Badges of the Danish Military

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Army uniform showing different ways to wear the badges Danish Badges on M69 Uniform.png
Army uniform showing different ways to wear the badges

Badges of the Danish Military are military decorations issued to soldiers who achieve a variety of qualifications and accomplishments while serving active or reserve duty in the Danish military. They are worn, on the service dress or barracks dress, either right above or on the breast pocket, depending on whether there are Danish Parachutist Brevets. [1] There is no limit to the number worn and there is no designated order for the badges. [2]

Contents

The badges were first created by the Danish Brigade in Exile, [3] in order to show proficiency. [4] It did however not see official and wide use until the 1950s, when standardized versions were introduced.

Proficiency badges

The proficiency badges are small circular badges 25mm in diameter showing a laurel wreath and the icon in the center. They are sown onto the uniform with a small circular piece of felt backing:

Army

The army has different colors depending on the service branch: [1]

White

Air Force

White

Shooting badges

Military Proficiency BadgeName (English/Danish)GradesDate of creationNotes
Danish Pistol Badge.png Pistol Badge
Pistolmærke
Bronze, Silver, Gold1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for goldFeatures two crossed Wheellock pistols. [5]
Danish Sub-machine Gun Badge.png Sub-machine Gun Badge
Maskinpistolmærke
Bronze, Silver, Gold1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for goldFeatures the Maskinpistol M.44 Husquarna. Obsolete [6]
Danish Rifle Badge.png Rifle Badge
Geværmærke
Bronze, Silver, Gold1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for goldFeatures two crossed Wheellock rifles. [7]
Danish Light Machine Gun Badge.png Light Machine Gun Badge
Maskingevær mærke
Bronze, Silver, Gold1955 for bronze and silver, 1961 for goldFeatures the Madsen machine gun. [8]
Danish Marksmanship Badge.png
Marksmanship Badge
Feltskyttemærke
Bronze18 June 1992Features the scope from M/75. [9]
Marksmanship Emblem
Feltskyttemblem
Silver, gold ?Features the Krag–Jørgensen surrounded by wreath in oak leaves. [10]

Skill badges

Military Proficiency BadgeName (English/Danish)GradesDate of creationNotes
Danish First Aid Skill Badge.png First Aid Skill Badge
Sanitetsmærke
Bronze, Silver, Gold1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for goldFeatures a Greek Cross.
Danish Dog Handler Skill Badge.png Dog Handler Skill Badge
Hundeførermærke
Bronze, Silver, Gold1968 for bronze, silver and goldFeatures the head of a German Shepherd.
Danish Motorcycle courier Skill Badge.png Motorcycle courier Skill Badge
Motorordonansmærke
Bronze, Silver, Gold1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for goldFeatures a Nimbus motorcycle. [11]
Obsolete
Patrol Rider Skill Badge
Patruljeryttermærke
Bronze1956Features the head of a horse.
Obsolete
Danish Orienteering Skill Badge.png Orienteering Skill Badge
Terrænsportsmærke
Bronze, Silver, Gold1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for goldFeatures the Orienteering flag and a compass needle.
Danish Combat Swimming Skill Badge.png Combat Swimming Skill Badge
Kampsvømmer mærke
Bronze, Silver, Gold1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for goldFeatures a sword and waves.
Danish Signal Skill Badge.png Signal Skill Badge
Signalmærke
Bronze, Silver, Gold1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for goldFeatures a sword and lightning.
Rider Emblem
Rytteremblem
Silver
(with or without arrow)
2018Features a horseshoe and two crossed swords surrounded wreath in laurel leaves. [12]
Service Emblem - Army NCO School
Tjenestemærke, Hærens Sergentskole
1 ?Features 3 sergeant chevrons with laurel leaves. [13]

Recognition badges

Military Proficiency BadgeName (English/Danish)GradesDate of creationNotes
Danish Plane Recognition Badge.png Plane Recognition Badge
Flykendnings mærke
Bronze, Silver, Gold22 October 1975 for bronze, silver and goldFeatures a plane.
Danish Tank Recognition Badge.png
Tank Recognition Badge
Panserkendings mærke
Bronze, Silver, Gold1975 for bronze, silver and goldFeatures a Sherman tank.
Danish Ship Recognition Badge.png
Ship Recognition Badge
Skibskendnings mærke
Bronze, Silver, Gold22 July 1975 for bronze, silver and goldFeatures a Viking longship.

Tabs

Similar in design to British and American tabs, they are worn on the right shoulder, on either service dress, barracks dress or combat uniform. [14]

TabName (English/Danish)Notes
Danish Jaeger Tab.png Ranger
Jæger
Awarded after completing Jægerkorpset basic training and one year of satisfactory service at Corps. [14]
Danish Patrol Tab.png
Danish Patrol (Instructor) Tab.png
Patrol (Instructor)
Patrulje (Instruktør)
Awarded after completing a number of related courses, with Instructor being awarded after reaching level of Instructor. [15]
Danish MP Tab.png Military Police
MP
Awarded after completing MP basic training and 3 months of satisfactory service. [16]
Danish EOD Tab.png Explosive Ordnance Disposal
EOD
Awarded after completing a number of related courses. [16]
Danish CBRN Tab.png Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
CBRN
Awarded after completing a number of related courses. [15]
Danish Legal Adviser Tab.png Legal Adviser
MJUR
Awarded after given permanent or designated title as Military Legal Adviser. [16]
Danish TACP Tab.png Tactical Air Control Party
TACP
Awarded after completing Tactical Air Control Party basic training and one year of satisfactory service. [15]
Danish MovCon Tab.png Movement Controller
MOVCON
Awarded after completing Movement controller basic training and 6 months of satisfactory service. [17]
Obsolete

Parachute badge

The Danish parachutist badge, can only be acquired by Danish officers, high ranking NCOs and members of the Royal Danish Air Force, they are therefore relatively rare compared to other countries parachute badges. [18] The parachutist badge is worn above the right breast pocket on the service dress or barracks dress, with the ability to wear a foreign brevet, on the pocket flap. [19]

Parachutist BrevetName (English/Danish)Notes
Danish Parachutist Badge.png Parachutist Badge
Faldskærmsmærke
Danish Freefall Parachutist Badge.png Freefall Parachutist Badge
Fritfaldsmærke
Only available for Jægerkorpset and officers, who have completed the Jægerkorps basic training. [18]

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Stable belt

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Parachutist badge

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Command at Sea insignia

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Parachutist Badge (United Kingdom) Award

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<i>M84 camouflage pattern</i>

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Uniforms of the Royal Danish Army

The Uniforms of the Royal Danish Army distinguish soldiers from other service members. Royal Danish Army uniforms were originally influenced by French, Prussian and Russian military traditions. However, in more recent times, its uniforms have been characterized as being influenced by British uniforms, and, more significantly, American uniforms.

Chief of the Royal Danish Army

The Chief of the Army Command is the service chief of the Royal Danish Army. The current chief is Major general Gunner Arpe Nielsen.

Chief of the Royal Danish Air Force

The Chief of the Air Command is the topmost authority in the Royal Danish Air Force. It can trace its history back to the creation of the Chief for the Naval Air Service, in 1913. The current chief of the Air Force is Major general Jan Dam.

References

  1. 1 2 Army Operational Command 2012, p. 907.
  2. "Forsvarets udmærkelsestegn". Corysan (in Danish).[ permanent dead link ]
  3. Finsted, Per. "Den danske Brigade i Sverige 1943-1945" (PDF). chakoten.dk. p. 7. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  4. "Maskinpistolmærke 1944". Arma-Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  5. "Pistolmærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  6. "Maskinpistolmærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  7. "Geværmærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  8. "Maskingevær mærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  9. "Feltskyttemærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  10. Hærchefsergent (July 2018). Uniformsbestemmelser for hæren (UBH) Jul 2018 [Uniform Regulations for the Army - July 2018](PDF) (in Danish). p. 42. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  11. "Motorordonansmærke". arma-dania.dk. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  12. Hærchefsergent (July 2018). Uniformsbestemmelser for hæren (UBH) Jul 2018 [Uniform Regulations for the Army - July 2018](PDF) (in Danish). p. 42. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  13. Hærchefsergent (July 2018). Uniformsbestemmelser for hæren (UBH) Jul 2018 [Uniform Regulations for the Army - July 2018](PDF) (in Danish). p. 43. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  14. 1 2 Army Operational Command 2012, p. 901.
  15. 1 2 3 Army Operational Command 2012, p. 903.
  16. 1 2 3 Army Operational Command 2012, p. 902.
  17. Army Operational Command 2012, p. J-1.
  18. 1 2 "Når Kadetter får Vinger" (in Danish).
  19. Army Operational Command 2012, p. 905.

Bibliography