National Defence Medal

National Defence Medal

National Defence Medal, Gold grade (obverse)
Awarded by  France
Type Medal with three classes (Gold, Silver and Bronze)
Eligibility French citizens and foreign nationals
Awarded for Particularly honorable service rendered to the French military
Valor not involving combat with the enemy
Status Currently awarded
Statistics
Established 21 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 April 21, 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]

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 ordre de la Légion d'honneur or the ordre du mérite can not receive the Médaille for military service.

Exceptional circumstances

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

Mention in Despatches

When an individual is mentioned in despatches (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 or silver gilt star or 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
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
Admiral Pierre-François Forissier, a recipient of the Silver grade of the National Defense Medal
Admiral Édouard Guillaud, a recipient of the Bronze grade of the National Defense Medal
General Benoît Puga, 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]

Geographical clasps:

Speciality clasps:

Notable recipients (partial list)

Gold grade

Silver grade

Bronze grade

Exceptional circumstances

Mentions in dispatches

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Battini, Jean; Zaniewicki, Witold (2003). Guide pratique des décorations françaises actuelles. Paris: LAVAUZELLE. pp. 157–161. ISBN 2-7025-1030-2.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "MG Charles Hooper Award Ceremony".
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 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. Retrieved June 30, 2012.

Sources