Updated: 09 August, 2005

Norway

The Participation Medal - Regulations

The Participation Medal shall be awarded by the Chief of Defence. The medal may be embellished by a rosette. Description: The medal is round, 33mm in diameter. Obverse: An upright sword, surrounded by an oak branch on each side. Reverse: The words "FOR DIN INNSATS" - For your effort - in two lines, with oak leaves above and below the words.

The medal is suspended from a ribbon 33mm wide. The colours of the ribbon shall be determined based on the operation for which it will be awarded.

The Participation Medal shall be awarded to Norwegian military personnel who have participated in special military operations whether abroad or at home. The medal may also be awarded to foreign military personnel who have made meritorious contributions to the Norwegian Armed Forces.

The Participation medal shall normally be awarded for participating in an operation for a minimum of two months. The medal may be awarded for shorter periods of time for special or unusual contributions to the operation.

Military personnel who have made a special or meritorious contribution, such as active participation in combat or dangerous missions, may be awarded a rosette.

When issued for another military operation, the medal may be awarded again to the same person, but with the ribbon related to that operation. If the person has made a special contribution in that operation as well, the award of a rosette may also be made.

The medal shall be issued with its ribbon and an award certificate. The certificate shall bear a picture of the obverse of the medal. It shall also indicate the name, time and place of the operation for which it is being awarded. The diploma shall be signed by the Chief of Defence. A new issue of the medal shall also be accompanied by a certificate.

The participation medal shall not normally be awarded with other Norwegian medals or U.N. medals for the same operation. The medal is retroactive to 1 August 1990.

The medal is the personal property of the person to whom it is issued, and does not need to be returned. The medal may be awarded posthumously.

The medal may be worn in uniform in accordance with existing regulations.

The Chief of Defence's Medal Council shall advise the Chief of Defence for which operations the Participation Medal should be awarded. The Medal Council may also propose the colours of the ribbon for that operation.

The decision to award a medal and the choice of ribbon colours shall not normally be taken until the operation has lasted for two months. The award shall normally take place at the end of the operation.

Under special circumstances, the participation Medal may also be awarded to civilians, both Norwegian and foreigners, who have made a special contribution to the Norwegian Armed Forces.

The Participation Medal can be awarded to the same person with the same ribbon only once.

NOTE: To date, there have been two issues of the Participation Medal as follows:

Gulf War - Ribbon is red with an 11mm wide green-white-black-white-green central band. Approximately 231 medals were awarded.

Bosnia (UNPROFOR) - Ribbon is white with blue edges, and a wide red and yellow stripe in the middle. Five medals awarded to Royal Norwegian Air Force personnel.

(Ref: OMRS Journal, Vol. 37, No. 1, Page 37 - Norway's participation in the Gulf War, by Vicken Koundakjian)