Circular white metal medal with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with an upright broadsword imposed on a stylised laurel wreath; the reverse circumscribed ‘FORSVARET•FOR INTERNASJONALE OPERASJONER’; on original ribbon mounted for wear; in original case of issue and cardboard sleeve. (The case has space for a ribbon bar and pin, both absent). The medal was instituted on 9 October 2000 to be awarded to both Norwegian civilians and military for overseas service of at least 6 months or for outstanding acts during service overseas. Norwegian Armed Forces, civil and military, total approximately 23,000 personnel, of whom about 10,000 are conscripts at any one time. Just over 700 of the regular forces are currently (mid-2009) deployed overseas, mainly in Afghanistan, but also on peacekeeping duty in Chad, Sudan, Israel, Kosovo, Egypt, Lebanon and Bosnia. The medal is therefore issued in small numbers.
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