Military awards and decorations
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Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for
consisting of a ribbon and a medallion.History
Decorations have been known since ancient times. The Egyptian
The oldest military decorations still in use is Sweden's För tapperhet i fält ('For Valour in the Field') and För tapperhet till sjöss ('For Valour at Sea') awarded to officers and soldiers of the Swedish Armed Forces who have—as the medal names suggest—shown valour in the field or at sea in wartime. The medal was instituted by Swedish king Gustav III on 28 May 1789, during his war against Russia. Whilst technically it is still active, it is for practical purposes inactive, not having been awarded since 1915. The next oldest is the Austro-Hungarian Tapferkeits Medaille Honour Medal for Bravery 1789–1792. This medal was instituted on 19 July 1789, by the Emperor Joseph II.
Another of the oldest military decorations still in use is Poland's War Order of
Forgery
Medals have been forged by many people to make the medal appear more valuable or to make one look like a more decorated soldier. Medal forgeries can include: adding bars, engraving a famous soldier's name on it or creating a whole new medal. Medal forgery is illegal in most countries and can be punishable by imprisonment.
Contemporary use
Today military decorations include:
- Orders of merit;
- Bravery awards, in the form of a cross, star or medal on a ribbon;
- Distinguished service awards, in the form of a cross, star or medal on a ribbon;
- Campaign medals worn on a ribbon;
- Service medals worn on a ribbon;
- Awards for entire units, in the form of battle honours, campaign streamers, fourragères, or unit citations.
In most NATO militaries, only the
See also
- List of military decorations
- List of highest military decorations by country
- Civil decoration
- State decoration
- Neck decoration
- Commonwealth Realms orders and decorations
- Awards and decorations of the United States military
- Awards and decorations of the Russian Federation
- Awards and decorations of the Soviet Union
- Israeli military decorations
- Orders, decorations, and medals of Spain
- Orders, decorations, and medals of Belgium
- Awards and decorations of the German Armed Forces
- Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom
- Medal inflation
References
- ^ DoD Manual 1348.33, 2010, Vol. 3.
- ISBN 1898723729.