NATO + OTAN (Authorized by PC 1995-2005).
An aggregate of 180 days of honourable service within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) area of responsibility between 01 January 1951 and 19 October 2004. Qualifying service is service while posted to a NATO unit, or to a Canadian Forces or allied formation or unit outside territorial limits of Canada under the operational control of a NATO headquarters, or in Canada on an operational staff directly participating in the operational control of such formations and units. In the latter case, only those staff personnel serving in an operations room directly participating in the control of ships and aircraft in NATO operations and exercises qualify for this service. NOT ALL time served in Europe nor at sea can be counted towards this bar.
NOTE: Eligibility for this bar has been suspended on 19 October 2004 until further notice. Persons who have reached the required 180 eligible days before 19 October 04 remain eligible. Persons in eligible positions or operations on 19 October 04 can continue to count their time until the end of that posting or deployment only. NATO service starting after 19 October 04 is considered ineligible until further notice. Once the review of the criteria is completed, the information on the remaining eligible NATO service will be made available.
