Military Decoration (Belgium)
| Military Decoration | |
|---|---|
|
Military Decoration on gallantry ribbon with palm | |
Awarded by  Kingdom of Belgium | |
| Type | Military decoration, |
| Eligibility | Non-Commissioned Officers and other ranks of the Belgian Armed Forces |
| Awarded for | Gallantry or long and good service. |
| Status | Active |
| Statistics | |
| Established | December 22, 1873 |
 Ribbon for gallanry  Ribbon for long service | |
The Military Decoration (Dutch: Militaire Decoratie, French: Décoration Militaire) is a military award of the Kingdom of Belgium. It was established on December 23, 1873 and is awarded to non-commissioned officers and other ranks of the Belgian Armed Forces for gallantry or loyal and uninterrupted service.
Military Decoration for Long Service
The Military Decoration, when awarded for long service to non commissioned officers and enlisted personnel, is awarded in two classes. The first class is awarded for a minimum of fifteen years' good service, the second class for ten years' service. The Military Cross is the equivalent award for commissioned officers.
The medal is suspended by a ring through the suspension loop to a silk moiré ribbon of seventeen alternating longitudinal stripes of red, yellow and black. A gilt inverted metal chevron is affixed to the ribbon of the award first class.
Military Decoration for Exceptional Service or Acts of Courage or Devotion
The Military Decoration for Exceptional Service or Acts of Courage or Devotion (Dutch: Militair ereteken voor buitengewone dienst of voor daad van moed of toewijding French: Décoration militaire pour service exceptionnel ou acte de courage ou de dévouement) is awarded to military personnel of any rank for gallantry or devotion to duty, it is also referred to as an 'Article 4' award. It is also awarded in two classes denoted by the addition of an inverted gilt chevron for the award first class.
In the period 2009-2013, the Military Decoration for Exceptional Service or Acts of Courage or Devotion second class was awarded 58 times. During the same period, the Military Decoration for Exceptional Service or Acts of Courage or Devotion first class was not awarded.
Only the ribbon differs from the long service award, the gallantry award hangs from a red silk moiré ribbon with narrow longitudinal gold and black stripes near the edges. A silver palm can be worn on the ribbon for acts of gallantry during wartime.
Award description
The medal is a gilt cross pattée surmounted by the royal crown of Belgium with four rays between the cross arms. The obverse bears a circular central medallion with a lion and the circular relief inscription "L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE" (STRENGTH IN UNITY). The reverse is identical except for the central medallion, the center bears the royal monogram of the reigning monarch at time of award surrounded by the relief inscription "ARMÉE * MÉRITE * ANCIENNETÉ" ("ARMY * MERIT * SENIORITY").
| For Gallantry | For Gallantry | For Long Service | For Long Service | Common Reverse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| First Class Obverse |
Second Class Obverse |
First Class Obverse |
Second Class Obverse |
Only royal monogram at center changes |
See also
References
- Clarke JD,Gallantry Medals & Awards of the World
- Royal Decree of 23 December 1873 creating the Military Decoration
- Belgian military regulation DGHR-REG-DISPSYS-001 of 20 February 2006
- Quinot H., 1950, Recueil illustré des décorations belges et congolaises, 4e Edition. (Hasselt)
- Cornet R., 1982, Recueil des dispositions légales et réglementaires régissant les ordres nationaux belges. 2e Ed. N.pl., (Brussels)
- Borné A.C., 1985, Distinctions honorifiques de la Belgique, 1830-1985 (Brussels)
- Report of written questions and answers in the Belgian House of Representatives, 17 March 2014 (QRVA 53-152)
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