It was authorised 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in peacekeeping and non-warlike operations.

It is awarded with a clasp to denote the prescribed operation and subsequent awards of the medal are made in the form of additional clasps.

These are treated as foreign medals in the Australian system, and if approved for wear on service uniforms, are worn after Australian medals in the order they are received.

Recipients of the ASM may be authorised to wear up to two further medals from an international organisation and a host nation for the same period of service.

Some of these medals have been granted a blanket authority for all recipients to wear.