Final answer:
The NATO Medal is awarded for 30 days of service in the former Republic of Yugoslavia and the Adriatic Sea, or for service in the area of operations, the exact duration of which is unspecified in the information provided. NATO is a military alliance formed in 1949 for collective defense, involving 30 member states as of 2020.
Step-by-step explanation:
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal is awarded to members who have served for a required period of time within NATO's area of operations. The information provided does not specify the exact number of days required for the second part of the question, which refers to service 'in the area of operations.' It is known that the medal is awarded for either 30 days (consecutive or cumulative) within the territory and airspace of the former Republic of Yugoslavia and the Adriatic Sea, or an undefined number of days in the broader area of operations. To find the specific requirement, one would have to look at the latest regulations or directives specific to the NATO Medal and its criteria.
NATO itself is a military alliance that was established in 1949 with the goal of safeguarding European and North American allies against threats, which at the time was primarily perceived as the possibility of a Soviet attack. It has since expanded to include 30 member states and operates on the principle of collective defense as codified in Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. The organization has been involved in various operations, including interventions in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.