The Kosovo Campaign Ribbon

With a background in law enforcement and the military, Ryan Steensma formerly served as a deputy sheriff in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Louisville, Kentucky, and completed a 21-year tenure with the Marine Corps Reserves. A veteran of several military campaigns beginning with the allied liberation of Kuwait in 1990, Ryan Steensma received a number of awards for his service, including the Combat Action Ribbon, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the NATO Bosnia Campaign Ribbon, and the Kosovo Campaign Ribbon.

The Kosovo Campaign Ribbon was established by President William J. Clinton on May 3, 2000, to honor soldiers and military personnel who participated in the NATO action to prevent the waves of violence and ethnic cleansing unfolding in Yugoslavia in 1999. The medal was available to be awarded to US military personnel for participating in operations and campaigns including Allied Force, Joint Guardian, Allied Harbour, Sustain Hope/Shining Hope, Noble Anvil, as well as to Kosovo Task Forces Hawk, Saber, Falcon, and Hunter.

Criteria for being awarded the medal included engaging for 30 consecutive days in actual combat or duty that was as dangerous as combat; being wounded, regardless of time spent in combat; and serving as an aircrew member flying sorties in and out of a combat area in direct support of military operations.