UNPROFOR | UNCRO | United Nations Medal Bosnia, Croatia
United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) Croatia (UNCRO)
The United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) was established in February 1992 as an interim measure to create the conditions of peace and security needed for negotiating a comprehensive settlement of the Yugoslav crisis. The role of UN troops was to ensure that designated "UN Protected Areas" (UNPAs) were demilitarized and that residents in these areas were protected from the threat of armed attacks. UN police monitors were tasked with ensuring that local police forces performed their duties without discrimination or human rights abuses. Additionally, UNPROFOR assisted UN humanitarian agencies in facilitating the voluntary return of displaced persons.
Over time, UNPROFOR’s mandate was expanded to cover several additional tasks, including:
- Reopening the Sarajevo airport for humanitarian purposes.
- Establishing a security zone around Sarajevo and its airport.
- Protecting convoys of released detainees in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as requested by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
- Monitoring the complete withdrawal of the Yugoslav Army from Croatia.
- Overseeing the demilitarization of the Prevlaka Peninsula and the removal of heavy weapons from surrounding areas in Croatia and Montenegro (Resolution 779, 1992).
- Monitoring compliance with the ban on military flights (Resolution 781, 1992).
- Establishing a UN presence in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
UNPROFOR also monitored the implementation of ceasefire agreements, including one requested by the Bosnian Government and Bosnian-Croat forces in February 1994 and another between the Bosnian Government and Bosnian Serb forces, which took effect on 1 January 1995.
On 31 March 1995, the Security Council decided to restructure UNPROFOR into three separate but interrelated peacekeeping operations: UNCRO (United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia), UNPREDEP (United Nations Preventive Deployment Force), and UNPF (United Nations Peace Forces) headquarters in Zagreb. Following positive developments in the former Yugoslavia and the establishment of two new UN missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, UNPF headquarters was phased out in January 1996.
The UNPROFOR medal ribbon features a UN blue background, with a central wide red band symbolizing the United Nations Protected Areas (UNPAs), flanked by thin white stripes. On the left side is a narrow green band, representing forests, and on the right, a narrow brown band, symbolizing the mountains. A minimum of 90 days of service was required to qualify for the award.
Countries that contributed troops or observers to UNPROFOR included Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ireland, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, the Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, Venezuela, and Ukraine.
MEDAL SIZES
Medal Sizes
There are two medal sizes to choose from: Full Size and Miniature, along with a Ribbon Bar (also known as a riband) for uniform wear.
Full Size Medals
Full Size medals are the standard size traditionally worn at ANZAC Day ceremonies and other commemorative parades.
They’re the same size as those originally issued for the Imperial campaign and service medals of the First and Second World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and earlier conflicts.
When the Australian Honours & Awards system was established in 1975, the tradition evolved so that an original set now includes:
- one Full Size medal,
- one matching Miniature medal, and
- a Ribbon Bar (riband),
all housed together in a protective case.
Miniature Medals
Miniature medals are worn at formal events held after 6 pm — typically on mess kit, dinner dress, or other evening attire.
They’re exact scale replicas of the full-size medals, designed for occasions where the larger medals aren’t appropriate.
Ribbon Bars (Ribands)
Ribbon Bars, also known as ribands, represent the medals awarded and are traditionally worn on the uniform in place of the full-size set.
They allow a person’s service and decorations to be displayed on duty or in day-to-day uniform without risk of damaging the medals themselves.
Each ribbon bar corresponds to a full-size medal, mounted in the correct order of wear and reflecting the same precision and care given to every Foxhole set.
Full Size medals can also be engraved with the service person’s service number, initials, and surname, following the same convention used on the originals.
Large/Full Size or Original Set
Large or Full Size Medals are the size traditionally worn at ANZAC Day ceremonies. Full Size Medals are also able to be engraved with the service person's service number, initials and surname as the originals would have been.
Small or Miniature Set
Small or Miniature Medals are traditionally worn only after 6pm when mess kit, formal / evening dress / dinner jacket attire is worn by senior Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen / women or Officer ranks. There is also an increasing trend for replicas to be created in miniature sets for children to wear at ceremonies and marches.
MEDAL MOUNTING STYLES
Mount Style:
Court Mounted
Court-Mounted Medals are ready to wear on a brooch bar and have a backing board behind the medals to which each medal is sewn to minimise noise and movement.
This does obscure 2/3 of the reverse of the medals.
Mount Style:
Swing Mounted
Swing Mounted Medals are ready to wear on a brooch bar and allow an unobstructed view of both the front and back of the medals, but do also leave them prone to impact damage.
Serving Defence members are not permitted to wear their groups swing mounted.
What to keep in mind when choosing a mounting style
We can only swing-mount up to a maximum of 5 full-size medals.
A full size set of 6 (or more) medals will need to be court-mounted.
Miniature medal sets of any number can be mounted in either style.
Swing-mounted medals will make the 'tinky tink' noise as they move against each other.
This may trigger sensory sensitivities for some people, and can also make the medals more prone. todamage.
Engravings are easier to see on swing-mounted medals.
If you choose to have your replica medals engraved with the recipient's service number, initials, and surname, the engraving will be easier to see on swing-mounted medals, as you. can clearly see the front and back of the medal with this style.
FAQ's
Is it legal to buy replica medals?
Yes, it is legal to buy replica medals.Generally, only one set of original medals is ever issued by the Governor General or Dept of Defence Honours & Awards. Because of this, it is common practice for recipients to put the original away safely and wear replicas so that they can be replaced if they are lost. This practice is endorsed and encouraged by the Dept of Defence Honours & Awards.
I have an existing set of replicas but have just received a new award. Do I need a new set of replicas?
You absolutely do not need to buy a brand new set of replicas- in fact you'll save yourself some money if you send your existing full size and miniature medals into us together with any pieces of ribbon bars with rosettes we can recycle for you.
Can I have the full size replica medals engraved with my family member's details?
Absolutely!We have a state-of-the-art computer engraving machine that is perfect for engraving your full size replica medals. The addition of engraving creates a beautiful heirloom set with moving sentimentality (many of our engraving customers confess shedding tears) as well as a starting point for future generations for family research, or simply a medal set that can be easily be returned to you post-ANZAC Day shenanigans.
Is a ribbon bar included with my purchase of full size medals?
No, you will need to order your ribbon bar separately to your full size medals unless you order the full Collection, which does include the ribbon bar as well as miniature medals and a case. We can arrange for each piece of your ribbon bar to be joined together at your request (or have plastic coating added if you work in Emergency Services).
How risky is sending medals in the post?
In 17 years of business, we have not lost one set of original medals that have been sent into us or sent out from us.We repeat: Not one set lost. Ever. [Touch wood.]
Read more about our shipping policies here.
Services
Professional medal services
I offer premium mounting & engraving services to complete your medal set.