jul.v 26, 2009 to receive OMSA rate ($114) and guarantee availabili.tv

40 JOMSA