National Defence Medal

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National Defence Medal
Medaille de la defense nationale or.jpg
National Defence Medal, Gold grade (obverse)
TypeMedal with three classes (Gold, Silver and Bronze)
Awarded forParticularly honorable service rendered to the French military
Valor not involving combat with the enemy
Presented byFlag of France.svg  France
EligibilityFrench citizens and foreign nationals
StatusCurrently awarded
Established21 April 1982
Precedence
Next (higher) Overseas Medal
Next (lower) Medal for voluntary military service

The National Defence Medal (French : "Médaille de la Défense nationale") is a French military decoration. It was created by Charles Hernu, Minister of Defence and established by decree on 21 April 1982. It rewards particularly honourable service rendered by military personnel for their participation in operational activities. The medal has three levels: Gold, Silver and Bronze. [1]

Contents

Eligibility

For military service

The award is made by decision of the military hierarchy, but the recipients must have achieved a personal minimum of:

The yearly quota of Gold and Silver level awards are set by the minister of defence. Points are earned through participation in exercises, operations, proficiency, initiative, awards received, etc. [1] People who had been awarded the Légion d'honneur or the Ordre national du Mérite can not receive the National Defence Medal.

Exceptional circumstances

The medal can be awarded in any one of the three levels to:

Mention in Dispatches

When an individual is mentioned in dispatches (citation dans les ordres) for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. He or she is awarded the Médaille de la Défense Nationale at the Gold level, adorned with a ribbon device (bronze, silver, silver gilt star or bronze palm) depending on the level (regiment, brigade, division, army) of the mention, in the same manner as for the Croix de Guerre. [1]

Award description

Medal and ribbon

The National Defence Medal is a 36 mm in diameter circular medal struck from bronze, the gold level is gilt, the silver award is silvered. The obverse bears the relief image of Rude's Marseillaise with the relief inscription along the upper circumference "FRENCH REPUBLIC" (French : RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE). The reverse bears the relief image of a Phrygian cap over a laurel branch and the inscription along the medal circumference in the upper half "ARMY" and "NATION", in the lower half "NATIONAL DEFENSE" (French : "ARMÉE" "NATION" "DÉFENSE NATIONALE"), the upper and lower inscriptions being separated by a relief five pointed star on each side [1]

The medal hangs from a ring through the medal's suspension loop. The bronze grade award's ribbon is a 36 mm wide red silk moiré ribbon with a 12 mm wide central blue stripe. The ribbon for the silver grade award is similar with the addition of 3 mm wide white edge stripes, the edge stripes are yellow for the gold grade award [1]

Gold grade
obverse & ribbon		Silver grade
obverse & ribbon		Bronze grade
obverse & ribbon		Gold grade for
mentions in
dispatches
obverse & ribbon		Gold grade
reverse & ribbon
Medaille de la defense nationale or.jpg Medaille de la defense nationale argent.jpg Medaille de la defense nationale bronze.jpg Medaille de la defense nationale or exceptionelle.jpg Medaille de la defense nationale or revers.jpg
Medaille de la Defense Nationale Or ribbon.svg Medaille de la Defense Nationale Argent ribbon.svg Medaille de la Defense Nationale Bronze ribbon.svg Medaille d'Or de la Defense Nationale pour citation sans croix ribbon.svg Medaille de la Defense Nationale Or ribbon.svg
With clasps:
AIR FORCE and
INTERSERVICES POST		With clasps:
FRENCH NAVY and
SUBMARINES		With clasp:
AIRBORNE TROOPS		With palm for an
Army level citation		Common reverse
for all grades

Clasps

General Bruno Dary, a recipient of the Silver grade of the National Defense Medal GMP Bastille Day 2008-crop.jpg
General Bruno Dary, a recipient of the Silver grade of the National Defense Medal
Admiral Pierre-Francois Forissier, a recipient of the Silver grade of the National Defense Medal Pierre-Francois Forissier-2008 USA.jpg
Admiral Pierre-François Forissier, a recipient of the Silver grade of the National Defense Medal
Admiral Edouard Guillaud, a recipient of the Bronze grade of the National Defense Medal Edouard-Guillaud.jpg
Admiral Édouard Guillaud, a recipient of the Bronze grade of the National Defense Medal

Multiple specialty and geographical clasps are allowed for wear on the ribbon, each grade being allowed a single clasp up to a maximum of three. [1] As of 29 January 2021 the following clasps are awarded: [2]

Geographical clasps
Speciality clasps
Obsolete clasps

Notable recipients (partial list)

Gold grade

Silver grade

Bronze grade

Exceptional circumstances

Mentions in dispatches

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Battini, Jean; Zaniewicki, Witold (2003). Guide pratique des décorations françaises actuelles. Paris: LAVAUZELLE. pp. 157–161. ISBN   2-7025-1030-2.
  2. ↑ "ARRÊTÉ du 29 janvier 2021 relatif aux agrafes figurant sur la médaille de la défense nationale J.O. n° 26 du 30 janvier 2021 - Texte n° 15 NOR : ARMM2100597A". LegiFrance. Journal Officiel de la République Française. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  3. ↑ "MG Charles Hooper Award Ceremony".
  4. ↑ JILL WHALEN (2010-03-20). "McAdoo Guardsman receives French honor". Republican Herald. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 U.S.A.F. Staff Sgt. John Wright (2011-07-15). "French award National Defense Gold Medal to pararescue Airmen". U.S. Air Force Central. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2012.

Sources

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