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EO 13154Executive OrderClinton · D

Executive Order 13154

Establishing the Kosovo Campaign Medal

This executive order establishes the Kosovo Campaign Medal to recognize U.S. Armed Forces members who served in Kosovo or contiguous waters/airspace between March 24, 1999, and a future terminal date set by the Secretary of Defense. It allows eligible service members to exchange the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or Armed Forces Service Medal for the new medal, but prohibits multiple awards for the same Kosovo service.

Federal Register Open PDF 65 FR 26479

Impact dates

  1. Coast Guard regulations to be prescribed by Secretary of Transportation when not operating as Navy service

  2. Terminal date for Kosovo Campaign Medal eligibility period to be prescribed by Secretary of Defense

  3. Uniform regulations to be prescribed by Secretaries of Military Departments and approved by Secretary of Defense

  4. Cutoff for dual qualification period (Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Armed Forces Service Medal remain qualified)

Key directives

  • Establish Kosovo Campaign Medal with suitable appurtenances
  • Award to Armed Forces members serving in Kosovo/contiguous waters/airspace after March 24, 1999, before terminal date prescribed by Secretary of Defense
  • Secretaries of Military Departments prescribe uniform regulations approved by Secretary of Defense
  • Secretary of Transportation prescribes regulations for Coast Guard when not operating as Navy service
  • Allow exchange of Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or Armed Forces Service Medal for Kosovo Campaign Medal upon application (no multiple awards for same service)
  • Permit posthumous awards under prescribed regulations

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Medal established by presidential authority
  • Eligibility period begins retroactively March 24, 1999

Near term (90d)

  • Secretary of Defense to prescribe terminal date for eligibility period
  • Secretaries of Military Departments to prescribe uniform award regulations
  • Secretary of Transportation to prescribe Coast Guard regulations (when not operating under Navy)

Long term

  • Ongoing award processing for eligible service members
  • Potential posthumous awards to qualifying individuals

Risks & tensions

  • Retroactive eligibility to March 24, 1999, creates administrative burden to identify and process past service members
  • Exchange mechanism (in lieu of) requires tracking to prevent duplicate awards—complex inter-agency coordination between military departments
  • Terminal date left undefined gives Secretary of Defense discretion but creates uncertainty for ongoing operations
  • Vague: no explicit deadline for promulgating regulations, potentially delaying awards
Executive Order 13154: Establishing the Kosovo Campaign Medal · Executive Orders